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. 16, 2010
Filed:
Feb. 20, 2007
David J. Lundin, Woodbury, MN (US);
Scott D. Gullicks, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Joerg R. Purfuerst, Cologne, DE;
Guenter M. Zilligen, Grevenbroich, DE;
David J. Lundin, Woodbury, MN (US);
Scott D. Gullicks, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Joerg R. Purfuerst, Cologne, DE;
Guenter M. Zilligen, Grevenbroich, DE;
3M Innovative Properties Company, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A light guide assembly and method of forming the assembly. The light guide assembly includes an elongate light guide having an optically smooth surface for propagating light along its length and a light emitting region extending along at least a portion of the light guide length. The light emitting region has light extraction structures extending into the elongate light guide to extract or reflect light radially from the light guide. The assembly also includes a light source connector coupled to the light input end of the light guide. The light input end has primary encoding orientation geometry. The light source connector has a first end with secondary encoding orientation geometry, configured to mate with the primary encoding orientation geometry, and an opposing second end configured to accept a light source.