Patent ID: 7817885

Claim:
A light guide system, comprising: a light guide having a top surface and a bottom surface, characterized by an index of refraction, n 1 , and a transversely oriented side-end surface that forms a primary aperture for light traveling into and out of the light guide, further characterized by a length dimension in an intended light propagation direction towards or away from the primary aperture; a first plurality of light injection elements disposed in at least one of the top and bottom surfaces and extending inwardly therefrom at an angle to the surface, wherein the light injection elements are stepped (staggered) in a z-axis-light propagation direction in a respective first plane along lines parallel to the side-end surface; a lenslet array having a defined lenslet plane, disposed adjacent a top surface of the light guide, wherein each lenslet is in optical registration with a respective light injection element; and a light-transmitting medium layer characterized by an index of refraction, n med , where n med is less than n 1 , disposed between the lenslet array and the top surface of the light guide.