Patent ID: 6026602
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: G02B,G09F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of illuminating a sign assembly having a housing including a plurality of sides, and a display located on a side of the housing and including indicia defined by at least one translucent portion to permit the passage of light therethrough for viewing the indicia, the method comprising the steps of:mounting a substrate having a plurality of solid-state lamps thereon to a wall on one side of the housing located adjacent to the side of the display, and orienting the substrate generally perpendicular to the display;providing at least one first approximately planar reflective surface within the housing spaced apart from and facing the display;providing at least one second approximately planar reflective surface within the housing spaced apart from and facing the plurality of solid-state lamps and thereby forming a cavity between the first and second reflective surfaces and display; andtransmitting light from the solid-state lamps along an unobstructed path into the cavity and in turn reflecting the light within the cavity off of the at least one first and at least one second reflective surfaces to illuminate the cavity and thereby illuminate the display.