Patent ID: 8564740

Claim:
A backlight, comprising: a light guide having opposed first and second major surfaces, and opposed first and second side surfaces, the first side surface connecting the first major surface to the second major surface and extending between a first and second corner of the light guide, the second side surface also connecting the first major surface to the second major surface but extending between a third and fourth corner of the light guide different from the first and second corners; a first light source assembly disposed to inject visible light into the light guide through the first side surface, the first assembly comprising a first plurality of light-emitting surfaces and one or more first non-emitting surfaces; and a second light source assembly disposed to inject visible light into the light guide through the second side surface, the second assembly comprising a second plurality of light-emitting surfaces and one or more second non-emitting surfaces; wherein substantially all of the first side surface is adapted to highly transmit a second light portion out of the light guide into air, the second light portion originating from the second light source assembly, propagating through the light guide, and impinging on the first side surface; wherein substantially all of the second side surface is adapted to highly transmit a first light portion out of the light guide into air, the first light portion originating from the first light source assembly, propagating through the light guide, and impinging on the second side surface; wherein the one or more first non-emitting surfaces are disposed at least in part between two light-emitting surfaces of the first plurality of light-emitting surfaces, and are oriented at least in part to face the first side surface, the one or more first non-emitting surfaces being adapted to substantially absorb visible light, wherein air separates the first light source assembly from the first side surface, and air also separates the second light source assembly from the second side surface.