Patent ID: 7434974

Claim:
A light emitting panel assembly comprising at least a light emitting panel member having a light entrance surface and a light emitting surface, at least one LED light source positioned near or against the light entrance surface, and a tray or housing having a cavity or recess in which the panel member is entirely received, wherein the panel member has a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in at least one surface to cause light to be emitted from the light emitting surface of the panel member, and the tray or housing includes end walls and side walls that act as end edge reflectors and side edge reflectors for the panel member to reflect light that would otherwise exit the panel member through an end edge and/or side edge back into the panel member and toward the pattern of light extracting deformities for causing additional light to be emitted from the light emitting surface of the panel member, wherein the tray or housing provides structural support to the panel member and has posts, tabs, or other structural features that provide a mount for mounting of the assembly into a larger assembly or device.