Edge Lighted Panel Patents (Class 362/600)
  • Patent number: 8358266
    Abstract: A light guide device includes a light guide body and two or more pluralities of spaced-apart slits. The slits are formed by undercuts in the light guide body. Sidewalls of the slits form facets that redirect light impinging on the facets. In some embodiments, the light guide body is attached to a light source. The light source emits light that is injected into the light guide body and the slits redirect the light out of the light guide body and towards a desired target. In some embodiments, the target is a display and a first plurality of slits directs light from the light source across the light guide body and over the face of the display. A second plurality of slits then directs light out of the light guide body and towards the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kasra Khazeni, Manish Kothari, Gang Xu, Ion Bita, Kollengode S. Narayanan
  • Patent number: 8348489
    Abstract: The present invention introduces a new class of thin doubly collimating light distributing engines for use in a variety of general lighting applications, especially those benefiting from thinness. Output illumination from these slim-profile illumination systems whether square, rectangular or circular in physical aperture shape is directional, square, rectangular or circular in beam cross-section, and spatially uniform and sharply cutoff outside the system's adjustable far-field angular cone. Field coverage extends from +/?5- to +/?60-degrees and more in each meridian, including all asymmetric combinations in between, both by internal design, by addition of angle spreading film sheets, and angular tilts. Engine brightness is held to safe levels by expanding the size of the engine's output-aperture without sacrifice in the directionality of illumination. One form of the present invention has a single input light emitter, a square output aperture and the capacity to supply hundreds of lumens per engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Holman, Matthew B. Sampsell
  • Patent number: 8342730
    Abstract: There is provided an illumination device equipped with a light guide plate having a light emission face and a light incident face, a printed substrate having a first plane and a second plane opposite to the first plane, a plurality of point like light sources for supplying light to the light guide plate, a housing disposed at a opposite side of the light emission face of the light guide plate, and a light source holding member for holding the printed substrate. The light source holding member has a bend portion, and a edge of the bend portion is inserted in between the light guide plate and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corp.
    Inventor: Yuichi Tsubaki
  • Patent number: 8322903
    Abstract: A light source module includes a casing, at least one reflective layer, a light bar, and at least one light source. The casing has a first side wall and a second side wall, and the first side wall and the second side wall define an opening. The opening faces a light incident surface of a light guide plate, and the first side wall and the second side wall are respectively positioned on two opposite sides of the opening. The reflective layer is formed inside the casing and adjacent to one of the first side wall and the second side wall. The light bar is disposed inside the casing and forms an angle with the light incident surface of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Young Lighting Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Jui-Nien Jao, Chien-Hao Fu, Chao-Min Yang
  • Publication number: 20120294037
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for illumination devices. In one aspect, an illumination device having a longitudinal axis includes a light source and a light guide. The light guide has a peripheral edge, a transmissive illumination surface, a center portion, and an upper surface. The transmissive illumination surface is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and disposed between the center portion and the peripheral edge. The upper surface is oriented relative to the illumination surface to define an angle ? therebetween. In some implementations, the angle ? can be greater than 15 degrees, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Holman, Matthew B. Sampsell
  • Patent number: 8313204
    Abstract: The invention provides backlight module comprising a light guiding plate, a flexible substrate, and a light emitting unit. The flexible substrate has a first surface, and the light emitting unit is configured on the first surface. A paint area used for reflecting the light, emitted by the light emitting unit, to the light guiding plate is formed on the first surface near the light emitting unit. Accordingly, the light emitted into the light guiding plate could be prevented from being reflected by the flexible substrate directly and presenting the same color with the flexible substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chin-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 8313210
    Abstract: An LED indicator lamp includes a shell, at least an LED module, a driving and controlling circuit board, a rechargeable battery and a plurality of solar panels. The shell has indicating words formed thereon. The shell and indicating words have different hues so that the indicating words can be easily recognized. The LED module is received in the shell to lighten the shell and highlight the indicating words. The driving and controlling circuit board is received in the shell to drive and control the LED module to lighten. The rechargeable battery is received in the shell to provide the LED module with electrical power. The solar panels are fixed on an outer surface of the shell to capture sunlight and convert it to electrical power to charge the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shi-Song Zheng
  • Patent number: 8308329
