Light emitting panel assemblies

Abstract

Backlight assembly includes a waveguide having a light emitting area to illuminate a display panel and different sets of deformities on different surfaces of the waveguide to cause light to be emitted from the light emitting area. A transition area is optically coupled to multiple colored LEDs and to the waveguide to mix light from the LEDs before the light reaches the light emitting area.

1 . A backlight assembly comprising a waveguide having a light emitting area to illuminate a display panel, multiple colored LEDs, a transition area optically coupled to the multiple colored LEDs and to the waveguide to mix light from the multiple colored LEDs before the light reaches the light emitting area, the waveguide having different sets of deformities on different surfaces of the waveguide to cause light to be emitted from the light emitting area. 
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the different sets of deformities are on different sides of the waveguide. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein at least one set of deformities vary. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3  wherein the different sets of deformities include different types of deformities. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4  wherein one set of deformities comprises relatively small, discrete protrusions or depressions. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein one set of deformities comprises two layers of deformities on one side of the waveguide. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the multiple colored LEDs comprise red, green and blue LEDs. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the waveguide is comprised of a single layer material. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the waveguide is comprised of multiple layers of material.