Patent ID: 8079743

Claim:
A display backlight assembly comprising: a display optical light guide including a first edge and an opposing second edge; an optical coupler proximate the first edge of the display optical light guide, wherein the optical coupler has an index of refraction greater than an index of refraction of the display optical light guide, wherein the optical coupler includes a plurality of micro-prism dispersers at least partially embedded therein, and wherein continuous regions of the optical coupler extend between adjacent micro-prism dispersers; a solid state light source proximate the optical coupler and coupled to the first edge of the optical light guide by the optical coupler, wherein the solid slate light source comprises a plurality of individual solid state light sources, and wherein each solid state light source of the plurality of solid state light sources is arranged in approximate alignment with a single micro-prism disperser of the plurality of micro-prism dispersers; and a reflective surface disposed at an interface between the solid state light source and the optical coupler to allow for re-entry of light traveling in a direction generally from the second edge to the first edge back into the light guide.