Flat-panel area illumination system

1 . A flat-panel area illumination system, comprising:

a) a flat-panel lamp having a substrate and one or more non-pixellated light-emitting areas formed on the substrate emitting light in every direction from at least one light-emitting side of the lamp; and

b) a light-directing optical film located on the at least one light-emitting side over the light-emitting area of the flat-panel lamp, wherein the light-directing optical film preferentially directs light away from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the light-emitting side of the flat-panel lamp.

2 . The flat-panel area illumination system claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light-directing optical film includes a structured surface located adjacent to the light-emitting side of the flat-panel lamp.

3 . The flat-panel area illumination system claimed in claim 2 , wherein the light-directing optical film includes a flat surface located opposite to the light-emitting side of the flat-panel lamp.

4 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 3 , wherein a plurality of structures are associated with each light emitting area.

5 . The flat-panel area illumination system claimed in claim 3 , wherein the structured surface comprises triangular prisms.

6 . The flat-panel area illumination system claimed in claim 3 , wherein the structured surface comprises cylindrical lenses.

7 . The flat-panel area illumination system claimed in claim 3 , wherein the structured surface comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped structures having a long axis and in which the axes of the wedge-shaped structures are aligned in a common direction.

8 . The flat-panel area illumination system claimed in claim 7 , wherein the wedge-shaped structures are formed into parallel lines.

9 . The flat-panel area illumination system claimed in claim 7 , wherein the wedge-shaped structures are not formed into parallel lines.

10 . The flat-panel area illumination system claimed in claim 7 , wherein the wedge-shaped structures are formed in pairs of facing wedge-shaped structures.

11 . The flat-panel area illumination system claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light-directing optical film comprises a plastic or a glass.

12 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the flat-panel lamp is an OLED lamp.

13 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 1 , further comprising a diffuser located between the light-directing optical film and the flat-panel lamp.

14 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 1 , further comprising a second light-directing optical film located over the light directing optical film and parallel to the light-directing optical film

15 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 14 , wherein light-directing structures of the second light-directing optical film are at a different angle to light-directing structures of the light-directing optical film.

16 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 15 , wherein the structures of the second light-directing optical film are at 90 degrees to the structures of the light-directing optical film.

17 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the light-directing optical film is divided into a plurality of regions and light-directing structures in one region are oriented at a different angle from light-directing structures in a second region.

18 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 17 , wherein the structures within the regions alternate in orientation.

19 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 17 , wherein the structures within one region are oriented at 90 degrees with respect to the structures in another region.

20 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 17 , having at least four regions and wherein the structures within one region are oriented at multiples of 45 degrees with respect to the structures in another region.

21 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the light-directing optical film is flexible.

22 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the flat-panel lamp is flexible.

23 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting areas emit light in every direction from the light-emitting side in approximately the same amount.

24 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the flat-panel lamp emits light from more than one side and a light-directing optical film is located over each light-emitting side.

25 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the flat-panel lamp emits light through the substrate.

26 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the flat-panel lamp further comprises an encapsulating cover located over the substrate and the light emitting area.

27 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 26 , wherein the emitted light is emitted through the cover.

28 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 27 , wherein the optical film is formed in the inside of the cover.

29 . The flat-panel area illumination system of claim 27 , wherein the optical film is located on the inside of the cover.

30 . A method of making a flat-panel area illumination system, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a flat-panel lamp having a substrate with at least one non-pixellated light-emitting area formed on the substrate emitting light in every direction from at least one light-emitting side of the lamp;

b) providing a light-directing optical film that preferentially directs light away from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the light-emitting side of the flat-panel lamp; and

c) locating the optical film over the light-emitting area on the at least one light-emitting side of the flat-panel lamp.

31 . The method claimed in claim 30 , wherein the flat-panel lamp and the light-directing optical film are formed from a web in a continuous roll.

32 . The method claimed in claim 31 , wherein the light-directing optical film is formed by injection roll molding.