Film Or Coating Patents (Class 362/618)
  • Publication number: 20120155114
    Abstract: A lighting module may be provided that includes a light guide plate; a first case coupled to one side of the light guide plate; a first light source which is disposed in the first case and emits light to the one side of the light guide plate; a second case coupled to the other side of the light guide plate; and a second light source which is disposed in the second case and emits light to the other side of the light guide plate. An amount of light which is emitted through a top surface of the light guide plate is equal to or not equal to an amount of light which is emitted through a bottom surface of the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Han Gyoul KIM, Hwa Young KIM, Il Yeong KANG, Young Kuk KWAK, Sang Jun HONG, Jin Wook KIM, Young Sik KIM
  • Patent number: 8189136
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display contains a light source, a light guide panel that directs light from the light source towards a display panel, and optical sheets containing a diffusion sheet that spreads the light from the light guide panel and at least one prism sheet that redirects light from the diffusion sheet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the display panel. The optical sheets contain a region adjacent to the light source that has a hardened part that substantially prevents heat from being transferred to a display region of the optical sheet corresponding to the display region of the display panel and minimizes the temperature difference across the display region. The hardened part is formed on at least opposing sides of the optical sheets, overlaps a non-display region of the display panel and is bent or contains a convex part that projects towards the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Jae You, Woo Jae Lee, Moon Soo Yeom, Byung In Park
  • Patent number: 8142063
    Abstract: Light emitting panel assembly comprises a light emitting panel member and a light source. At least one surface of the panel member has a pattern of light extracting deformities formed by applying the deformities to the panel member and afterward permanently attaching the deformities to the panel member to become part of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeffery R. Parker
  • Patent number: 8136975
    Abstract: An optical film is applied to a side-emitting backlight module. The side-emitting backlight module has a light guide plate for guiding a chief light beam. The light guide plate has a light emitting surface to define a normal direction thereof. The optical film includes a lower prism structure, an intermedium layer, and an upper prism structure. The lower prism structure is disposed on the light emitting surface. The intermedium layer is connected between the lower prism structure and the upper prism structure. When the chief light beam exits from the light emitting surface of the light guide plate, and then goes through the lower prism structure, it goes through the intermedium layer along a changed traveling direction. When the chief light beam exits from the intermedium layer, and goes through the upper prism structure, it turns from the changed traveling direction to the normal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Tzeng-Ke Shiau, Ching-Shiang Li, Wen-Bin Chou, Chih-Jen Tsang
  • Patent number: 8118464
    Abstract: A light guide plate (LGP) including a first surface, a second surface, a light incident surface and a plurality of optical micro-structures is provided. The first surface is opposite to the second surface. The light incident surface connects the first surface and the second surface. The optical micro-structures are disposed on the second surface and include a plurality of round protrusive points and a plurality of curved protrusions. The curved protrusions are disposed among the round protrusive points. Each of the curved protrusions has a first arc side and a second arc side opposite to the first arc side, and an indentation of the first arc side and an indentation of the second arc side are substantially towards a same direction. In addition, a backlight module employing the above-mentioned LGP is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Liang-Kang Chang
  • Patent number: 8109666
    Abstract: A light guide member of the present invention is made of a light transmitting material. The light guide includes a light emitting surface 13, which extends in direction x and includes a lens surface 31 for converging light in direction y. The light guide also includes a light incident surface 11 provided at one of the ends spaced from each other in the direction x. The light emitting surface 13 includes a transitional region 13a adjacent to the light incident surface 11, where the transitional region includes the lens surface 31 and a round pillar surface 32. In the transitional region 13a, the lens surface 31 becomes less dominant in area as proceeding in the direction x toward the light incident surface 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Sawada, Norihiro Imamura, Motoari Shoji
  • Patent number: 8109665
    Abstract: A backlight module is provided. The backlight module has a reflective chamber and a light source. The reflective chamber includes a bottom reflector, a top reflector, at least a light entrance, and a plurality of light emitting openings disposed on the top reflector. The light source is disposed corresponding to the light entrance. The number of the light emitting openings per unit area in a region near the light source is less than the number of the light emitting openings per unit area in another region far from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Pin Lin, Tzung-Yang Li, Chien-Lung Tsou, Chi-Neng Mo
  • Patent number: 8100575
