Film Or Coating Patents (Class 362/618)
  • Patent number: 7771091
    Abstract: A light control film having a refractive index n and an uneven, irregular surface pattern provides a reasonable level of light diffusion without a glare problem provided, for any cross-section perpendicular to the base plane of the film, the average of absolute values of slope ?ave of a curve along the edge of the cross-section contoured by the rough surface pattern (profile curve) is at least 78-34 n degrees and no higher than 118-34 n degrees, or the average of absolute values of slope ?ave of a profile curve to the length L1 of a straight line defined by the intersection of the base plane and the cross-section satisfies the following formula (3) or (4) for substantially all cross-sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Kimoto Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Etori
  • Patent number: 7744263
    Abstract: Disclosed are structured optical films and optical displays incorporating such films. The film has a structured surface including a plurality of substantially parallel and elongate light-directing elements. Each element has a respective peak and defining at a junction with an adjacent element a respective valley. Each of the peaks and valleys define substantially the same dihedral angle and extend substantially uninterrupted across the structured surface. A first sequence defined by successive lateral distances between adjacent peaks is a first non-periodic sequence. A second sequence defined by successive lateral distances between adjacent valleys is a second non-periodic sequence. The second sequence is configured based on the first sequence, such that the peaks are arranged in a substantially coplanar formation. Alternatively, the first sequence is configured based on the second sequence, such that the valleys are arranged in a substantially coplanar formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Microsharp Corporation Limited
    Inventor: David John Bottomley
  • Publication number: 20100157625
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for displaying multiple views, including forming a light guide plate having edge faces forming different-direction light incidence surfaces, setting light sources corresponding to the different-direction light incidence surfaces respectively, operating the light sources that correspond to the different-direction light incidence surfaces to respectively give off lights in a fast and intermittently alternating manner, deflecting the lights to respective predetermined orientations with the light guide plate, further deflecting the lights to desired orientations with optic films set on the light emission surface of the light guide plate, and operating a liquid crystal panel to realize control of signals for different images so as to show multiple views with the light sources that give off lights in different directions and the signals of the different images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Chien-Chin Mai, Jui-Tang Yin, Yeong-Feng Wang
  • Patent number: 7731407
    Abstract: A display device includes: a light source; a light guide plate including a first plate surface that emits light incident from the light source, a second plate surface other than the first plate surface, and at least two protruding portions formed on the second plate surface; a light source board including the light source arranged thereon, the light source board arranged on the second plate surface; and an optical sheet including a first sheet surface arranged to face the first plate surface, a second sheet surface arranged to face the light source board, and at least two protruding portions formed on the second sheet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ito, Masayuki Kawano
  • Patent number: 7712910
    Abstract: Backlighting methods and apparatuses to backlight a device. The backlighting apparatus includes a flexible light guide, a light source, and a housing. The light source is disposed adjacent to a transmission interface of the flexible light guide to illuminate the flexible light guide. The housing at least partially encloses the flexible light guide and the light source. A surface area of the flexible light guide is visible through the housing. By using a flexible light guide to backlight the device, the size of the device is reduced compared to conventional devices. Alternatively, the device may accommodate additional components. Other advantages also may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Fook Chuin Ng, Choon Guan Ko, Sian Tatt Lee
  • Publication number: 20100110727
    Abstract: A planar lighting device provided with a film in front of the light guide plate, wherein the film can be disposed independently of the light guide plate so that the film does not affect the expansion and contraction of the light guide plate while the expansion and contraction of the film are prevented from affecting the light guide plate. The planar lighting device includes a light guide plate, a light source unit, a film supporter and at least one sheet of film. The light guide plate includes a rectangular light exit plane and a light entrance plane existing one side of the light exit plate, the planar lighting device being installed with that one side being located above the opposite side. The light source is disposed opposite the light entrance plane. The sheet of film is suspended from a film supporter and disposed in front of the light exit plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7708446
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a display film stack for a backlight display system. In one embodiment, the display system comprises: a light source, a first film comprising a first surface texture layer that is formed of a first material of a first refractive index, and a second film comprising a second surface texture layer that is formed of a second material of a second refractive index. The second film is disposed between the light source and the first film. The second refractive index is greater than the first refractive index. The light source is disposed in optical communication with the first film and the second film. The first surface texture layer and the second surface texture layer comprise unit structures independently selected from the group consisting of hemispherical structures, partial hemispherical structures, ellipsoidal structures, immersed spherical beads, ellipsoidal beads, “bell-shape” bump and complex lens shape structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastic IP B.V.