    Abstract: An image display device may include a fiber optic plate. The fiber optic plate may comprise a plurality of parallel optical fibers, the terminal ends of the optical fibers combining to define a light input surface and an at least partially concave light output surface. An apparatus may include: a fiber optic plate; and a mechanism for affixing the fiber optic plate to a display device. A method for manufacturing a fiber optic plate may include: computing one or more viewing angles between one or more elements of an image display and a focal point; and shaping a fiber optic plate output surface according to the one or more viewing angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Vijay M. Sethna
  • Patent number: 8303151
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses disclosed herein relate to backlit visual display elements. A visual display element may include a base layer defining one or more microperforations and a light guide coupled to a light source. The light guide may be positioned adjacent the base layer and include one or more microlenses in alignment with the one or more microperforations along at least one vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Gregory L. Tice
  • Patent number: 8297827
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a light guide plate having a light incident surface, a light source module, at least one catch member, and a cushion member. The light source module is disposed adjacent to the light incident surface and has at least one light-emitting element, wherein a light beam emitted by the light-emitting element is capable of entering the light guide plate through the light incident surface. The catch member engages with one end of the light source module, wherein the catch member has at least one extension part extending towards the light incident surface of the light guide plate, and the extension part has an end surface facing the light incident surface. The cushion member is disposed between the light guide plate and the light source module and is adjacent to the light incident surface of the light guide plate and the end surface of the catch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Young Lighting Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Feng Huang, Yi-Wen Lin, Hung-Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 8293382
    Abstract: The luminous element includes a luminescence lamination, a second transparent oxidative conducting layer and a composite conducting layer. The composite conducting layer includes first transparent oxidative conducting layer and a metal layer. The second transparent oxidative conducting layer is positioned between the metal layer and luminescence lamination the second transparent oxidative conducting layer forms good ohmic contact with the luminous element and with metal layer. Thus, the metal layer will not be influenced by interfusion so as to maintain good light transmissivity and raise luminous efficiency of luminous element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Epistar Corporation
    Inventors: Chen Ou, Chen-Ke Hsu
  • Patent number: 8292444
    Abstract: An uniformly self-luminous keyboard device comprises a housing and a keyboard unit. The housing includes an upper casing and a lower casing, which can be assembled together. After the upper casing and the lower casing are assembled together, an accommodation space is formed therebetween. The upper casing has an opening interconnecting the accommodation space. The keyboard unit is arranged in the accommodation space and includes a plurality of press members passing through the opening and moved by a force to have a displacement, and a baseplate supporting the press members. A light conduction space is formed between the baseplate and the lower casing. A light emitting unit is arranged inside the light conduction space. The height of the light conduction space decreases with the distance to the light emitting unit, whereby light is uniformly distributed over the bottom of the keyboard unit. Thus is achieved the uniformly self-luminous keyboard device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Zippy Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chin-Yi Lin, Chih-Hsiung Chen
  • Patent number: 8284153
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a discharge lamp with a floor plate and a roof plate, which is designed for dielectrically impeded discharge, with at least two electrodes of different polarity being allocated to the sections of the discharge space, which is divided by rib-like support elements, with the electrodes located at a distance from the longitudinal support elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Lothar Hitzschke, Frank Vollkommer
  • Patent number: 8282257
    Abstract: An apparatus for lighting display objects in a gaming machine is described herein. In one embodiment, a gaming machine includes a display object to be viewed and a light source to emit light. The gaming machine also includes a light-guiding panel. The light-guiding panel includes an edge to receive the light from the light source and a surface through which the light is reflected. In one embodiment, the surface includes a window through which the display object can be viewed. In one embodiment, the light is substantially uniformly reflected through all but the window of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8282253
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate having a generally planar portion and a display receiving portion, and a display element. The generally planar portion of the mirror back plate is attached at the rear surface of the mirror reflective element. The front surface of the display receiving portion is generally coplanar with the front surface of the mirror reflective element. The display receiving portion is configured so that at least a portion of light emitted by the light source of the display element passes through the display receiving portion and exits the display receiving portion at an angle relative to the front surface of the display receiving portion so that, when the light source is activated, the light emitted by the display element is directed generally toward the driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20120250347