    Abstract: A one-way see-through illumination system is constructed from a light guide panel, a front-illuminable image film, and a light injector. The light injector injects light into the light guide panel at a suitable angle for total internal reflection of the injected light at the surfaces of the light guide panel. The image film includes a half-toned front-illuminable image pattern that extracts light from the light guide panel. When active, light from the light guide panel front illuminates the image pattern for viewing by a front-side view, while a back-side viewer can see through the image pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Kevin G. Donahue
  • Patent number: 8096696
    Abstract: A display panel and a light source device used therein are provided. The display panel includes a light-guide thin-film circuit substrate, a light source and a polarizing layer. The light-guide thin-film circuit substrate has a light entrance end and a light exit top surface, and the light source is disposed corresponding to the light entrance end. The polarizing layer is disposed on the light-guide thin-film circuit substrate and parallels the light exit top surface of the light-guide thin-film circuit substrate. The light produced by the light source enters the circuit substrate through the light entrance end, guided and transmitted through the circuit substrate, and then leaves the circuit substrate through the light exit top surface and enters the polarizing layer. The light after passing through the polarizing layer is turned into a polarized light having flat light source effect as a backlight source for the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hsin-Tao Huang, Deng-Kuen Shiau, Chun-Chi Hsu, Chun-Chung Hsiao, Mao-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 8092067
    Abstract: A display panel and a light source device used therein are provided. The display panel includes a light-guide thin-film circuit substrate, a light source and a polarizing layer. The light-guide thin-film circuit substrate has a light entrance end and a light exit top surface, and the light source is disposed corresponding to the light entrance end. The polarizing layer is disposed on the light-guide thin-film circuit substrate and parallels the light exit top surface of the light-guide thin-film circuit substrate. The light produced by the light source enters the circuit substrate through the light entrance end, guided and transmitted through the circuit substrate, and then leaves the circuit substrate through the light exit top surface and enters the polarizing layer. The light after passing through the polarizing layer is turned into a polarized light having flat light source effect as a backlight source for the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hsin-Tao Huang, Deng-Kuen Shiau, Chun-Chi Hsu, Chun-Chung Hsiao, Mao-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 8047697
    Abstract: The light from a light source (4) using an LED enters a light entrance surface (2c) of a light guide plate (2) which is integrated with an microprism array sheet (3). A diffusion film (7) for diffusing light is bonded to a top surface (2b) of the light guide plate (2) in a region near the light source (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shigeta, Masanobu Okano
  • Patent number: 8016475
    Abstract: A selectively light-reflecting sheet (30) includes a prismatic film (1) with parallel prisms (10) on its face, a low-index film (3) on the prisms and a layer (5) on the low-index film, this layer having a substantially flat surface. This results in a low effective index, which means that light incident at steeper angles on the prismatic film (1) will pass through it. This “leaky” effect can be used in conjunction with a reflector sheet (20) in a tapered-waveguide arrangement to construct a lightweight backlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Adrian Travis
  • Patent number: 8016474
    Abstract: A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display which can achieve substantially uniform luminance over the entire display screen includes: a light-guide plate guiding incident light and having a diffusion pattern for emitting light upward, the diffusion pattern being formed on at least one of upper and lower surfaces of the light-guide plate; and a point light source assembly disposed on at least one side portion of the light-guide plate, the point light source assembly including a plurality of point-light-source elements and a support substrate, in which the point-light-source elements are disposed on the support substrate and supply the light to the light-guide plate. An edge portion of one surface of the light-guide plate, which is adjacent to the point light source assembly, includes a first region corresponding to the point-light-source elements and a second region corresponding to a position between the point-light-source elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-suk Ha
  • Publication number: 20110216556
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a light guide plate guiding a light, a light source arranged in a side portion of the light guide plate to generate the light, a display panel receiving the light from the light guide plate to display an image, a frame including a sidewall and a support part extended from the sidewall to support the display panel, and an optical member arranged between the light guide plate and the display panel to control a path of the light exiting from the light guide plate. The optical member includes a first side portion and a second side portion, a side surface of the first side portion faces a side surface of the support part, and the second side portion is positioned between the support part and the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Joo Woan CHO, Yong Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 8002455
