Patent ID: 7391939

Claim:
Optical apparatus comprising: a web of solid optical material having one and another spaced broad surfaces that together are laterally and longitudinally elongated, as well as are flanking a core; superficial light-confining measures flanking the core; said one broad surface contoured with a distributed plurality of converging lens formations, each adapted for collecting and introducing incident light rays into the core generally unhampered by said superficial light-confining measures, and converging such onto a focal point or near focal point within said web proximate the other broad surface; a plurality of reflective elements embedded within said web for the plurality of lens formations and having bases flush with said other surface, each disposed at the focal point or near focal point for a respective lens, and arranged to deflect the collected light rays onto a transmission path through said web at least generally intermediate the broad surfaces thereof; and at least one light-emission port provided in or by said web of optical material that is generally unhampered by said superficial light-confining measures; wherein the reflective elements are moreover arranged to initially launch the collected light rays in a targeted direction of the emission port; and wherein said superficial light-confining measures generally confine between the broad surfaces the collected and deflected light rays, except for emissions out the emission port.