Patent ID: 8087793

Claim:
A back-light assembly for uniformly illuminating a display comprising: (a) an optical waveguide for receiving and distributing light substantially by total internal reflections including: (i) an upper surface; and (ii) a lower surface having a plurality of upwardly inclined light-reflecting facets and a plurality of downwardly inclined facets; and (iii) a plurality of spaced-apart micro-prisms, each said micro-prism having a first facet disposed proximate and substantially parallel to a selected one of said upwardly inclined light-reflecting facets of said lower surface, a second facet disposed proximate and substantially parallel to a selected one of said downwardly inclined facets of said lower surface and a light coupling third facet interconnecting said first and second facets, and (b) a plurality of transversely spaced-apart light sources located proximate said lower surface of said optical waveguide emitting light generally in the same direction.