Patent ID: 6640029
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An illuminator for illuminating a planar light conductor with a light source, the planar light conductor having a first surface and a second surface and a transparent body therebetween, comprising:a) an injector comprising a wedge-shaped body made of transparent material having a refractive index higher than air, having an input side and an adjoining output side in contact with the first surface of the planar light conductor at an optical interface, the optical interface between the injector and the light conductor being optically homogeneous; b) a light guide located in an optical path between the light source and the input side of the injector, such that light is guided by the lightguide from the light source to the injector; the light source, light guide and injector being situated such that light output from the light source enters the light guide, and is guided to enter the injector through the input side and is conducted into the planar light conductor through the optically homogeneous optical interface, and is distributed through the planar light conductor by internal reflection within the body of the planar light conductor.