Light emitting panel assemblies

1. A backlighting assembly comprising at least one light source, and an optical panel member having front and back sides and a greater cross-sectional width than thickness, at least one slot, cavity, or hole in at least one of the front and back sides that at least partially defines at least one input surface for receiving light from the light source, a predetermined pattern of deformities on or in a plurality of specific surface areas of at least one of the front and back sides configured to cause light to be emitted from the panel member, wherein the deformities vary to produce a desired light output distribution from the panel member to fit a particular application, and the at least one light source has a light output distribution that extends to a greater extent relative to the width of the panel member than the height thereof.

2. The assembly of claim 1 which includes multiple LED light sources.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tray that holds or positions the panel member and acts as a back reflector for the panel member.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one slot, cavity, or hole positions or locates the at least one light source relative to the panel member.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member has at least one hole, slot, cavity, post, or locating feature to position the panel member relative to a control button, light source or other component.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a transparent film, sheet or plate is attached or positioned in close proximity to the panel member to further improve the light output distribution to suit a particular application.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the transparent film, sheet or plate has at least one of paint, ink, coating, image and/or text thereon to further improve the light output distribution.

8. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a generally planar optical conductor having front and back sides, at least one cavity or hole in at least one of the front and back sides that forms a light input surface, and at least one LED light source having a greater width than height positioned in the cavity or hole, thereby directing light into the optical conductor, wherein the at least one light source is configured to generate light having an output distribution defined by a greater width component than height component, and wherein the optical conductor has a predetermined pattern of deformities that vary to cause a desired light distribution to be emitted from a plurality of specific surface areas of the optical conductor.

9. The assembly of claim 8 further comprising reflective or refractive surfaces in close proximity to the at least one light source for maximizing or otherwise changing the light emitted from the at least one light source.

10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the optical conductor includes multiple layers made of at least some different materials having different indices of refraction.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the multiple layers are coating layers on the front side and/or back side of the optical conductor that reflect and/or refract at least some of the light within the optical conductor.

12. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the optical conductor has at least one hole, slot, cavity, post, or locating feature to position the optical conductor relative to a control button, light source or other component.

13. The assembly of claim 8 wherein a transparent film, sheet or plate is attached or positioned in close proximity to the optical conductor to further improve the light output to fit a particular application.