US 12,247,711 B1
Light-control panel with gradual index transition
David E. Kingman, San Francisco, CA (US); Clarisse Mazuir, San Jose, CA (US); and Peter F. Masschelein, Campbell, CA (US)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/733,392.
Application 17/733,392 is a continuation of application No. 16/894,972, filed on Jun. 8, 2020, granted, now 11,339,931.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/874,700, filed on Jul. 16, 2019.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F21K 9/69 (2016.01); B32B 17/10 (2006.01); B32B 27/08 (2006.01); F21V 5/00 (2018.01); G02B 1/11 (2015.01); G02F 1/1335 (2006.01); G02F 1/137 (2006.01); F21Y 115/10 (2016.01)
CPC F21K 9/69 (2016.08) [B32B 17/10541 (2013.01); B32B 27/08 (2013.01); F21V 5/008 (2013.01); G02B 1/11 (2013.01); G02F 1/133502 (2013.01); G02F 1/13756 (2021.01); F21V 2200/20 (2015.01); F21Y 2115/10 (2016.08); G02F 2201/38 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A panel, comprising:
a light source;
transitional layers;
a glazing layer extending between the transitional layers, wherein the transitional layers guide light emitted from the light source through the glazing layer; and
a light extraction layer extending between the glazing layer and one of the transitional layers that distributes light emitted from the light source,
wherein the transitional layers have refractive indices that gradually decrease from a first value at surfaces that face away from the glazing layer to a second value at surfaces that face the glazing layer.