Light guide orientation connector

A light guide assembly comprising;

• an elongate light guide having a light input end including a light input end surface, a distal end and a length therebetween, the elongate light guide having an optically smooth surface for propagating light along the length and a light emitting region extending along at least a portion of the light guide length, the light emitting region comprising a plurality of light extraction structures extending into the elongate light guide to extract or reflect light radially from the elongate light guide, the light input end comprising primary encoding orientation geometry;
• and
• a light source connector coupled to the light input end of the elongate light guide, the light source connector comprising a first tubular end having secondary encoding orientation geometry and an opposing second tubular end configured to accept a light source, wherein the secondary encoding orientation geometry mates with the primary encoding orientation geometry;
• wherein the primary encoding orientation geometry comprises a recess extending inwardly into a portion of the light input end surface of the elongate light guide and the recess extending from the light input end surface along a portion of the length of the elongate light guide, the secondary encoding orientation geometry includes a protrusion that slides into the light input end surface recess, and the recess provides guidance for sliding the protrusion into and along the portion of the light input end surface of the elongate light guide.

A light guide assembly comprising;

• an elongate light guide having a light input end including a light input end surface, a distal end and a length therebetween, the elongate light guide having an optically smooth surface for propagating light along the length and a light emitting region extending along at least a portion of the light guide length, the light emitting region comprising a plurality of light extraction structures extending into the elongate light guide to extract or reflect light radially from the elongate light guide, the light input end comprising primary encoding orientation geometry;
• and
• a light source connector coupled to the light input end of the elongate light guide, the light source connector comprising a first tubular end having secondary encoding orientation geometry and an opposing second tubular end configured to accept a light source, wherein the secondary encoding orientation geometry mates with the primary encoding orientation geometry;
• wherein the primary encoding orientation geometry comprises a recess extending into a portion of the light input end surface of the elongate light guide and the recess extending from the light input end surface along a portion of the length of the elongate light guide, and the secondary encoding orientation geometry includes a protrusion that slides into the light input end surface recess.

A method of forming a light guide assembly comprising;

• providing an elongate light guide having a light input end including a light input end surface, a distal end and a light guide length therebetween, the elongate light guide having an optically smooth surface for propagating light along the guide length and a light emitting region extending along at least a portion of the guide length, the light emitting region comprising a plurality of light extraction structures extending into the elongate light guide to extract or reflect light radially from the elongate light guide;
• forming primary encoding orientation geometry on the light input end of the elongate light guide comprising disposing a collar element around an exterior circumference of the elongate light guide and fixed to the elongate light guide, and an outwardly extending protrusion extending away from the collar element, wherein the collar element slides into and mates with the elongate light guide, the protrusion mates with the secondary encoding orientation geometry, and a stopping member positions the protrusion with the secondary encoding geometry;
• providing a light source connector comprising a first tubular end having secondary encoding orientation geometry and an opposing second tubular end configured to accept a light source, wherein the secondary encoding orientation geometry mates with the primary encoding geometry;
• coupling the light source connector secondary encoding orientation geometry to the elongate light guide primary encoding orientation geometry, to form a light guide assembly.