Integrated front light solution

Abstract

An integrated illumination apparatus includes a light injection portion having a first end for receiving light. The light injection portion supports propagation of light along the length of the light injection portion. Turning microstructure disposed on a first side of the light injection portion is configured to turn light incident on the first side and to direct light out a second opposite side of the light injection portion. A slit disposed along the length of the light injection portion forms an optical interface on the second opposite side of the light injection portion. The optical interface further transmits light turned by the turning microstructure. A light distribution portion is disposed with respect to the slit to receive the light transmitted through the slit. At least one bridge mechanically connects the light injection portion to the light distribution portion.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An integrated illumination apparatus comprising:
 a monolithic light propagating structure including:
 a light injection portion having a first end for receiving light and capable of supporting propagation of the light along a length of the light injection portion towards a second opposite end of the light injection portion, the light injection portion further including a first side and a second opposite side; 
 a slit disposed along the length of the light injection portion and defining the second side; 
 a light distribution portion disposed with respect to the slit to receive light transmitted from the light injection portion through the slit; and 
 at least one bridge mechanically connecting the light injection portion to the light distribution portion; 
   turning microstructure disposed on the first side of the light injection portion capable of directing at least a portion of the received light through the slit and into the light distribution portion; and   a light control insert disposed between side walls of the slit.   
     
     
         22 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one bridge spans the slit between the light injection portion and the light distribution portion and includes two bridges, wherein a first bridge is disposed proximate to the first end and a second bridge is disposed proximate the second opposite end of the light injection portion. 
     
     
         23 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the turning microstructure includes a plurality of faceted features. 
     
     
         24 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein a portion of the slit disposed between the second opposite side of the light injection portion and the light control insert provides total internal reflection for light propagating along the length of the light injection portion. 
     
     
         25 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the light control insert includes a bar. 
     
     
         26 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the light control insert includes a uniform rectangular cross section along the length direction of the slit. 
     
     
         27 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the light control insert includes flat side walls along the length direction of the slit. 
     
     
         28 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein, as seen in a side cross-sectional view, the light control insert defines two open areas, wherein a first open area is defined between the light injection portion and a first side wall of the light control insert and a second open area is defined between the light distribution portion and a second side wall of the light control insert. 
     
     
         29 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a light redirecting feature disposed on one of the side walls of the slit or on a surface of the light control insert. 
     
     
         30 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the light redirecting feature includes light control microstructure. 
     
     
         31 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the light redirecting feature includes a plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         32 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the light redirecting feature includes a concave-shaped feature. 
     
     
         33 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the light redirecting feature includes a convex-shaped feature. 
     
     
         34 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the light redirecting feature includes a lens. 
     
     
         35 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the light redirecting feature controls the angular direction of the light transmitted from the light injection portion into the light distribution portion. 
     
     
         36 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the light redirecting feature increases collimation of the light transmitted from the light injection portion into the light distribution portion. 
     
     
         37 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the light redirecting feature increases divergence of the light transmitted from the light injection portion into the light distribution portion. 
     
     
         38 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the light redirecting feature deflects the light transmitted from the light injection portion into the light distribution portion. 
     
     
         39 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the light control insert changes a color of the light transmitted from the light injection portion into the light distribution portion. 
     
     
         40 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of display elements, wherein the light distribution portion includes turning microstructure capable of reflecting light received from the slit into the plurality of display elements. 
     
     
         41 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the plurality of display elements includes an array of interferometric modulators. 
     
     
         42 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 a processor that is capable of communicating with the display elements, the processor being capable of processing image data; and   a memory device that is capable of communicating with the processor.   
     
     
         43 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 a driver circuit capable of sending at least one signal to the display elements; and   a controller capable of sending at least a portion of the image data to the driver circuit.   
     
     
         44 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 an image source module capable of sending the image data to the processor,   wherein the image source module includes at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.   
     
     
         45 . The integrated illumination apparatus of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 an input device capable of receiving input data and communicating the input data to the processor.   
     
     
         46 . An illumination apparatus comprising:
 means for injecting light having a first end for receiving light and capable of supporting propagation of the light along a length of the light injecting means towards a second opposite end of the light injecting means, the light injecting means further including a first side and a second opposite side;   means for optically interfacing the light injecting means, the optically interfacing means disposed along the length of the light injecting means and defining the second side;   means for distributing light disposed with respect to the optically interfacing means to receive the light transmitted from the light injecting means through the optically interfacing means; and   means for mechanically connecting the light injecting means and the light distributing means;   means for turning light disposed on the first side of the light injecting means capable of directing at least a portion of the received light through the optically interfacing means and into the light distributing means; and   means for controlling light disposed between side walls of the optically interfacing means.   
     
     
         47 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the light injecting means includes a light injection portion or the optically interfacing means includes a slit or the light distributing means includes a light distribution portion or the mechanically connecting means includes at least one bridge or the light turning means includes turning microstructure or the light controlling means includes a light control insert. 
     
     
         48 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein a portion of the optically interfacing means disposed between the second opposite side of the light injecting means and the light controlling means provides total internal reflection for light propagating along the length of the light injecting means. 
     
     
         49 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 46 , further comprising means for redirecting light disposed on one of the side walls of the optically interfacing means or on a surface of the light controlling means. 
     
     
         50 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the means for redirecting light includes a light redirecting feature.