    Inventors: Jian Zhou, Kevin Patrick Capaldo, Chung-hei Yeung, Mahari Tjahjadi, Andrei Sharygin
  • Publication number: 20100103700
    Abstract: A light source module includes at least one light emitting device and a focus adjustable lens array. The light emitting device is adapted to emit a light beam, the focus adjustable lens array is disposed in the transmission path of the light beam and includes a plurality of focus adjustable lenses arranged in an array. Each of the focus adjustable lenses includes a first light transmissive plate disposed in the transmission path of the light beam, a first electrode disposed on a peripheral area of the first light transmissive plate, a second light transmissive plate disposed in the transmission path of the beam, a second electrode disposed on a peripheral area of the second light transmissive plate, and a focus adjustable solution disposed between the first light transmissive plate and the second light transmissive plate. The focus adjustable solution includes a solvent and an electrotaxis solute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: Chih-Jen Tsang
  • Patent number: 7703969
    Abstract: A backlight unit includes a light guide plate having opposite side surfaces and a peripheral edge surface. A part of the peripheral edge surface is a light entrance surface, and one of the opposite side surfaces is a light exit surface. A light source is disposed adjacent to the light entrance surface of the light guide plate. A light deflecting film is disposed adjacent and parallel to the light exit surface of the light guide plate. The light deflecting film has a multilayer construction wherein light reflecting layers and light transmitting layers are stacked one by one alternately. The light reflecting and transmitting layers are tilted at a predetermined angle to the light exit surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignees: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd., Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Miyashita
  • Patent number: 7699503
    Abstract: A light control film enabling improvement in front luminance, having appropriate light diffusing property and free from problems of interference pattern, glare etc. is provided. A light control film 10 having a rough surface as one surface and a substantially smooth surface as the other surface is constituted so that total light transmission of the film for lights entered from the smooth surface should be not more than 65%, total light transmission of the film for lights entered from the rough surface should be not less than 80%, as measured according to the measurement method defined in JIS K7361-1:1997, and a value obtained by subtracting the total light transmission for smooth surface incidence from the total light transmission for rough surface incidence should be not less than 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Kimoto Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Etori
  • Patent number: 7695150
    Abstract: To provide a lighting unit which: does not greatly affect the design of a light guide plate; and has a long lifetime, high efficiency, and a wide color reproduction range by means of a phosphor. In view of the foregoing, the lighting unit of the present invention is constituted in such a manner that a phosphor bead or a phosphor film is arranged on at least one of the light irradiation plane of a light guide plate, the rear surface of the light guide plate, and the light incidence plane of the light guide plate. In addition, a phosphor film is constituted by using: a phosphor bead formed of a phosphor particle and a water-impervious material with which the phosphor particle is coated so that the particle is confined in the material; and a polymer film holding the phosphor bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Norihiro Dejima, Makoto Kurihara, Tomoki Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7677743
    Abstract: An exemplary process for making a light guide includes the steps of: providing a transparent base sheet; punching the base sheet to form an array of first apertures therein; coating a melted resin material in the first apertures and making the melted resin material fill up the first apertures; solidifying the melted resin material to form a plurality of resin blocks; punching the base sheet to form an array of second apertures in the resin blocks, the second apertures configured for illuminating the keys via at least one light source; and trimming the base sheet with the second apertures to form a light guide. A light guide made by the process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-Ming Hsu, Chien-Min Chen, Ming-Fu Hsu
  • Patent number: 7674031