    Abstract: A light-emitting panel (50) includes a first light source (511) for emitting first light of a first single color, a second light source (512) for emitting second light of a second single color and a light guide plate (52). The light guide plate (52) includes a light incident surface (55) for receiving the first and second light and a display surface (53). A plurality of first microstructures (561) and second microstructures (562) are formed at the display surface (53). The first and second microstructures (561,562) are configured for allowing the first and second light to exit therethrough. The first and second microstructures (561,562) are respectively arranged to form a first pattern (58) and a second pattern (59). A first dye material and second dye material are respectively applied to the first and second microstructures (561,562).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Foxsemicon Integrated Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Ming Lai, Tse-An Lee
  • Patent number: 7997780
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a housing, a plurality of LEDs arranged on a base of the housing, and a first optical plate positioned above the LEDs. The first optical plate includes a light input surface, a light output surface opposite to the light input surface, and a plurality of elongated arcuate protrusions formed on the light output surface. The elongated arcuate protrusions are substantially parallel to one another. The lighting device may be used as a backlight module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Publication number: 20110187967
    Abstract: A surface light source device includes a point source of light and a light guide plate causing light from the point source of light introduced from a light incident end face and emitted from a light emission surface to outside. The light guide plate is formed of a light introducing portion provided at an end of a light guide plate body. The point source of light is placed facing the light incident end face positioned at an end face of the light introducing portion. Along a region of the light introducing portion adjacent to the light guide plate body, a directivity converting portion is provided. The directivity converting portion is configured by arranging V-grooved directivity conversion patterns in an arc shape. A region of the light introducing portion has a thickness equal to that of the light guide plate body and has a surface positioned in the same plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Shinohara, Yasuhiro Tanoue, Takako Ishikawa, Yoshihiro Ueno
  • Publication number: 20110187964
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel module, a backlight module and a liquid crystal display (LCD) are provided. The liquid crystal panel module includes a liquid crystal panel and a diffraction grating layer. The liquid crystal panel has a plurality of pixels. The diffraction grating layer is disposed on the liquid crystal panel, and a maximum period of a grating of the diffraction grating layer is smaller than 1/10 of a size of the pixels. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, a light emitting element and a diffraction grating film. A light provided by the light emitting element emits from a light emitting surface of the light guide plate and is bended towards the light emitting element after passing through the diffraction grating film. The liquid crystal panel module and the backlight module can be applied to the LCD together or individually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicants: CHIMEI INNOLUX CORPORATION, CHI MEI CORPORATION, KLASER TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Wang-Yang LI, Hung-Yu LIN, Hsin-Wen CHANG, Yi-Pan LIANG, Chien-Chih WANG, Wai-Hon LEE, Huai-Fang TSAI
  • Patent number: 7988329
    Abstract: An input device capable of enhancing symbol readability for an electronic product includes a plurality of keypads for displaying a plurality of first kind symbols and a plurality of second kind symbols; a detection unit for detecting an operation mode of the electronic device; and a control unit coupled to the detection unit and the plurality of keypads for controlling the plurality of keypads to display the plurality of first kind symbols or the plurality of second kind symbols according to a detection result of the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Jen-Hsiang Chiang, Hsin-Chuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 7972051
    Abstract: Described are a backlight, a backlight assembly for use in an electronic device and an electronic device configured to activate the backlight's first light source and to activate the backlight's second light source independently of one another. The described double-sided backlight may illuminate either the primary display or the secondary display. The disclosed backlight includes two light sources, each used to direct light in opposite directions from the double-sided backlight. The light guide of the backlight is configured to direct light from the first light source in a first direction to exit the light guide via its first face, and to direct light from the second light source in a second direction different from the first direction to exit the light guide via its second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Wang, Sen Yang, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Patent number: 7967492
