Patent ID: 8542964

Claim:
An illumination structure comprising one or more optical elements for at least one of in-coupling or out-coupling light, the illumination structure comprising: a substantially non-fiber waveguide having an index of refraction and comprising: a discrete in-coupling region for receiving light, a discrete propagation region for retaining light therein and propagating light from the in-coupling region to an out-coupling region, light being retained within at least a portion of the propagation region via only total internal reflection at a boundary between the waveguide and air or a cladding material having an index of refraction lower than the index of refraction of the waveguide, a discrete out-coupling region for emitting light, the in-coupling, propagation, and out-coupling regions being spatially distinct, light entering the in-coupling region being substantially retained within the waveguide for emission from the out-coupling region, wherein light emitted from a surface of the waveguide in the out-coupling region has a predetermined optical profile comprising both (i) substantial uniformity of color profile and (ii) substantial uniformity of intensity.