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a light source part, a base substrate, an insulation layer, and a reflection layer. The base substrate includes a light incident surface into which the light from the light source part is incident, and a light exiting surface adjacent to the light incident surface and through which the light exits. The insulation layer is formed on the light exiting surface of the base substrate. The reflection layer is formed on the insulation layer and forms a concave pattern along with the base substrate and the insulation layer and has an opening portion through which the light exiting from the light exiting surface passes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Hyun-Min CHO, Jae-Byung PARK, Don-Chan CHO
  • Patent number: 8279162
    Abstract: The invention relates to a discharge lamp with a floor plate and a roof plate designed for dielectrically impeded discharge, in which the minimum discharge distances are at least 10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Lothar Hitzschke, Frank Vollkommer
  • Patent number: 8277103
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling light into a light source in the form of a surface are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a linear light source including a light diffuser. The apparatus also has a sheet having a first edge with the linear light source placed along the first edge. The linear light source diffuses light emitted from a primary light source such that the light emanates along the first edge of the sheet. The linear light source is also substantially transparent to light exiting from the first edge of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: I2iC Corporation
    Inventors: Udayan Kanade, Balaji Ganapathy
  • Patent number: 8256948
    Abstract: An LED 1 and an LED 2 are respectively arranged at diagonal positions so as to face the long sides of a lens 3 having a shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. Further, the LED 1 and the LED 2 respectively emit light beams to the side surface portions of the long sides of the lens 3 so as to prevent the light beams from intersecting with each other. The lens 3 has a function to reflect the light beams emitted by the LED 1 and the LED 2 by cut-out sections 34 to 36 and projecting sections 31 to 33. Therefore, the light beams emitted by the LED 1 and the LED 2 are emitted from holes of a display section side case 10, which holes are formed in correspondence with the three light-emitting sections 31 to 33 of the lens 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Akimasa Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20120206942
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a receiving container, a first light source module and a first light source cover. The receiving container includes a bottom portion, a first sidewall and a second sidewall connected to the bottom portion. The first light source module is supported by the bottom portion and adjacent to the first side wall. The first light source cover makes contact with an exterior surface of the first sidewall. The first light source cover surrounds the second sidewall so that a first end portion of the first light source cover covers the first light source module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Hyun-Chul BAE, Cheol-Yong Noh, Seong-Sik Choi
  • Patent number: 8235572
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a reflector, a light-guiding sheet, a light-emitting element, and a plurality of first adhesive materials. The reflector has a reflecting surface and the light-guiding sheet is disposed on the reflecting surface. The light-emitting element is disposed on the reflecting surface and located beside the light-guiding sheet. The first adhesive materials are disposed between the reflecting surface and the light-guiding sheet, and adhere the reflecting surface, the light-guiding sheet, and the light-emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Hsiu Hsu, Chin-Young Lin
  • Patent number: 8231256
    Abstract: In one embodiment of this invention, a light fixture comprises a light source, a collimating element, an optical cavity and a multi-functional non-imaging optical component (MNOC) comprising an anisotropic light scattering film. In another embodiment of this invention, the MNOC further comprises a surface relief feature which redirects a portion of the incident light. The present invention provides a system and method of controlling the output of light from a light fixture. One or more volumetric anisotropic diffusing components are utilized to control both the photometric distribution and visual appearance of the light fixture. A high degree of optical control is obtained with durable components that can be easily customized to optimize optical performance in light fixtures designed as pendants, wall sconces, wallwashers, downlights, and tasklights. The luminance and color uniformity as well as the illuminance and color uniformity of illumination can be controlled and improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventors: Zane Coleman, Timothy Kelly
  • Publication number: 20120182762
    Abstract: An illuminating module includes at least one light-emitting chip, a phosphor, and a color temperature conversion media. The light-emitting chip is capable of emitting wavelength light, and the phosphor is disposed in a propagation path of the wavelength light to transform the wavelength light into a first white light with a first color temperature. The color temperature conversion media is disposed in a propagation path of the first white light to transform the first white light into a second white light with a second color temperature. The second color temperature is smaller than the first color temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Chih-Ming HU, Shih-Yuan Yu, Chia-Hao Chang, Chi-Yun Cheng, Jung-Min Hwang
