Importance

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Abstract

A substantially transparent and preferably textured diffuser element disposed in surmounting relation to an array of light emitting diodes intended to illuminate a legend-bearing sign panel of an exit sign or similar illuminated sign, the invention allows compact sign enclosure formation and provides even illumination of sign panels on all legend-bearing face walls of the exit sign even though multiple point light sources such as light emitting diodes comprise the illumination source. The diffuser element of the invention is preferably embodied in a tent-shaped configuration with a plurality of apertures disposed along the apex of the diffuser element with one each of the apertures being disposed immediately above each light emitting diode. The preferred diffuser element of the invention is elongated in conformation and used with a linear array of light emitting diodes, the array being preferably located along at least one interior wall of the sign enclosure adjacent at least one of the legend-bearing face walls. The diffuser element is particularly useful with relatively non-diffuse, narrow-viewing angle light emitting diodes, the aperture in the diffuser element above each diode allowing substantial portions of the light emanating outwardly from free end portions of each diode to pass undiffused therethrough and into interior portions of the sign enclosure which are spaced from the LED array to illuminate portions of one or more sign panels spaced from the array. Light emanating from lower portions of the light emitting diodes at 'flat' angles is diffused through the diffuser element into portions of the sign enclosure nearmost the LED array to illuminate portions of one or more sign panels adjacent the array.

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First Claim