    Abstract: An optical film with a plurality of micro structures which are capable of collecting incident light to the frontal and normalized view angle of the optical film for reducing the chance of incident light returning to light guild plate so as to enhance light collecting efficiency is provided in the present invention. In an embodiment, the optical film is combined with a flat light source so as to form a backlight system. By means of the merit of the optical film, the quantities of the optical film can be reduced so that the backlight system can have characteristics of thin thickness and low production cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yi-Ting Sung, Chia-Wei Yu, Yu-Nan Pao
  • Patent number: 7637640
    Abstract: An exemplary optical plate includes a transparent layer and a light diffusion layer. The transparent layer includes a light input interface and a light output surface opposite to the light input interface. A plurality of micro-protrusions formed on the light output surface. The micro-protrusions are arranged along a plurality of separate, circular arcs. Each micro-protrusion has four side surfaces connected to each other, and a transverse width of each side surface decreases along a direction away from the light diffusion layer. The light diffusion layer is integrally formed in immediate contact with the light input interface of the transparent layer, and free of air or gas pockets trapped in an interface therebetween. The light diffusion layer includes a transparent matrix resin and a plurality of diffusion particles dispersed in the transparent matrix resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Publication number: 20090316433
    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: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Sung-Kyu Shim, In-Sun Hwang, Hyoung-Joo Kim, Jae-Joong Kwon, Seung-In Baek
  • Patent number: 7614757
    Abstract: A backlight unit, which can emit one of s-polarized light and p-polarized light using wire-grid polarizer, and a liquid crystal display apparatus employing the backlight unit are provided. The backlight unit includes: a light source radiating light; a light guide plate disposed with the light source at a lateral side of the light guide plate, guiding the light incident on the lateral side from the light source; a wire-grid polarizer formed on a predetermined layer of the light guide plate transmitting a first polarized component of the light through the predetermined layer and reflecting a second polarized component of light; a reflector reflecting the light to un upper surface of the light guide plate; and a polarization converter changing a polarization of the light not emitted through the upper surface of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dmitry Nesterenko, Hwan-young Choi
  • Patent number: 7604362
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a backlight apparatus and a liquid crystal display apparatus, capable of realizing a backlight apparatus having high color reproductivity without color irregularities in a backlight apparatus having a LED device as its light source. In the optical unit 61, there are disposed the dichroic mirror B which transmits green light Lg and red light Lr and reflects blue light Lb, the dichroic mirror G which transmits the light Lb and the light Lr and reflects the light Lg, and the dichroic mirror R which transmits the light Lb and the light Lg and reflects the light Lr, and they transmit or reflect the light emitted from the LED devices 11B, 11G and 11R to mix to form the white light Lw. The light Lw formed by the dichroic mirrors B, G and R is entered to the light guiding plate 62 by the mirror performing a total reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Hatanaka, Kazuhiro Yokota, Haruaki Wada, Takashi Oku
  • Patent number: 7597461
    Abstract: An optical element comprises at least one optical film wherein at least a portion of the optical film is maintained dimensionally stable by the presence of a mechanism for application of a controlled tensile force to the film wherein the tensile force is applied through a tensioning mechanism protruding through holes or slots in the optical film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Laney, Bradley C. DeCook, David J. Cornell
  • Patent number: 7594733
    Abstract: A converging sheet includes a light-emerging-side lens member formed of a plurality of unit lenses of convex shape that are arranged on a light-emerging side, and a scattering layer that is formed along a surface of each unit lens and scatters light. The scattering layer includes light diffusing particles. A thickness t of the scattering layer is equal to or more than one-tenth the lens pitch p. The converging sheet satisfies the following relationships: d×((t+h+p)/?)>50% and d×(t/?)<50%, in which d represents a volume ratio (%) of the light diffusing particles mixed in the scattering layer relative to the scattering layer, ? represents an average grain diameter (mm) of the light diffusing particles, and h represents a height from the apex to a bottom of the convex shape of the unit lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Goto
  • Patent number: 7585098
