Illuminating apparatus and a method of manufacturing an edge light conductor for use therein

A method of making an edge light conductor comprising the steps of:

• forming a substantially uniformly rugged surface over the entirety of a diffusing plane of an optical medium, said rugged surface forming irregular reflection of light;
• applying deposits on said rugged surface to form modified irregular reflector regions, wherein said modified irregular reflector regions comprise means for limiting a quantity of said irregular reflection from the area of said deposits.

A method of manufacturing an edge light conductor comprising the steps of:

• sand blasting at least one of front and back surfaces of a plate of transparent or semitransparent optical medium to be a substantially uniform rugged surface substantially throughout an entirety thereof;
• and
• forming modified irregular reflector regions by applying deposits of said rugged surface to limit a quantity of irregular reflection, wherein said deposits are formed by applying transparent ink in a printing process in a thin layer through which ridges of said rugged surface project to a certain extent.

A method of making an edge light conductor comprising the steps of:

• forming a substantially uniformly rugged surface on a diffusing plane of an optical medium;
• applying deposits on said rugged surface to form modified irregular reflector regions to limit a quantity of irregular reflection, wherein ridges of said rugged surface project through said modified irregular reflector regions.