Lighting System

Abstract

A lighting system includes an optic that has at least two reflective surfaces that are oriented such that they face each other. Further, the lighting system includes a plurality of light emitting diodes that are disposed adjacent one end of the optic. Furthermore, the lighting system includes a lightguide that is disposed adjacent an opposite end of the optic such that an edge of the lightguide is retained within and disposed between the at least two reflective surfaces of the optic. The at least two reflective surfaces of the optic reflect and guide light emitted by the plurality of light emitting diodes to the edge of the lightguide. The light then couples into the lightguide through the edge and is guided towards an opposing edge of the light guide. The light exits the lightguide through the opposing edge and/or major surfaces of the lightguide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lighting system comprising:
 a lightguide comprising:
 a first face; 
 a second face that is opposite the first face; and 
 an edge that extends between the first face and the second face, 
 wherein the first face and the second face extend along a reference plane that is disposed midway between the first face and the second face and that extends through the edge; 
   a plurality of light emitting diodes that are separated from the edge by an air gap, that extend along the edge, and that are configured to emit light;   a first reflective sheet that extends from the first face and adjacent to the plurality of light emitting diodes and wherein the first reflective sheet has a first bend; and   a second reflective sheet that extends from the second face and adjacent to the plurality of light emitting diodes and wherein the second reflective sheet has a second bend.   
     
     
         2 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein the first face and the edge form a first corner and the first reflective sheet extends past the first corner and covers a portion of the first face, and
 wherein the second face and the edge form a second corner and the second reflective sheet extends past the second corner and covers a portion of the second face.   
     
     
         3 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein the first reflective sheet and the second reflective sheet extend substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein the first reflective sheet comprises a first reflective surface facing the plurality of light emitting diodes, and
 wherein the second reflective sheet comprises a second reflective surface facing the plurality of light emitting diodes.   
     
     
         5 . The lighting system of  claim 2 , wherein the first bend is adjacent the first corner, and
 wherein the second bend is adjacent the second corner.   
     
     
         6 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein the lightguide further comprises a second edge that is disposed opposite the edge, and
 wherein the first face and the second face are operative to guide the light from the edge towards the second edge so that at least a portion of the light exits the lightguide via the second edge.   
     
     
         7 . The lighting system of  claim 6 , wherein the portion of the light that exits the lightguide via the second edge forms an illumination pattern that is laterally biased relative the reference plane. 
     
     
         8 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein the first face and the second face are separated from one another by a thickness, and
 wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are offset from the reference plane by at least one-half of the thickness.   
     
     
         9 . The lighting system of  claim 8 , wherein the air gap is at least twice the thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein the lightguide comprises a polymeric optical material disposed between the first face and the second face. 
     
     
         11 . A lighting system comprising:
 a lightguide that comprises a panel of optical material extending along a reference plane, the panel comprising:
 a first face; 
 a second face that is opposite the first face; 
 a first edge that extends between the first face and the second face; and 
 a second edge that is opposite the first edge and that extends between the first face and the second face, 
 wherein the first face extends along a first side of the reference plane and the second face extends along a second side of the reference plane, with the reference plane disposed midway between the first face and the second face so that the reference plane extends through the first edge and the second edge; 
   a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed adjacent the first edge, with an air gap disposed between the plurality of light emitting diodes and the first edge, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes is disposed on the first side of the reference plane;   a first reflective sheet that extends from the first face and adjacent to the plurality of light emitting diodes and wherein the first reflective sheet has a first bend; and   a second reflective sheet that extends from the second face and adjacent to the plurality of light emitting diodes and wherein the second reflective sheet has a second bend.   
     
     
         12 . The lighting system of  claim 11 , wherein the light emitting diodes emit light into the lightguide and the lightguide emits a light distribution at the second edge, the light distribution being biased toward the first side of the reference plane. 
     
     
         13 . The lighting system of  claim 12 , wherein the light distribution has a first intensity on the first side the reference plane and a second intensity on a second side of the reference plane, and
 wherein the first intensity is higher than the second intensity.   
     
     
         14 . The lighting system of  claim 11 , wherein the light emitting diodes emit light into the lightguide and the lightguide emits a light distribution at the second edge, the light distribution being biased toward the second side of the reference plane. 
     
     
         15 . The lighting system of  claim 14 , wherein the light distribution has a first intensity on the first side of the reference plane and a second intensity on a second side of the reference plane, and
 wherein the second intensity is higher than the first intensity.   
     
     
         16 . The lighting system of  claim 11 , wherein the first reflective sheet and the second reflective sheet extend substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The lighting system of  claim 11 , further comprising an optic disposed between the first reflective sheet and the second reflective sheet. 
     
     
         18 . The lighting system of  claim 11 , wherein the first reflective sheet comprises a first reflective surface facing the plurality of light emitting diodes, and
 wherein the second reflective sheet comprises a second reflective surface facing the plurality of light emitting diodes.   
     
     
         19 . The lighting system of  claim 11 , wherein the first face is displaced from the second face by a distance,
 wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes is displaced from the first edge at least by the distance, and   wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes is displaced from the reference plane by at least half of the distance.   
     
     
         20 . The lighting system of  claim 11 , wherein the panel of optical material has a thickness, and
 wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes is disposed lateral from the reference plane by at least one fourth of the thickness.