    Abstract: To provide a light diffusion film that contributes lightweight with reduction in thickness, a planar light source element utilizing the light diffusion film, and a liquid crystal display device utilizing the light diffusion film and/or the planar light source element. A light diffusion film (25) having a plurality of projections (23) of a specific shape is at least partly formed from a composition containing a mixture of a photocurable compound and a particulate material. A light guide plate (22), provided with one or more light sources (21) at one side face thereof, is bonded to vertexes of the projections (23) to provide a planar light source element, which is thin and lightweight and capable of emitting non-glaring light uniformly from the entire surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignees: Kuraray Co., Ltd., Toagosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nagasawa, Yasuyuki Sanai
  • Publication number: 20110122651
    Abstract: Provided is a backlight device which can suppress deterioration of uniformity. The backlight device (10) is provided with an LED (11), and a light guide plate (12) which includes a light incoming surface (12a) and a light outgoing surface (12b). An inclined surface (12c) which is inclined from the light outgoing surface is formed between the light incoming surface and the light outgoing surface of the light guide plate, and the light guide plate is formed such that the thickness of a portion on the light incoming surface side is more than that of a portion on the light outgoing surface side. At the front of the portion on the light incoming surface side of the light outgoing surface of the light guide plate, a regulating member (13), which has a light blocking characteristic and regulates shift of the light guide plate in the thickness direction of the light guide plate, is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masakazu Komano
  • Patent number: 7946726
    Abstract: An input device capable of enhancing symbol readability for an electronic product includes a plurality of keypads for displaying a plurality of first kind symbols and a plurality of second kind symbols; a detection unit for detecting an operation mode of the electronic device; and a control unit coupled to the detection unit and the plurality of keypads for controlling the plurality of keypads to display the plurality of first kind symbols or the plurality of second kind symbols according to a detection result of the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Jen-Hsiang Chiang, Hsin-Chuan Hsu
  • Publication number: 20110110116
    Abstract: An optical arrangement comprises a light guide and a light source for illuminating the light guide. The light guide comprises a transparent substrate layer and a transparent layer. The light guide has a light extraction surface on a surface of the substrate layer. The transparent layer is arranged on the surface of the substrate layer opposite to the light extraction surface, or the transparent layer is arranged on the light extraction surface of the substrate layer. The transparent layer contains means for improving light extraction. Further, a method for production a light guide is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventor: Kimberly Peiler
  • Patent number: 7926998
    Abstract: A light control film providing improved n front luminance and appropriate light diffusion, without problems of interference pattern, glare etc., has a rough surface constituted so that, for a curved surface portion of the rough surface, having an approximately square area of 1 mm2 or larger and defined at an arbitrary position on the rough surface by using data for heights of the rough surface measured at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal and transverse directions, an average of slopes of the curved surface portion (?nv degrees) of the rough surface, with respect to a base plane of the film, should be not less than 27 degrees and not more than 70 degrees at substantially any position on the light control film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Kimoto Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Etori
  • Patent number: 7914195
    Abstract: A display device has a light guide plate formed with a display pattern by a plurality of diffusion dots having translucency in a display pattern formed region, a light shielding layer, and a light source. A plurality of the light guide plates are arranged facing each other, and the light shielding layer is sandwiched between the light guide plates. Light from the light source is selectively introduced to one of the light guide plates to display the display pattern of the light guide plate. The light shielding layer has a surface facing an observer's side formed by a low reflectivity material and a surface facing a side opposite to the observer's side formed by a high reflectivity material. A region facing the display pattern of the light guide plate positioned on the side opposite to the observer's side than the light shielding layer is cut out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Sawada, Toshimitsu Fujiwara, Yuji Sakashita, Yusuke Akioka
  • Patent number: 7914192
    Abstract: A light transmitting diffusing sheet can be used in backlighting systems for liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Such displays are typically used in televisions, computer monitors, laptop computers and handheld devices such as mobile phones. Embodiments of the light diffusing sheets are suitable for use with both cold-cathode fluorescent (CCFL) and light emitting diode based backlighting systems. Desired light transmitting properties in the light transmitting diffusing sheet have been achieved by modifying both the volume and surface features of the sheet. Embodiments of this invention when used as part of the backlighting assembly for a LCD system results in improved brightness and controlled viewing angles. In one embodiment, substantially asymmetric particles in the volume of the sheet are combined with a ridged structure on one surface of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Fusion Optix, Inc.