  • Publication number: 20120182767
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, a film for use with an edge-lit backlight includes a substrate. The film also includes a graphics layer and light-extraction features in contact with the substrate. The graphics layer and the light-extraction features are on opposite surfaces of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: UNIPIXEL DISPLAYS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Petcavich, Daniel K. Van Ostrand, Martin A. Kykta, Ying Zhou, Christopher B. Derichs
  • Patent number: 8220978
    Abstract: A brightness enhancement film (BEF) includes a light transmissive substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of lenses disposed on the first surface, and a reflective layer. Each of the lenses has a curved protruding surface facing away from the light transmissive substrate. The radius of curvature of the curved protruding surface in a first direction parallel to the first surface is R1, the radius in a second direction is R2, and R1?R2. The reflective layer is disposed on the second surface and has a plurality of light pass openings respectively located on the optical axes of the lenses. The distance between the apex of the curved protruding surface and the corresponding light pass opening is L, the refractive index of the lenses is n, and the BEF satisfies L<nR1/(n?1) and L<nR2/(n?1). A backing light module using the BEF is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Tzeng-Ke Shiau, Ching-Shiang Li, Wen-Chih Huang, Fu-Ming Chuang, Kuo-Tung Tiao
  • Patent number: 8206013
    Abstract: A light-guiding module includes a casing, a light-guiding body, a light source, and a light-abating element. The casing has an accommodating space and a light-emerging surface. The light-guiding body is received in the accommodating space of the casing and has a light-entering surface and a light-emerging surface. The light-emerging surface is located to correspond to the light-emerging surface of the casing. The light source is located to correspond to the light-entering surface of the light-guiding body. The light-abating element is located to correspond to the light-emerging surface of the light-guiding body, and the light-abating element may be located close to the light source. The light-abating element may be provided at a position which the light-guiding body is close to the light source, thereby making the light emerging from the light-guiding body to become more uniform and thus overcoming the problem that the brightness of light is uneven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: San Ho Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heng-Sheng Kuo
  • Patent number: 8201984
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a light guide plate, micro-structures, at least one light source, and a first prism sheet. The light guide plate includes a first surface, a second surface, and a light incident surface connecting the first surface and the second surface. The micro-structures are disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The light source is disposed beside the light incident surface and capable of emitting a light beam. The first prism sheet includes a first transparent substrate and first prism structures. The first surface is located between the second surface and the first transparent substrate. The first transparent substrate is disposed among the first surface and the first prism structures. Each first prism structure has a first vertex angle protruding away from the first transparent substrate, and the first vertex angle falls within a range of 67 degrees to 83 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Han-Wen Tsai, Jyh-Ming Chen, Ping-Feng Hwang
  • Patent number: 8186841
    Abstract: A fluorescent tube is prevented from being wrongly attached and broken when being attached, and luminance nonuniformity of backlight due to luminance difference generated in a tube axis direction of the fluorescent tube is reduced. A backlight device 2 is provided with a plurality of fluorescent tubes 21 having electrodes 211 at both ends; a bundling member 213 for bundling wirings 212 pulled out from the electrode 211 on one side of two or more of the fluorescent tubes 21; and a conducting means 31 for achieving conduction between the electrodes of the two fluorescent tubes among the fluorescent tubes 21 by being connected with the bundling member 213. The conducting means 31 permits a current to be carried between the electrodes of the two fluorescent tubes 21, which are bundled by the one bundling member 213, and the conducting means are arranged on inverter circuit substrate 28, respectively, not to be adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Arai, Kohei Nanbu, Masaki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20120127749
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a side-light type backlight module with local heat-dissipation enhancement. The backlight module is provided with a local heat-dissipation enhancement region on a portion of the back plate close to at least one light input side edge, and a surface of the local heat-dissipation enhancement region has a thermal-conductivity enhancement coating and a three-dimensional heat-dissipation profile, so that the temperature can be rapidly distributed to an even degree and lowered down, and the heat exchange area can be increased. Thus, the side-light type backlight module with local heat-dissipation enhancement of the present invention can efficiently prevent from affecting the chromaticity and brightness of a light emitting device due to the high temperature, so as to improve the uniformity of the chromaticity and brightness of an entire liquid crystal display (LCD) module and enhance the light extraction efficiency thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co.Ltd
