How to Build Thin, Flat Light-Focusing Panels

A design for a thin, flat light-guiding panel that uses tiny built-in lenses and notches to turn trapped light into a focused, directional beam.

What it covers

This patent describes a way to make light-emitting panels that are very thin but still produce a focused, directional beam of light. It uses a planar waveguide—a flat, transparent sheet—that traps light inside using total internal reflection. Inside this sheet, the inventor places small 'light extraction elements' (like tiny notches or bumps) that redirect the light toward 'linear collimating elements' (like long, thin lenses) built into the surface. These lenses then grab the redirected light and straighten it out into a tight beam, rather than letting it scatter in all directions.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover standard LED panels that use simple diffusers instead of integrated collimating lenses.
• —Does not cover light guides that lack the specific mathematical relationship between lens curvature and material refractive index defined in claim 1.
• —Does not cover systems that rely on external lenses placed outside the waveguide structure.

The clever bit

The invention precisely aligns the light-extracting notches with the focal area of the surface lenses, ensuring that the light is redirected exactly where the lens can best capture and collimate it, minimizing light loss.

Why it matters

This technology is useful for making ultra-thin lighting fixtures, such as those used in modern architectural lighting or high-end display backlights. By integrating the focusing optics directly into the light-guiding material, manufacturers can reduce the total thickness of the lighting assembly while maintaining precise control over where the light is directed.

Real-world examples

• 1.Ultra-thin architectural LED light panels
• 2.Backlight units for specialized flat-panel displays
• 3.Directional task lighting fixtures