    Inventor: Zane Coleman
  • Patent number: 7914197
    Abstract: A light guide member, a flat light source device and a display device using the light guide member. A plurality of luminescent devices that emit light of violet to blue color are arrayed on a substrate, and a light guide member is disposed upward thereof that includes a first area that consists of a transparent resin and composed of the resin independently, a second area in which there is dissolved in the resin a luminescent substance that generates a second color having a radiation peak wavelength at a wavelength different from a radiation peak wavelength of a luminescent device of the first color, and a third area in which there is dissolved in the resin a luminescent substance that generates a third color having a radiation peak wavelength at a wavelength different from the radiation peak wavelengths of luminescent devices of the first and second colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Shuichi Naijo, Koji Tokita
  • Patent number: 7914196
    Abstract: Light redirecting film systems comprise a backlight having deformities that cause a majority of the light entering the input edge of the backlight to be emitted from a light output surface of the backlight. In close proximity to the light output surface is a light redirecting film that has a pattern of individual optical elements of well-defined shape to redistribute the light emitted by the light output surface toward a direction normal to the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Robert M. Ezell
  • Patent number: 7905651
    Abstract: A diffusively reflective film includes a base film, a light reflection layer and a light diffusion layer. The base film is flexible. The light reflection layer is disposed on the base film. The light reflection film reflects a first light. The light diffusion layer is disposed on the light reflection layer. The light diffusion layer diffuses the first light to form a second light. The diffusively reflective film may be bent to cover the light guide plate without being broken so as to increase the amount of light. Thus, a display quality is enhanced. Further, the diffusively reflective film covers the first side face, the second side face and the first face of light guide plate at once. Thus, productivity is enhanced and its manufacturing cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Woong Han, Kyu-Seok Kim, Jeong-Hwan Lee, Young-Bee Chu
  • Patent number: 7905627
    Abstract: A keypad device for an electronic device includes a substrate, a first light-emitting device coupled to the substrate for generating a first colored light source, a second light-emitting device coupled to the substrate for generating a second colored light source different from the first colored light source, a first transparent board made of a translucent material of a first color for displaying a first symbol, a second transparent board made of a translucent material of a second color, for displaying a second symbol, and a transparent film deployed on the first transparent board and the second transparent board. The first color is a complementary color of the color of the first colored light source, and the second color is a complementary color of the color of the second colored light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Jen-Hsiang Chiang, Hsin-Chuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 7891855
    Abstract: A light guiding structure for connector includes a light-guiding unit having more than one light guiding post, and each of the light guiding posts having a light-input end and a light-output end; and a shielding unit enclosing an outer side of the light guiding posts. When the light guiding structure is mounted on a connector case for guiding light, light beams propagating in different light guiding posts are isolated from one another by the shielding unit. Therefore, light beams can be stably and exactly guided by the light guiding posts without light loss and mutual interference to thereby avoid error determination by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: All Best Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haven Yang
  • Patent number: 7887206
    Abstract: An optical includes an optical body including a plurality of side faces where one of the plurality of side faces defines a light entrance face onto which a blue light is incident. A light exit face is connected to at least one of the side faces, and a yellow fluorescent layer is disposed on the light entrance face and is configured to convert the blue light into a white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Young Lee
  • Patent number: 7862223
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a thin and flexible light guide element, which comprises a first optical layer composed of a flexible transparent material; a second optical layer formed on the lower side of the first optical layer and having a light-adjusting structure to change the light path; and a third optical layer formed on the upper side of the first optical layer and having a convex-concave structure to homogenize the light emitted from the first optical layer, wherein the first and second optical layers have different refractive indices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Eternal Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lung-Lin Hsu
  • Patent number: 7857476
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes an array of optical waveguides that are arranged in rows and columns. The array of optical waveguides has a planar upper surface substantially comprised of light exit facet of optical waveguides and spaced-apart lower surface substantially comprised of light input facet of optical waveguides. Backlight assembly also includes a light reflector panel that is spaced-apart from the lower surface of the array. Disposed between reflector panel and the lower light input facet of the optical waveguides are light sources. Light sources comprise light emitting diodes having 120 degree emission angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventors: Edward Pakhchyan, Haik Mesropian, Syuzi Pakhchyan
  • Publication number: 20100321609