    Inventors: Yicheng Kuo, Lindong Fang
  • Patent number: 8184231
    Abstract: Disclosed related to a display device according to the present invention comprising an external housing; a display module accepted into the external housing; and an image signal processing unit supplying image signals to the display module, and the external housing including a regular reflection unit regularly reflecting lights from outside and a diffused reflection unit diffusely reflecting lights from outside. It is advantageous that the normal watching of the screen while the watching of the display device is not disturbed, and that the satisfactory of the users is improved with a predetermined pattern when the display device is not being used. Further, it is also advantageous that the area of gloss may be controlled as controlling the relative area of the regular reflection unit and the diffused reflection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Moon-Hee Lee, Jong-Man Park
  • Patent number: 8182114
    Abstract: A display. A casing includes an opening. A light guide plate is disposed in the casing. A display panel is disposed in the casing and is adjacent to the light guide plate. A light-guiding member is movably disposed in the opening and includes a first light-permeable portion, a second light-permeable portion, and at least one non-light-permeable portion. The first light-permeable portion is opposite the second light-permeable portion. The non-light-permeable portion is disposed between the first and second light-permeable portions. When the light-guiding member is moved to a first position, the second light-permeable portion connects to the light guide plate and light in the exterior of the casing enters the light guide plate via the first and second light-permeable portions. When the light-guiding member is moved to a second position, the non-light-permeable portion connects to the light guide plate and the light does not enter the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Wistron Corp.
    Inventor: Tien-Chung Tseng
  • Patent number: 8182131
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a light guide plate includes a first light incident surface receiving a first external light, a second light incident surface receiving a second external light and opposite to the first light incident surface, a light exit surface connecting the first and second light incident surfaces to output the first and second external lights, a reflective surface reflecting the first and second external lights in opposition to the light exit surface, and optical path changing portions each of which having a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface. The optical path changing portions are provided on the reflective surface with a predetermined interval and recessed toward the light exit surface to reflect the first and second external lights to the light exit surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Kyu Shim, In-Sung Hwang, Hyoung-Joo Kim, Jae-Joong Kwon, Seung-In Baek
  • Patent number: 8167461
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light emitting device includes separating a plurality of regions in a film with a thickness not greater than 0.5 millimeters to form a plurality of legs continuous with a body of film, folding the plurality of legs such that each leg terminates in a stack of bounding edges, disposing the stack of bounding edges proximate at least one light source such that light from the at least one light source propagates through the legs and the body by total internal reflection, and treating the film to form a plurality of light scattering features therein such that frustrated totally internally reflected light exits the light emitting device at a visible light emitting area and the light emitting area is at most barely visible when not illuminated by the at least one light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Flex Lighting II, LLC
    Inventor: Anthony J. Nichol
  • Patent number: 8159631
    Abstract: An exemplary backlight module (1) includes a light guide plate (122), a first light source (125) and a second light source (126). The first light source includes first light emitting diodes (1252) and first reflective members (1253). The second light source includes second light emitting diodes (1262) and second reflective members (1263). The light guide plate includes a first light incident surface (1220) and a second light incident surface (1221) opposite to the first light incident surface. The first light source and the second light source are provided adjacent to the first light incident surface and the second light incident surface, respectively. The first light emitting diodes face the second reflective members, and the second light emitting diodes face the first reflective members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Chung Hsiao
  • Patent number: 8152319
    Abstract: A backlight module and a liquid crystal display are disclosed. In the backlight module having a reflector base, a phosphor layer is disposed on the reflector base, and a plurality of blue light emitting diode (LEDs) are disposed above the reflector base and the phosphor layer for emitting a first light beam. An optical film is disposed above the reflector base, the phosphor layer and the blue LEDs for allowing P-polarized light of the first light beam to pass therethrough and reflecting S-polarized light of the first light beam to the phosphor layer so as to excite the phosphor layer to generate a second light beam of which the wavelengths are different from those of the first light beam. After being reflected to the optical film by the reflector base, the second light beam transmits through the optical film, and mixes with the first light beam to generate white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Liang Lin, Ya-Ling Hsu, Ying-Li Wang, Chun-Chieh Wang, Chen-Hsien Liao
  • Patent number: 8152351
