Illumination assembly and method of forming same

An illumination assembly, comprising:

• a light guide comprising an output surface and an input surface along at least one edge of the light guide that is substantially orthogonal to the output surface, wherein the input surface extends along a y-axis;
• a plurality of light sources disposed along an axis that is substantially parallel to the y-axis, wherein the light sources are operable to direct light into the light guide through the input surface, wherein the light sources have a center-to-center spacing along the y-axis of at least 15 mm, and further wherein a distance between a primary emitting surface of at least one light source of the plurality of light sources and the input surface is no greater than 1 mm;
• a structured surface layer positioned between the plurality of light sources and the input surface of the light guide, wherein the structured surface layer comprises a substrate and a plurality of structures on a first surface of the substrate facing the plurality of light sources;
• and
• a plurality of extraction features operable to direct light from the light guide through the output surface, wherein one or more extraction features are positioned within 10 mm of the plurality of light sources;
• wherein the plurality of light sources and the structured surface layer are operable to direct at least a portion of light into the light guide through the input surface at an angle of at least 45 degrees to a normal to the input surface in the plane of the light guide.