    Abstract: An edge-lit backlight unit for a display is provided. In one embodiment, the backlight unit may include a light guide configured to receive light from a source and emit such light in a broad distribution to a turning film disposed over the light guide. The turning film may be configured to redirect light received from the light guide toward a normal of the turning film. In one embodiment, the light guide may be configured such that peak light distribution therefrom occurs at an incident angle of approximately sixty degrees, with broad light distribution substantially occurring over an angular range between incident angles of thirty-five and eighty-five degrees. Additionally, in one embodiment, the turning film may include multiple prisms that receive and redirect the light emitted from the light guide, and that include apex angles of less than or about sixty degrees. Additional edge-lit backlight units and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jun Qi, Victor H. Yin, John Z. Zhong, Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 7847880
    Abstract: A light guiding plate, a backlight assembly having the light guiding plate and a display device having the backlight assembly include a light guiding plate body, a polarization transformation layer on a surface of the light guiding plate body to transform a polarization component of light emitted through the light guiding plate, and a polarization extraction layer on the polarization transformation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joong-Hyun Kim, In-Sun Hwang
  • Patent number: 7842376
    Abstract: Diffusers including of a plurality of protruded structures with each structure containing multiple rugged facets are disclosed. The diffuser may be fabricated by coating a mixture of materials on a carrier film, the mixture of materials including at least a first material that polymerizes upon irradiation and at least a second material that is incompatible with the first material in polymerized form, then selectively irradiating the mixture of materials to polymerize a portion of the mixture of materials to form polymerized structures, and finally removing that part of the mixture of materials not forming part of the structures. A transparent material may be coated over the structures. The overcoat material may further contain scattering elements such as glass beads or polymeric particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventor: Zhijian Lu
  • Patent number: 7837376
    Abstract: An image display apparatus comprising a light guide plate, a light-emitting diode (LED), a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate is provided. Light generated from the LED is guided into the light guide plate through the edge thereof, and outwardly projected through the two opposite surfaces of the light guide plate. Thus, a pattern being disposed in front of the first transparent substrate or the second transparent substrate would be lighted up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lextar Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Meng-Chai Wu, Chien-Lung Lee
  • Patent number: 7837350
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) illumination device (10) includes an LED (11), a frustum-shaped light guide member (12) and a light diffusing plate (13). The frustum-shaped light guide member (12) has a light input surface (120) and a light output surface (122) opposite to the light input surface (120). The light guide member (12) tapers from the light output surface (122) to the light input surface (120). The light input surface (120) is optically coupled to the LED (11), and the light diffusing plate (13) is optically coupled to the light output surface (122) of the light guide member (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Foxsemicon Integrated Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Chung Tsao, Mei-Jiun Lin, Hung-Chih Yang, Jui-Wen Fang, Shu-Hui Hsieh, Chih-Ming Lai
  • Publication number: 20100265739
    Abstract: A light-diffusing sheet which can prevent generation of scratches on the surface of the light-diffusing sheet or a surface of another member contacting with the light-diffusing sheet at the time of being used as a constituent member of a backlight unit of a liquid crystal display or transportation thereof, and also can exhibit the light-diffusing performance is provided. The light-diffusing sheet of the present invention has a light-diffusing layer comprising microparticles, wherein the light-diffusing layer has a surface showing a maximum peak height (Rp) of 8.0 ?m or higher in a roughness curve determined by three-dimensional surface profilometry, and mean particle size (?) of the microparticles contained in the light-diffusing layer and thickness (d) of the light-diffusing layer satisfy the relationship: ?/d?0.7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Yohei Funabashi, Hiroyasu Ishikawa, Kenji Fukui
  • Patent number: 7815357
    Abstract: A high quality surface light source in which various kinds of unevenness in luminance due to use of small number of spot-like primary light sources for reducing power consumption is eliminated, and a light guide for use therein. The planar light guide (4) guides light emitted from a plurality of spot-like primary light sources (2) and has an incoming end face (41) of lights emitted from the primary light source (2) and an outgoing face (43) of guided light. A high light diffusion region (431) extends substantially along the direction of directivity of light entering the light guide (4) in a plane extending along the outgoing face (43), in the vicinity of the incoming end face of at least one of the outgoing face (43) and its rear surface (44) on the opposite side. The high light diffusion region (431) has a mean inclination angle larger than that of an adjacent region (434).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Hayashi, Tomoyoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7812899
    Abstract: A polarized light emitting light guide plate includes: a transparent substrate of optically isotropic material, in which the light incident through a lateral side thereof travels; an anisotropic liquid crystal polymer layer formed on an upper surface of the substrate and having first and second refractive indices with respect to first and second perpendicular polarization components; and a polarization separation microstructure formed at an interface between the transparent substrate and the liquid crystal polymer layer, which refracts or reflects the first polarization component and transmits the second polarization component. The refractive index of the polarization separation microstructure is substantially equal to the refractive index of the substrate; the first refractive index of the liquid crystal polymer layer is greater than the refractive index of the substrate, and the second refractive index of the liquid crystal polymer layer light is substantially equal to the refractive index of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-mo Hwang, Dong-ho Wee, Seung-ho Nam