    Abstract: Laser lit flat panel displays are disclosed including edge-lit and direct lit backlights. In certain embodiments, laser assemblies are selected to obtain bandwidth distributions to reduce speckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Corporation for Laser Optics Research
    Inventor: Masayuki Karakawa
  • Patent number: 8142064
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a display for outputting an image, a supporting device supporting the display, the supporting device contacting directly on an installing surface and extending upward, the supporting device being provided with an inner hollow portion, and a light emission unit emitting light reflecting from the inner hollow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Uk Baek, Seok Bong Han, Jong Man Park
  • Patent number: 8134658
    Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal display module that eliminates the loss of light emitted from a light source. The present invention provides a liquid crystal display module including: a liquid crystal display panel; and a backlight, wherein the liquid crystal display panel includes an upper polarization plate and a lower polarization plate, the backlight is configured by a light source and a light guide plate, the light guide plate is configured in such a manner that the thickness of an incident face where light of the light source enters is larger than that of a portion opposed to the lower polarization plate, a light shielding member and a reflection member arranged on the light shielding member are provided at portions, of the liquid crystal display panel, corresponding in the upper direction to the incident face of the light guide plate, and the reflection member is formed along the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignees: Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoya Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8130339
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a back housing, a top housing, a lamp, a light-guide plate, and a reflecting sheet. The back housing includes a bottom plate. The back housing and top housing form an accommodating space; the lamp is situated in the accommodating space. The light-guide plate is disposed on the bottom plate and has a lateral light-inputting surface and a bottom surface. Light emitted from the lamp enters the light-guide plate through the lateral light-inputting surface. The reflecting sheet is disposed between the light-guide plate and the bottom plate. The reflecting sheet includes a curved portion to enable the light-guide plate and the reflecting sheet to be combined conformingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Chen-Yi Wu, Chien-Chao Jaw, Hsueh-Chien Tseng
  • Patent number: 8128271
    Abstract: A light emitting sign including a lightguide having a thickness not greater than 0.5 millimeters. The lightguide having an array of elongated legs extending therefrom, wherein each leg terminates in a bounding edge and is folded such that the bounding edges are stacked. At least one light source emits light into the stacked bounding edges. The light travels within the legs to the lightguide, with the light from each leg combining and totally internally reflecting within the lightguide. A plurality of light scattering features frustrate totally internally reflected light within the lightguide such that the light exits the sign in a light emitting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: FLEx Lighting II, LLC
    Inventor: Anthony J. Nichol
  • Patent number: 8123390
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a plurality of lamps, a receiving container, a diffuser plate and a plurality of holding members. The lamps generate a light. The receiving container receives the lamps. The receiving container includes a bottom portion and a side portion protruded from a side of the bottom portion. The diffuser plate is over the lamps to diffuse the light generated from the lamps. The holding members are engaged with the bottom portion. Each of the holding members has a lamp holding portion that holds one of the lamps. 10 The lamp holding portion has an opening for receiving the lamp. The opening is inclined by a first angle with respect to a normal line of the bottom portion. Therefore, the lamps are securely combined with the lamp holding portion, and the lamps are easily assembled to protect the lamps from an externally provided impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 8120726
    Abstract: There is provided a surface light source device having a configuration where light sources are arranged on both of a pair of side surfaces of a light guide plate and allowed to independently form nonuniform light emission intensity distributions in which light emission intensity is lower and higher at places closer to and farther from each of the light sources. Light guide control sections controlling guiding of light from light sources are arranged on a reflection surface of a light guide plate. The light guide control section is configured of concave sections, and the concave sections include inclined surfaces facing the light source and inclined surfaces facing the light source, respectively, and the heights of the concave sections increase with increasing distance from the light source. A nonuniform light emission intensity distribution in which light emission intensity is lower and higher at places closer to and farther from the light source is formed by lighting of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromasa Suzuki, Motosuke Ohmi, Kanji Yokomizo
  • Patent number: 8120550
