The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 14, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 21, 1998
Greg E Blonder, Summit, NJ (US);
Bertrand H Johnson, Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Yiu-Huen Wong, Summit, NJ (US);
Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a substantially planar illuminating device, a visual display having an internal light source and a method of manufacture therefor. The illuminating device includes a transparent substrate having a pair of substantially parallel major surfaces and an entry point for accepting light from the light source wherein the substrate functions as a guide for the light. The device also includes a plurality of microelements located on one of the pair of surfaces. The microelements have a substantially planar surface with an average roughness less than one micron and a side wall abnormal to the planar surface. In advantageous embodiments, the side wall is curved. The planar surface is configured to re-direct a substantial amount of light received in the substrate from an external light source out of the substrate. The side wall is configured to re-direct light from the internal light source out of the substrate.