Multi-waveguide LED luminaire with outward emission

An optical waveguide comprising:

• a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end;
• a coupling portion disposed at the top end and configured to direct light into the top end;
• an outer side disposed between the top and bottom ends, wherein the outer side is configured to emit most of the light directed into the top end by the coupling portion;
• an inner side opposite the inner side and between the top and bottom ends, wherein the inner side comprises light extraction features configured to direct at least a portion of the light received via the coupling portion primarily towards the outer side;
• an end light extraction feature adjacent to the bottom end and configured to increase the emission of the light by the outer side that occurs on a single pass of the light directed into the top end through the optical waveguide.

A method of assembling a luminaire, the method comprising:

• inserting an optical waveguide into a frame of the luminaire such that:
• a primary light emitting surface of the optical waveguide faces away from a cavity of the luminaire;
• a surface of the optical waveguide configured to redirect light toward the primary light emitting surface is adjacent to the cavity;
• a bottom end of the optical waveguide is inserted into the frame before a top end of the optical waveguide;
• a coupling cavity disposed at the top end of the optical waveguide is exposed;
• mounting at least one light emitting diode (LED) into the frame of the luminaire such that the at least one LED is configured to direct light toward the coupling cavity of the optical waveguide;
• sealing a cover onto the frame over the at least one LED and the optical waveguide.