  • Patent number: 7806538
    Abstract: An LED light source device can have a simple configuration which can easily create a desired light distribution pattern with a low profile and light weight. An illumination apparatus and a vehicle lighting device can also be configured to use the LED light source device. The light source device can include a light guide plate made of a flat plate-like material that is transparent in the visible range, and which has a front surface serving as a light emission surface. A point light source can be opposed to an end surface of the light guide plate. A rear surface of the light guide plate can include a luminance control element configured to control a luminance distribution on the light emission surface. The luminance control element controls light from the light source, incident through the end surface of the light guide plate, so that a reduced inversion of a light distribution pattern that is to be emitted is formed on the light emission surface as the luminance distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Ajiki, Koichi Masuyama, Naoya Sone, Sadayuki Konishi, Yasuo Toko
  • Patent number: 7802908
    Abstract: A light guide module and a display device with the light guide module are disclosed. The light guide module includes a rigid light guide film and a soft light guide film. The soft light guide film is pasted on the rigid light guide film. The soft light guide film has a first surface, and a pattern is formed on the first surface. The area of the first surface without the pattern is pasted on the rigid light guide film. The pattern is positioned between the soft light guide film and the rigid light guide film. The display device includes at least one light guide module and a light source located at one side of the light guide module. When the light source is on, the pattern is lit and visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignees: Silitek Electronic (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hui-Ling Lin, Chang-Hung Pan
  • Patent number: 7782420
    Abstract: An optical element covering member is provided which can suppress degradation in display performance caused by warping and undulation. The optical element covering member includes at least one optical element, a support medium supporting the optical element; and a covering member covering the optical element and the support medium. In the above optical element covering member, the covering member has a Vicat softening point of more than 85° C., and at least one surface of the covering member, which covers the support medium, has a coefficient of thermal expansion in the range of 85% to 160% of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the support medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Ohta, Toru Abiko, Masayasu Kakinuma, Ken Hosoya, Taku Ishimori, Shigehiro Yamakita, Shogo Shinkai
  • Patent number: 7778508
    Abstract: Image display optical systems are disclosed that extend the angle of view longitudinally and transversely while saving space. The image display optical system includes a prism-shaped substrate transparent to an image-carrying light flux to be projected to a viewing eye, an introduction unit that guides the image-carrying light flux to a propagation path through which the image-carrying light flux propagates in a direction in which the image-carrying light flux from the outside enables internal reflection at least at three surfaces including at least one side of the substrate, and an output unit that guides the image-carrying light flux propagating through the substrate from the substrate to the viewing eye. By internally reflecting the image-carrying light flux at all the sides, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Hirayama
  • Patent number: 7777833
    Abstract: A double-side illumination apparatus includes a light source, an isotropic light guide plate including an incident plane on which light emitted from the light source is incident, an opposite plane facing the incident plane, and upper and lower surfaces through which the light is out-coupled. Isotropic micro-structures are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the isotropic light guide plate, respectively, and first and second anisotropic layers are respectively formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the isotropic light guide plate so as to completely cover the isotropic micro-structures. Herein, the first and second anisotropic layers have different refractive indices with respect to light having first and second polarization components that are perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-mo Hwang, Dong-ho Wee, Seung-ho Nam
  • Patent number: 7775700
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to an optical turning film for providing light redirection, comprising: (a) an input surface for accepting incident light comprising a plurality of roof prism structures arranged in a two-dimensional array; and, (b) a substantially planar output surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronics Materials LLC
    Inventor: Junwon Lee
  • Patent number: 7771103
    Abstract: A diffuser is provided in an illumination system, where the diffuser is capable of blocking significant amounts of infrared (IR) and/or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the diffuser includes a glass substrate which supports an IR/UV coating(s) that blocks significant amounts of IR and/or UV radiation thereby reducing the amount of IR and/or UV radiation which can makes its way through the diffuser. In certain example embodiments, the coating may include particulate in a frit matrix so that the coating may both diffuse visible light and perform IR and/or UV blocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Pramod K. Sharma, Desaraju V. Varaprasad, Thomas J. Taylor