Edge light for panel display

An edge light for projecting light into a lighting panel through an end surface of said lighting panel, said edge light comprising:

• a thin transparent optical guide member having an elongate portion and at least one end portion extending from said elongate portion, said elongate portion having a planar surface and a shaped surface parallel to said planar surface, said shaped surface being configured to selectively extract light striking said shaped surface from said guide member through one of said planar surface and said shaped surface and transmit light striking said shaped surface along said light guide to provide a substantially uniform distribution of light across said one of said planar surface and said shaped surface of said elongate portion, said end portion having flared surfaces inclined outwardly relative to said planar surface and said shaped surface and an opening formed therein,
• a light source positioned in said opening of said end portion for projecting light into said elongate portion of said guide member,
• said shaped surface including a plurality of transversely extending first and second facets formed therein, said first facets facing said end portion and said second facets facing away from said end portion, said shaped surface including a plurality of transversely extending grooves defined by adjacent ones of said first facets and said second facets and a plurality of planar portions extending between said grooves for reflecting light within said guide member along said elongate portion, said facets being oriented at an angle relative to a plane substantially parallel to said shaped surface to internally reflect substantially all the light striking said facets toward said planar surface at a first angle of incidence for emission from said planar surface, said planar portions being configured for internally reflecting a substantial portion of light striking said planar portion toward said planar surface at a second angle of incidence for internal reflection by said planar surface along said guide member.

An edge light for projecting light into a lighting panel through an end surface of said lighting panel, said edge light comprising:

• a thin transparent optical guide member having an elongate portion and at least one end portion extending from said elongate portion, said elongate portion having a planar surface and a shaped surface parallel to said planar surface, said shaped surface being configured to selectively extract light striking said shaped surface from said guide member through one of said planar surface and said shaped surface and transmit light striking said shaped surface along said light guide to provide a substantially uniform distribution of light across said one of said planar surface and said shaped surface of said elongate portion, said end portion having flared surfaces inclined outwardly relative to said planar surface and said shaped surface and an opening formed therein,
• a light source positioned in said opening of said end portion for projecting light into said elongate portion of said guide member,
• said shaped surface including a plurality of first facets facing said end portion and inclined at an angle of 1.degree. to 15.degree. relative to a plane defined by said shaped surface for reflecting light along said light guide and a plurality of second facets facing away from said end portion and inclined at an angle of 35.degree. to 55.degree. relative to the plane defined by said shaped surface for reflecting light through said planar surface of said elongate portion.