Patent ID: 7616849

Claim:
An optical device for collecting and distributing light from a quasi point light source comprising: a) a planar light guide along at least one edge of said planar light guide where at least one optical axis is disposed perpendicular to said light guide; b) a hollow space formed in the edge of said light guide having a rotated convex surface about said optical axis, said hollow space having an opening on one face of said light guide, partially surrounding said optical axis and a closed surface also partially surrounding said optical axis, the dosed surface having a greater diameter than the opening; and c) a quasi point light source having an optical axis coincident to said optical axis and disposed at said opening at the face of said light guide, said quasi point light source being disposed so that a portion of light emanating from said light source is collected and projected into said light guide by said rotated convex surface, and a portion of said light passing through said dosed surface of said hollow space.