Devices, Systems, and/or Methods for Providing Illumination
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide and/or utilize a system comprising a first sheet formed of a light-diffusing material, said first sheet defining a pair of opposing faces and two pairs of opposing edges, said first sheet adapted to provide a substantially uniform illumination from at least one of said faces when light is transmitted into any of said edges; a first reflective layer adapted to reflect light toward a second face of said pair of faces; a second sheet formed of a light diffusing material; and a first light source adapted to transmit light into a first edge of said edges.
1 . A system comprising:
a substantially planar first sheet formed of a substantially transparent, unfaceted, ungrooved, light-diffusing polymeric material, said first sheet defining a pair of opposing substantially planar faces and two pairs of opposing substantially planar edges, each of said edges perpendicular to each of said faces, said first sheet adapted to provide a substantially uniform illumination from at least one of said faces when light is transmitted into any of said edges;
a substantially planar first reflective layer located substantially parallel to a first face of said pair of faces and adapted to reflect light toward a second face of said pair of faces;
a substantially planar second sheet formed of a substantially light diffusing material, said second sheet located substantially parallel to said second face, said second sheet separated from said first sheet by a first predetermined gap; and
a first light source located substantially adjacent to, and adapted to transmit light into, a first edge of said edges.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a substantially planar base located substantially parallel to said first sheet, said base separated from said first sheet by a second predetermined gap.
3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a substantially planar base located substantially parallel to said first sheet, said base separated from said first sheet by a second predetermined gap, said base comprising said first reflective layer.
4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a substantially planar base located substantially parallel to said first sheet, said base separated from said first sheet by a second predetermined gap, said base comprising a heat sink adapted to dissipate heat generated by said first light source.
5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a substantially planar base located substantially parallel to said first sheet, said base separated from said first sheet by a second predetermined gap, said first light source attached to said base.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a substantially planar base located substantially parallel to said first sheet, said base separated from said first sheet by a second predetermined gap, said base comprising a cavity adapted to attachably receive said first light source.
7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a substantially planar second reflective layer located substantially parallel to a second edge of said edges and adapted to reflect light into said first sheet.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
said first edge is polished.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
said first sheet comprises at least one cavity adapted to at least partially surround said first light source.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
said first light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
said first light source comprises an array of light emitting diodes.
12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second light source located substantially adjacent to, and adapted to transmit light into, a third edge of said edges that opposes said first edge.
13 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a substantially planar cover located substantially adjacent to, and adapted to block undesired illumination from said system.
14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a machine vision camera aimed substantially toward, and adapted to capture an image of an object backlit by, said second face.
15 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a machine vision camera aimed substantially away from, and adapted to capture an image of an object frontlit by, said second face.
16 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a machine vision system adapted to capture an image of an object illuminated by said second face.
17 . A system comprising:
a substantially planar first sheet formed of a substantially transparent, unfaceted, ungrooved, light-diffusing polymeric material, said first sheet defining a pair of opposing substantially planar faces and two pairs of opposing substantially planar edges, each of said edges perpendicular to each of said faces, said first sheet adapted to provide a substantially uniform illumination from at least one of said faces when light is transmitted into any of said edges;
a substantially planar second sheet formed of a substantially light diffusing material, said second sheet located substantially parallel to said second face, said second sheet separated from said first sheet by a first predetermined gap,
a substantially planar cover located substantially adjacent to, and adapted to block undesired illumination from said system;
a first light source located substantially adjacent to, and adapted to transmit light into, a first edge of said edges; and
a substantially planar base located substantially parallel to said first sheet, said base separated from said first sheet by a second predetermined gap, said first light source adapted to be attached to said base, said base comprising:
a heat sink adapted to dissipate heat generated by said first light source; and
a substantially planar first reflective layer applied to a substantially planar face of said heat sink, located substantially parallel to a first face of said pair of faces, and adapted to reflect light toward a second face of said pair of faces.
18 . A method, comprising:
capturing an image of an object illuminated by a system comprising:
a substantially planar first sheet formed of a substantially transparent, unfaceted, ungrooved, light-diffusing polymeric material, said first sheet defining a pair of opposing substantially planar faces and two pairs of opposing substantially planar edges, each of said edges perpendicular to each of said faces, said first sheet adapted to provide a substantially uniform illumination from at least one of said faces when light is transmitted into any of said edges;
a substantially planar second sheet formed of a substantially light diffusing material, said second sheet located substantially parallel to said second face, said second sheet separated from said first sheet by a first predetermined gap;
a substantially planar cover located substantially adjacent to, and adapted to block undesired illumination from said system;
a first light source located substantially adjacent to, and adapted to transmit light into, a first edge of said edges; and
a substantially planar base located substantially parallel to said first sheet, said base separated from said first sheet by a second predetermined gap, said first light source adapted to be attached to said base, said base comprising:
a heat sink adapted to dissipate heat generated by said first light source; and
a substantially planar first reflective layer applied to a substantially planar face of said heat sink, located substantially parallel to a first face of said pair of faces, and adapted to reflect light toward a second face of said pair of faces.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
backlighting said object via said system.
20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
frontlighting said object via said system.
21 . The method of claim 18 further comprising:
sidelighting said object via said system.