Backlighting apparatus for uniformly illuminating a display panel

An apparatus comprising:

• a display panel having a rear surface and a front surface, said display panel being at least partially transmissive such that at least a portion of illumination on said rear surface is transmitted to said front surface;
• a light source for backlighting said display panel, said light source comprising:
• a device that emits light;
• a housing having diffusive reflective interior surfaces forming a cavity, said cavity having a depth, said light emitting device mounted in said cavity, said housing having an aperture which opens into said cavity, said aperture juxtaposed with said rear surface of said display panel to illuminate said rear surface, said cavity having a diffusive reflective surface area and said aperture having an area, the ratio of said area of said aperture to the sum of (i) said area of said aperture and (ii) said surface area of said cavity being at least 0.05, said aperture having an edge to edge dimension, the ratio of said depth to said edge-to-edge dimension being at least 0.1;
• a diffuser at said aperture, said diffuser positioned to diffuse illumination which passes through said aperture from said cavity toward said display panel;
• a brightness enhancing material disposed between said diffuser and said display panel, said material concentrating illumination within a viewing angle so as to enhance the brightness of the display panel.