Modular light-emitting panel assembly

Abstract

A modular light-emitting panel assembly has first and second light guides edge lit by respective light sources. Each light guide has a light input edge, opposed side edges, opposed major surfaces and a pattern of light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces. The light guides are juxtaposed with a side edge of the first light guide abutting a side edge of the second light guide at a seam and with the major surfaces nominally coplanar. Various embodiments of the panel assembly additionally include respective structures that reduce visibility of the seam when the light sources illuminate the panel assembly.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A lighting assembly, comprising:
 a first light guide and a second light guide, each light guide having a light input edge, opposed side edges, a first major surface, a second major surface spaced apart from the first major surface in a thickness direction, and a pattern of light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces, one of the side edges of the first light guide juxtaposed with one of the side edges of the second light guide and defining a seam between the first light guide and the second light guide;   a first light source adjacent the light input edge of the first light guide and a second light source adjacent the light input edge of the second light guide, the first and second light sources configured to respectively edge light the first light guide and the second light guide such that light propagates along each light guide by total internal reflection at the major surfaces thereof for extraction from the light guide by the light extracting elements; and   a diffuser arranged to cover the seam in the thickness direction, the diffuser configured to redirect light emitted from the light guides and from the seam.   
     
     
         3 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a mixing space provided between the light guides and the diffuser. 
     
     
         4 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the diffuser is configured as a plate comprising a first major surface and a second major surface spaced apart from the first major surface in the thickness direction. 
     
     
         5 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first major surface of the first light guide and the first major surface of the second light guide are coplanar and collectively form at least a portion of a collective major surface. 
     
     
         6 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising an adhesive bonding the juxtaposed side edges to one another, the adhesive being index matched to an index of refraction to the first and second light guides. 
     
     
         7 . A lighting assembly, comprising:
 a first light guide and a second light guide, each light guide having a light input edge, opposed side edges, a first major surface, a second major surface spaced apart from the first major surface in a thickness direction, and a pattern of light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces, one of the side edges of the first light guide juxtaposed with one of the side edges of the second light guide and defining a seam between the first light guide and the second light guide;   a first light source adjacent the light input edge of the first light guide and a second light source adjacent the light input edge of the second light guide, the first and second light sources configured to respectively edge light the first light guide and the second light guide such that light propagates along each light guide by total internal reflection at the major surfaces thereof for extraction from the light guide by the light extracting elements; and   a light redirecting layer arranged to cover the seam in the thickness direction, the light redirecting layer comprising a region of light redirecting features covering the seam in the thickness direction, the region of light redirecting features not covering at least a portion of the major surfaces of the first and second light guides in the thickness direction, the light redirecting layer configured to redirect light emitted from the seam.   
     
     
         8 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the region of light redirecting features partially covers the major surfaces of at least one of the first and second light guides in the thickness direction. 
     
     
         9 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the light redirecting layer comprises diffusive light redirecting features. 
     
     
         10 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the light redirecting layer comprises prismatic light redirecting features. 
     
     
         11 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the light redirecting layer is affixed to the first major surface of at least one of the light guides. 
     
     
         12 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the light redirecting layer is a film covering at least a portion of the major surfaces of the first and second light guides in the thickness direction, the film comprising a transparent region and the region of light redirecting features. 
     
     
         13 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the light redirecting layer is a plate comprising a first major surface and a second major surface spaced apart from the first major surface in the thickness direction, the second major surface of the plate juxtaposed the respective first major surfaces of the first and second light guides, the plate comprising a transparent region and the region of light redirecting features, the light redirecting features provided at the second major surface of the plate. 
     
     
         14 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the light redirecting layer is a plate comprising a first major surface and a second major surface spaced apart from the first major surface in the thickness direction, the second major surface of the plate juxtaposed the respective first major surfaces of the first and second light guides, the plate comprising a transparent region and the region of light redirecting features, the light redirecting features provided at the first major surface of the plate. 
     
     
         15 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein light redirecting layer is spaced from the seam in the thickness direction. 
     
     
         16 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a back reflector, the back reflector comprising a major surface juxtaposed the respective second major surfaces of the first and second light guides, the light redirecting layer provided on the major surface of the back reflector. 
     
     
         17 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first major surface of the first light guide and the first major surface of the second light guide are coplanar and collectively form at least a portion of a collective major surface. 
     
     
         18 . A lighting assembly, comprising:
 a first light guide and a second light guide, each light guide having a light input edge, opposed side edges, opposed major surfaces, and a pattern of light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces, one of the side edges of the first light guide juxtaposed one of the side edges of the second light guide;   a first light source adjacent the light input edge of the first light guide and a second light source adjacent the light input edge of the second light guide, the first and second light sources configured to respectively edge light the first light guide and the second light guide such that light propagates along each light guide by total internal reflection at the major surfaces thereof for extraction from the light guide by the light extracting elements; and   an adhesive bonding the juxtaposed side edges to one another, the adhesive being index matched to an index of refraction to the first and second light guides.   
     
     
         19 . The lighting assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the adhesive is a UV-curable adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . The lighting assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the index of refraction of the adhesive and the index of refraction of the first and second light guides are the same. 
     
     
         21 . The lighting assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the index of refraction of the adhesive and the index of refraction of the first and second light guides differ up to ±0.1.