Channel spacer for a light guide

An illumination system comprising:

• a light guide configured to receive light at a light receiving edge and to emit the received light via a light emitting surface;
• a diffuser configured to diffuse light passing through the diffuser to reduce hot spots;
• a light guide spacer configured to maintain a spacing between the diffuser and the light emitting surface of the light guide, wherein the light guide spacer includes:
• at least two M-channels each having:
• a main body;
• three protrusions extending from the main body and including a diffuser protrusion, a light guide protrusion, and a middle protrusion located between the diffuser protrusion and the light guide protrusion;
• and
• two openings located between the three protrusions and including:
• a diffuser opening located between the diffuser protrusion and the middle protrusion;
• and
• a light guide opening located between the middle protrusion and the light guide protrusion;
• wherein the diffuser opening of a first M-channel of the at least two M-channels is configured to receive a first lateral edge of the diffuser, and the diffuser opening of a second M-channel of the at least two M-channels is configured to receive a second lateral edge of the diffuser located opposite the first lateral edge of the diffuser;
• and
• wherein the light guide opening of the first M-channel is configured to receive a first lateral edge of the light guide, and the light guide opening of the second M-channel is configured to receive the second lateral edge of the light guide located opposite the first lateral edge of the light guide, such that a spacing is maintained between the diffuser and the light guide;
• and
• an H-channel having:
• a central body;
• a first set of two outcroppings extending from a first side of the central body, wherein the first set of two outcroppings are parallel to one another;
• a first light guide notch formed between the first set of two outcroppings;
• a second set of two outcroppings extending from a second side of the central body, wherein the second set of two outcroppings are parallel to one another;
• a second light guide notch formed between the second set of two outcroppings, such that the first light guide notch is located opposite the second light guide notch relative to the central body;
• wherein the light guide comprises a first light guide and a second light guide physically separate from the first guide;
• wherein the first light guide notch is configured to receive a distal edge of the first light guide;
• and
• wherein the second light guide notch is configured to receive a distal edge of the second light guide.

A method for maintaining spacing between a diffuser and a light emitting surface of a light guide comprising a first light guide and a second light guide physically separate from the first light guide by using a light guide spacer including at least two M-channels and an H-channel, wherein the method comprises:

• positioning a first lateral edge of the diffuser into a diffuser opening of a first M-channel of the at least two M-channels;
• positioning a second lateral edge of the diffuser located opposite the first lateral edge of the diffuser into a diffuser opening of a second M-channel of the at least two M-channels;
• positioning a first lateral edge of the first light guide into a light guide opening of the first M-channel;
• positioning a second lateral edge of the second light guide located into a light guide opening of the second M-channel, such that a spacing is maintained between the diffuser and the light guide;
• positioning a second lateral edge of the first light guide locate opposite the first lateral edge of the first light guide into a first light guide notch of the H-channel;
• positioning a first lateral edge of the second light guide located opposite the second lateral edge of the second light guide notch of the H-channel;
• wherein each of the at least two M-channels include:
• a main body;
• three protrusions extending from the main body and including a diffuser protrusion, a light guide protrusion, and a middle protrusion located between the diffuser protrusion and the light guide protrusion;
• and
• two openings located between the three protrusions and including:
• the diffuser opening located between the diffuser protrusion and the middle protrusion;
• and
• the light guide opening located between the middle protrusion and the light guide protrusion;
• and
• wherein the H-channel having:
• a central body;
• a first set of two outcroppings extending from a first side of the central body, wherein the first set of two outcroppings are parallel to one another;
• a first light guide notch formed between the first set of two outcroppings;
• a second set of two outcroppings extending from a second side of the central body, wherein the second set of two outcroppings are parallel to one another;
• a second light guide notch formed between the second set of two outcroppings, such that the first light guide notch is located opposite the second light guide notch relative to the central body.