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:
Aug. 21, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 12, 2011
Kenneth A. Epstein, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Hung T. Tran, Woodbury, MN (US);
John C. Schultz, Afton, MN (US);
Robert M. Emmons, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Kenneth A. Epstein, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Hung T. Tran, Woodbury, MN (US);
John C. Schultz, Afton, MN (US);
Robert M. Emmons, Saint Paul, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A light emitting diode (LED) array comprises an array of LEDs mounted to a substrate. The LEDs emit light in a direction generally perpendicular to the substrate. An optical sheet is disposed over the LEDs. At least a portion of light entering one side of the optical sheet from the LEDs is guided within the optical sheet in a direction generally parallel to the substrate. Light extraction features direct light from the optical sheet in a generally forward direction. Such an array is useful for several applications, including space lighting, direct information display and backlighting of liquid crystal displays. The light spreading effect of the optical sheet reduces the amount of black space between LED pixels.