Back lighting device

Claim 2

A back lighting device comprising: a light waveguide having generally planar upper and lower surfaces and including a lamp receiving aperture through the waveguide and connecting said planar surfaces; a light module having a lamp member, said lamp member disposed within said aperture between said upper and lower surfaces and within and closely coupled to said waveguide; a specular reflective material applied onto said waveguide lower surface; and a light extracting material applied onto said waveguide upper surface; said back lighting device being devoid of any light transition area between the light waveguide and the lamp member for transmitting light between said lamp member and said light waveguide.

Claim 3

The back lighting device of claim 1 wherein said waveguide is of a plastics material.

Claim 4

The back lighting device of claim 2 wherein said plastics material comprises one of acrylic, polystyrene, and polycarbonate.

Claim 5

The back lighting device of claim 1 wherein said lamp member is encapsulated in said aperture between said upper and lower surfaces by an optical grade potting adhesive in said lamp receiving aperture.

Claim 6

The back lighting device of claim 1 wherein said light module includes an electrical lead frame electrically connected to and mounting said lamp member.

Claim 7

The back lighting device of claim 5 wherein said electrical lead frame comprises one of phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, and a plated conductor.

Claim 8

The back lighting device of claim 6 wherein said lamp member includes an incandescent surface mount lamp.

Claim 9

The back lighting device of claim 7 wherein said surface mount incandescent lamp includes a reflector portion for reflecting light generated thereby into said waveguide.

Claim 10

The back lighting device of claim 1 wherein said light extracting material includes a light scattering element.

Claim 11

The back lighting device of claim 9 wherein said light scattering element includes spaced apart light diffusing elements applied so as to form a light extracting gradient of increasing density in a direction progressing away from said lamp member.

Claim 12

The back lighting device of claim 10 wherein said light scattering element is paint.

Claim 13

The back lighting device of claim 10 wherein said light scattering element is ink.

Claim 14

The back lighting device of claim 10 wherein said light scattering element is defined by a film having a light extracting gradient.

Claim 15

The back lighting device of claim 1 comprising: light shaping optics comprising one of concentrating lenses, dispersing lenses and ray deflectors extending between said upper and lower surfaces of said waveguide for redistributing within the waveguide light from said lamp member.

Claim 16

The back lighting device of claim 14 wherein said light shaping optics are slots cut into said waveguide through said upper and lower surfaces.

Claim 17

The back lighting device of claim 1 comprising a frame having inside edges for mounting said waveguide.

Claim 18

The back lighting device of claim 16 wherein said frame inner edges are diffusively reflective.

Claim 19

The back lighting device of claim 17 wherein said frame includes said specular reflective material.

Claim 20

A back lighting device comprising: a light waveguide having generally planar upper and lower surfaces; a light module having a lamp member, said lamp member disposed within said light waveguide between said upper and lower surfaces and within and closely coupled to said waveguide, said light module including an electrical lead frame electrically connected to and mounting said lamp member; a specular reflective material applied onto said waveguide lower surface; and a light extracting material applied onto said waveguide upper surface; said back lighting device being devoid of any light transition area between the light waveguide and the lamp member for transmitting light between said lamp member and said light waveguide.

Claim 21

A back lighting device comprising: a light waveguide having generally planar upper and lower surfaces; a light module having a lamp member, said lamp member disposed within said light waveguide between said upper and lower surfaces and within and closely coupled to said waveguide, said light module including an electrical lead frame electrically connected to and mounting said lamp member; a specular reflective material applied onto said waveguide lower surface; and a light extracting material applied onto said waveguide upper surface; said back lighting device being devoid of any light transition area between the light waveguide and the lamp member for transmitting light between said lamp member and said light waveguide.

Claim 22

The back lighting device of claim 19 wherein said electrical lead frame comprises one of phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, and a plated conductor.

Claim 23

The back lighting device of claim 20 wherein said lamp member includes an incandescent surface mount lamp.

Claim 24

The back lighting device of claim 21 wherein said surface mount incandescent lamp includes a reflector portion for reflecting light generated thereby into said waveguide.

Claim 25

The back lighting device of claim 19 comprising: an optical grade adhesive potting said lamp member into said waveguide.