Patent ID: 8564737

Claim:
A waveguide system comprising: a) a first waveguide element comprising a first body structure, a first substantially flat light-transmissive surface arranged to illuminate at least a portion of a LCD panel, and at least one first light entry region; b) at least one first light-emitting source positioned to emit light into the first waveguide element at the at least one first light entry region; c) a second waveguide element comprising a second body structure, a second substantially flat light-transmissive surface arranged to illuminate at least a portion of said LCD panel, and at least one second light entry region, wherein the second body structure is distinct from the first body structure, and the second light-transmissive surface is distinct from the first light-transmissive surface; and d) at least a second light-emitting source positioned to emit light into the second waveguide element at the at least one second light entry region; wherein the at least one first light-emitting source comprises a first plurality of electrically activated light emitting sources, and the at least one second light-emitting source comprises a second plurality of electrically activated light emitting sources; and wherein at least one of the first waveguide element and the second waveguide elelment comprises at least one hole to permit transmission of light emitted by at least one direct backlight comprising at least one LED to illuminate at least a portion of said LCD panel.