3m Innovative Properties Company

John C Wright

Michael Charles Lea

Bruno Mueller

Andrew M Hicks

A light-guide light () suitable for use in illuminated displays and signs comprises a housing () defining an optical cavity having first and second generally parallel major faces (), and a light source () positioned to direct light into the optical cavity from one side. The first major face () comprises a material (for example, a prismatic film) having coefficients of reflection and transmission that vary with the angle at which light is incident on the material. The second major face () comprises a narrow-scattering reflective material having a reflectance of at least 85%, for example a highly-efficient reflective material provided with a suitable textured pattern.

Light-guide lights suitable for use in illuminated displays

A light guide () comprises a housing () defining a light-guiding optical cavity having first and second opposed major faces (), and a light source () arranged to direct light into the cavity from one end, to be guided between the major faces. The first major face () comprises a window through which light can be emitted from the optical cavity to be used, for example, for illuminating a graphic display. To improve the light distribution across that first major face (), the second major face () comprises a sheet material () having a specularly-reflecting surface () that faces into the optical cavity and has diffusely-reflecting light-extraction elements () applied thereto in a predetermined configuration for causing light to be emitted from the optical cavity through the said window.

Growing community of inventors

Bucks, United Kingdom

John C Wright