# 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. - **Patent:** US RE48492 - **Original title:** USRE48492E1 - Collimating illumination systems employing a waveguide - **Owner:** S V V Tech Innovations Inc - **Granted:** 2021 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 2 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, mechanical, semiconductors ## What it does 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 does NOT 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Ultra-thin architectural LED light panels 2. Backlight units for specialized flat-panel displays 3. Directional task lighting fixtures ## 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. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How to Build Thin, Flat Light-Focusing Panels cover? 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. ### Who owns patent US RE48492? S V V Tech Innovations Inc owns this patent, granted in 2021. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on March 30, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US RE48492 cited by? This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? 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. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover standard LED panels that use simple diffusers instead of integrated collimating lenses. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE48492/learning-thermostat **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/USRE48492 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How to Embed Tiny Optical Components Directly into Circuit Boards](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE50510/gemini-bard) — A design for embedding light-emitting components and light-guiding paths directly into the layers of a circuit board to make devices smaller and more efficient. - [How Recessed Wall Wash Lights Reduce Glare Using Angled Lenses](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE50690/sonicare-toothbrush) — A specialized recessed light fixture design that uses an angled lens and a unique kicker reflector to wash walls with light while minimizing direct glare for people in the room. - [How Smart Light Networks Coordinate Without a Central Controller](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE49480/google-assistant) — A system where individual smart lights talk to each other to make lighting decisions based on sensors, rather than relying on a single master computer. - [How Chips Get Both Light and Electricity on a Special Glass Base](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12326604/integrated-circuit-packages-having-electrical-and-optical-connectivity-and-metho) — This patent describes a way to build computer chip packages using a special glass base that can carry both electrical signals and light signals, making chips faster and more efficient. - [Stacking Chips with Light-Guiding Plastic Wires](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12181722/structures-and-process-flow-for-integrated-photonic-electric-ic-package-by-using) — TSMC's patent describes a method for building advanced chip packages that combine electrical and light-based circuits using polymer waveguides and an integrated fan-out redistribution layer for faster communication.