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:
Jun. 10, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 15, 2001
Leland R. Whitney, St. Paul, MN (US);
Gary T. Boyd, Woodbury, MN (US);
Keith M. Kotchick, St. Paul, MN (US);
Kenneth A. Epstein, St. Paul, MN (US);
Sanford Cobb, Jr., Lakeland, MN (US);
Philip E Watson, Oakdale, MN (US);
David J. Lamb, Oakdale, MN (US);
Mark E. Gardiner, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A light guide including a light guide body having a light re-directing side positioned opposite from a light output side. A plurality of elongate prisms are located adjacent the light output side of the light guide body. The prisms extend side-by-side relative to one another along lengths. The prisms include upper edges defining heights of the prisms. The upper edges extend along the lengths of the prisms. Each upper edge includes a plurality of edge segments having different magnitudes of slope. The light guide also includes a plurality of light extraction structures located adjacent the light re-directing side of the light guide body for reflecting light toward the light output side. The light extraction structures include elongated projections each having a plateau segment and first and second facets. The elongated projections are separated by lands that are recessed relative to the plateau segments. The first and second facets extend from the plateau segments to the lands.