Lighting assembly

Abstract

A lighting assembly includes a light guide having a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, a light input edge, and an end edge distal the light input edge. Light input to the light guide through the light input edge propagates by total internal reflection toward the end edge. The lighting assembly further includes light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide, the light extracting elements configured to extract light through the first major surface in a direction away from the light input edge and away from the first major surface, and a banding reduction element at the end edge configured to redirect light incident thereon in a direction away from the light input edge.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A lighting assembly, comprising:
 a light guide having opposed major surfaces, a light input edge, and an end edge distal the light input edge, wherein light input to the light guide through the light input edge propagates by total internal reflection between the opposed major surfaces toward the end edge;   light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide, the light extracting elements configured to extract light through at least one of the major surfaces; and   a banding reduction element at the end edge configured to predictably refract light incident thereon in a direction away from the light input edge to reduce a banding effect of the light output from the lighting assembly through the end edge.   
     
     
         3 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the banding reduction element is a separate element from the light guide. 
     
     
         4 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the banding reduction element is interchangeable with another banding reduction element. 
     
     
         5 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a mount configured to mount the banding reduction element to the light guide. 
     
     
         6 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the banding reduction element comprises a convex surface curved about an axis oriented non-orthogonally to an intersection of the end edge and one of the major surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the banding reduction element comprises convex lenticular grooves oriented non-orthogonally to an intersection of the end edge and one of the major surfaces 
     
     
         8 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the banding reduction element comprises a symmetrical or an asymmetrical prismatic element having two plane surfaces oriented at respective angles relative to the major surfaces that intersect to form a ridge oriented non-orthogonally to an intersection of the end edge and one of the major surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the banding reduction element comprises prismatic grooves each having two plane surfaces that come together to form a respective ridge oriented non-orthogonally to an intersection of the end edge and one of the major surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the banding reduction element comprises a concave surface curved about an axis oriented non-orthogonally to an intersection of the end edge and one of the major surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the banding reduction element comprises micro-optical elements. 
     
     
         12 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a reflector adjacent one of the major surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a light redirecting member or a diffusing member adjacent one of the major surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , additionally comprising a solid state light source located adjacent the light input edge. 
     
     
         15 . A light guide, comprising:
 opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection;   a light input edge extending between the opposed major surfaces through which light is input into the light guide; and   light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide, the light extracting elements configured to extract light through at least one of the major surfaces; and   an end edge distal the light input edge and comprising a banding reduction element as an integral part of the end edge, the banding reduction element configured to predictably refract light propagating by total internal reflection toward the end edge and incident thereon in a direction away from the light input edge to reduce a banding effect of the light output from the light guide through the banding reduction element.   
     
     
         16 . The light guide of  claim 15 , wherein the banding reduction element comprises a convex surface curved about an axis oriented non-orthogonally to an intersection of the end edge and one of the major surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The light guide of  claim 15 , wherein the banding reduction element comprises convex lenticular grooves oriented non-orthogonally to an intersection of the end edge and one of the major surfaces 
     
     
         18 . The light guide of  claim 15 , wherein the banding reduction element comprises a symmetrical or an asymmetrical prismatic element having two plane surfaces oriented at respective angles relative to the major surfaces that intersect to form a ridge oriented non-orthogonally to an intersection of the end edge and one of the major surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . The light guide of  claim 15 , wherein the banding reduction element comprises prismatic grooves each having two plane surfaces that come together to form a respective ridge oriented non-orthogonally to an intersection of the end edge and one of the major surfaces. 
     
     
         20 . The light guide of  claim 15 , wherein the banding reduction element comprises a concave surface curved about an axis oriented non-orthogonally to an intersection of the end edge and one of the major surfaces. 
     
     
         21 . The light guide of  claim 15 , wherein the banding reduction element comprises micro-optical elements.