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a display device that employs edge emitters as a source for pixel electrons. The edge emitters allow the viewing glass plate to be made very small or eliminated, thereby substantially reducing the size of or eliminating the spacers typically utilized in conventional display devices and thereby enabling a simple and compact assembly structure. In one embodiment a pixel configuration comprises a phosphor area disposed between a plurality edge emitters, each of which are associated with tynes that are adapted to reduce the distance between the emitters and that separate the phosphor area into segments such that the emitters emit electrons when the voltage between a phosphor segment and the an emitter exceed a threshold voltage to cause the phosphor segment to emit light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Copytele, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. DiSanto, Denis A. Krusos
  • Patent number: 8107155
    Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for reducing visible artifacts such as Moiré, or interference, patterns, in displays. One embodiment includes a display device comprising a plurality of light modulators and a plurality of illumination elements configured to direct light to the light modulators. The directed light of the plurality of illumination elements collectively defines an nonuniformly varying pattern of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ion Bita, Gang Xu, Mark Mienko, Russell Wayne Gruhlke
  • Patent number: 8081270
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to backlight modules for display devices and liquid crystal displays incorporating the same, and more particularly, to a backlight module for generating light with a single polarization state. The present invention provides a backlight module, comprising an optical cavity for reflecting and depolarizing light that is incident upon a front surface of said optical cavity and a multilayer polarizer comprising a plurality of layers. Said multilayer polarizer faces the front surface of the optical cavity and the layers are arranged in such a way that a light of polarization substantially parallel to the transmission axis of said multilayer polarizer is substantially transmitted and the light of substantially orthogonal polarization is substantially reflected by said multilayer polarizer in at least one predetermined wavelength subrange of the visible wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Crysoptix, KK
    Inventor: Pavel I. Lazarev
  • Patent number: 8064006
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a light source unit including a circuit board, a light source disposed on a first plane of the circuit board, and at least one connection unit disposed on a second plane opposite to the first plane of the circuit board and electrically connected to the light source, a receiving container having a bottom plate and sidewalls extending from edges of the bottom plate and receiving the light source unit, the bottom plate including at least one opening portion in which the connection unit is inserted and exposed to the outside, and at least one driving unit disposed at a rear surface of the receiving container and connected to the connection unit for driving the light source unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Hee Park, Bong-Hyun You, Jae-Chang Choi
  • Patent number: 8049838
    Abstract: A direct light type backlight unit and a color filterless liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus employing the same are provided. The direct light type backlight unit includes: a substrate; a plurality of light-emitting devices inclined with respect to the substrate; a diffraction grating which diffracts light emitted by the plurality of light-emitting devices at different angles according to wavelength and thereby separates the light into a plurality of color beams; and a plurality of reflectors, each reflector disposed at a side of one of the plurality of light-emitting devices, which reduces the range of angles of light incident on the diffraction grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Il-yong Jung
  • Patent number: 8042955
    Abstract: Disclosed is a light source module including a first light emission unit having a first laser light source, and a first cooling part on which the first laser light source is mounted; a second light emission unit having a second laser light source, and a second cooling part on which the second laser light source is mounted; and an insulating member provided between the first light emission unit and the second light emission unit. The first light emission unit and the second light emission unit are constructed in such a manner that the first laser light source and the second laser light source are disposed close to each other, and the first cooling part and the second cooling part are disposed away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8033708
    Abstract: There is provided an illumination device equipped with a light guide plate, a light source unit having a plurality of point like light sources for supplying light to the light guide plate and a light source holding member for holding the point like light sources, the light source unit being disposed to oppose an edge face of the light guide plate, and a housing for holding the light guide plate and the light source unit. The light source unit is constituted so as to be inserted in and extracted from the housing by a slide mechanism that can be slid along the edge face of the light guide plate, and the light source unit is equipped with a spacer for assuring a gap between the edge face of the light guide plate and the light sources at a slide insertion side end of the light source unit with respect to the housing when the light source unit is slidingly inserted in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Tsubaki
  • Patent number: 8029181
    Abstract: A light collector is provided to converge light from a light source down to a range of acceptance angles of an illumination optic, and to couple the converged light into the illumination optic, where the range of acceptance angles of the illumination optic is less than a range of emission angles of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian Travis, Timothy Large, Neil Emerton, Steven Bathiche, Glen C. Larsen