Patent ID: 8564739

Claim:
A liquid crystal display (LCD) system comprising: a) a LCD panel having a field of view; b) at least one waveguide element positioned behind the LCD panel, wherein the at least one waveguide element comprises a major surface arranged to transmit light toward the LCD panel, a plurality of edges bounding the major surface, and at least one first light entry region, wherein the at least one first light entry region comprises at least one extension of the at least one waveguide element that is non-coplanar with the major surface; c) at least one first light-emitting source positioned to emit light into the at least one waveguide element at the at least one first light entry region; and d) at least one second light-emitting source comprising a plurality of LEDs that are positioned coincident with the field of view to emit direct backlight onto the LCD panel; wherein the LCD system comprises at least one of the following features (i) and (ii): (i) at least some emissions of the at least one second light-emitting source illuminate at least a portion of the LCD panel without passage through any material of the at least one waveguide element; and (ii) the at least one extension of the at least one waveguide element contacts the major surface at at least one contact region that is non-coincident with the plurality of edges bounding the major surface and that is coincident with the field of view; and wherein the LCD system further comprises one of the following features (A), (B), or (C): (A) the at least one extension of the at least one waveguide element is curved toward the major surface of the at least one waveguide element; (B) the at least one waveguide element comprises a first waveguide element including a first major surface arranged to transmit light toward the LCD panel, the at least one waveguide element comprises a second waveguide element including a second major surface arranged to transmit light toward the LCD panel, the second body structure is distinct from the first body structure, the second major surface is distinct from the first major surface, and the first and second waveguide elements are arranged in a layered configuration, with at least a portion of the first waveguide element arranged to emit light for transmission through at least a portion of the second waveguide element to illuminate at least a portion of the LCD panel; and (C) the at least one waveguide element comprises a first waveguide element including a first major surface arranged to transmit light toward the LCD panel, the at least one waveguide element comprises a second waveguide element including a second major surface arranged to transmit light toward the LCD panel, the second body structure is distinct from the first body structure, the second major surface is distinct from the first major surface, and each of the first waveguide element and the second waveguide element is arranged to illuminate a different portion of the LCD panel.