An example waveguide can include a polymer layer having substantially optically transparent material with first and second major surfaces configured such that light containing image information can propagate through the polymer layer being guided therein by reflecting from the first and second major surfaces via total internal reflection. The first surface can include first smaller and second larger surface portions monolithically integrated with the polymer layer and with each other. The first smaller surface portion can include at least a part of an in-coupling optical element configured to couple light incident on the in-coupling optical element into the polymer layer for propagation therethrough by reflection from the second major surface and the second larger surface portion of the first major surface.

Wide-area solid-state illumination system, including one or more linear arrays of compact solid-state light sources, such as LEDs, an optical waveguide, and a light distributing grid panel. The optical waveguide comprises a thin sheet of an optically transmissive material which is optically coupled to the plurality of compact solid-state light sources and configured to distribute light from a first broad-area surface and an opposing second broad-area surface. A light extraction pattern is formed in the first broad-area surface and defines a plurality of light extraction areas alternating with separation areas. The light distributing grid panel comprises a plurality of transverse walls defining a plurality of openings configured for transmitting light and is positioned parallel to the thin sheet of an optically transmissive material such that at least one of the plurality of light extraction areas is disposed in registration with one of the plurality of openings and at least one of the separation areas is disposed in registration with one of the plurality of transverse walls.

Layered waveguides, multi-layer waveguide displays with layered waveguides, and methods of fabricating layered waveguides with selective bonding material deposition and/or patterning.

An operating unit according to one or more embodiments may include a base and switches on the base. The base according to one or more embodiments may include a first light emitter including at least one light guide plate finely processed with a pattern and having a light emitting surface facing a front surface of the operating unit, and a light emitting board on an end face of the at least one light guide plate in a thickness direction. The light emitting board applies light to the at least one light guide plate.

A backlight unit of a curved display device to irradiate a curved display panel with light comprises: a light source configured to emit light to the display panel; and a back plate including a plurality of planar sections, each having a predetermined width, arranged in a circumferential direction of the display panel on a concentric circle, the center point of which coincides with the center point of a virtual circle defined by the curved display panel, the planar sections of the back plate being bent relative to each other into a curved form such that the light source is installed to the respective bent sections of the bent curved back plate.

Foldable and folded light guide articles are described. Foldable light guide articles include a backing, a light guide disposed upon the backing and a prism disposed upon the backing adjacent to the light guide such that when the backing is folded about an axis between the prism and the light guide, a side of the prism is positioned adjacent to and aligned with an end of the light guide. Folded light guide articles include a light guide, a first prism and a second prism. The first prism is disposed adjacent to and aligned with an end of the light guide. The second prism is disposed adjacent to and aligned with the first prism with a low-index material separating the first prism and the second prism.

A waveguide display having an input image generator providing image light projected over a field of view; a waveguide having first and second external surfaces; and at least one grating optically coupled to the waveguide for extracting light towards a viewer. The waveguide has a lateral refractive index variation between said external surfaces that prevents any ray propagated within the waveguide from optically interacting with at least one of the external surfaces.

An edge-lit light source includes one or at least two light guide layers arranged in a stack and one or more light-emitting elements. Of one or more light guide layers of the one or at least two light guide layers, side surfaces of each light guide layer includes a light incident surface and a light exit surface, and the light guide layer includes a bending region located between the light incident surface and the light exit surface. A light-emitting surface of each light-emitting element faces a light incident surface of at least one light guide layer of the one or more light guide layers.

An optical device of the present disclosure includes a first light guide body including a first light-incident portion provided with a first incidence-side diffraction element, and a second light guide body including a second light-incident portion provided with a second incidence-side diffraction element, wherein the second light guide body, when light is caused to enter the first light-incident portion, is disposed at a position at which a part of the light passing through the first light guide body enters the second light-incident portion, and the second incidence-side diffraction element is an element that diffracts light of monochromatic color at a smaller angle than the first incidence-side diffraction element does, when the light of monochromatic color is caused to enter at a same angle.

The invention relates to a luminaire comprising a stack of parallel light transmissive transparent plates comprising a light guide plate and an optical plate. The light guide plate comprises a first and a second major light guide surface and a circumferential edge-wall and is edge-lit by LEDs. At least one of the major light guide surfaces is provided with a light outcoupling structure comprising outcoupling elements arranged at a first pitch P1. The optical plate comprises a first and a second major optical surface, the first major optical surface facing towards the second major light guide surface and only one of the first and second major optical surfaces being provided with an optical structure comprising optical elements arranged at a second pitch P2. The second major light guide surface and the first major optical surface are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the major light guide surface by a spacing S, with S being in the range of 0-12 mm. P1 and P2 are in the range of 1-7 mm and a ratio between P1 and P2 is in the range of 0.5-2.