    Abstract: Color non-uniformity due to LED light sources of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device is improved. A light quantity control film is arranged between an LED source and the entrance surface of a mixing light guide plate. This light quantity control film is arranged in the part which reduces the quantity of light of the LED with the strongest light quantity among a plurality of same colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Mikami
  • Patent number: 7581869
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a light guiding plate, a driving board, a light emitting chip and a flexible board. The light guiding plate has a plate shape. The driving board is disposed substantially parallel with a side surface of the light guiding plate to face the side surface of the light guiding plate. The light emitting chip is formed on a surface of the driving board to generate light toward the side surface of the light guiding plate. The flexible board has a connection wiring that provides a power source to the driving board. The driving board is disposed on the flexible board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Ju-Young Yoon, Eun-Jeong Kang, Gi-Cherl Kim, Moon-Hwan Chang
  • Patent number: 7578609
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a frame, a light source, and at least one optical film. The light source is disposed on the frame. The optical film has at least one positioning flange. The frame has a first, a second and a third member to form a polygonal accommodating area and is adapted to receive the optical film. First and second containing regions are positioned adjacent to a place which the third member is connected to the first member and the third member is connected to the second member, respectively. The first containing region projects into the first and third members, and the second containing region projects into the second and third members, so that the first containing region and the second containing region are adapted to receive the shaped positioning flange of the optical film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Che-Chih Chang, Chi-Chung Lo
  • Patent number: 7576915
    Abstract: A display device comprises a light emitting picture element (120) and a contrast enhancing element (110). The contrast enhancing element comprises a plurality of wave guides (216) separated by interstitial regions (212) being formed as narrowing recesses. An interface between a wave guide (216) and an interstitial region (212) is provided with a reflective layer. The narrowing recesses form a dead end for incident ambient light which is efficiently absorbed by the contrast enhancing element. On the other hand, light emitted by the picture element (120) of the display device is transmitted through the wave guides (216). As a result, the display device has a relatively high contrast ratio, particularly under bright ambient light conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Ralph Kurt
  • Publication number: 20090190068
    Abstract: A display device higher in light use efficiency than conventional ones, a display device substrate suitably used for such a display device, and a light guide suitably used for an illuminator of such a display device are provided. The light guide has a plane of incidence on which light is incident and a plane of emergence from which light emerges, and has a first photonic crystal structure having a refractive index changing periodically along a direction substantially parallel to the plane of emergence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadashi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7566158
    Abstract: A backlight unit for a display device is disclosed. The backlight unit includes a first optical sheet, a light source to supply light to the first optical sheet, and a first antireflection layer on a surface of the first optical sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoe-Sup Soh, Man-Hoan Lee, Sung-Keun Lee
  • Publication number: 20090185395
    Abstract: A back-light module includes a light-guiding plate and a light source. The light-guiding plate has a lateral inlet surface. The light source is arranged at one side of the lateral inlet surface. The light source has a plurality of light-emitting diodes which are disposed in a line and at interval. A gap is formed between the adjacent light-emitting diodes. The lateral inlet surface dispose a plurality of convex lenses, each of the convex lenses has a convex surface facing to the corresponding gap between the adjacent light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: FOXLINK IMAGE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Che-Pin Hung, Hsueh-Jung Lu
  • Publication number: 20090168457
    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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: FOXSEMICON INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Ming Lai, Tse-An Lee
  • Patent number: 7553056
    Abstract: A backlight unit that converts ultraviolet light emitted from light-emitting lamps into visible light is disclosed. The backlight unit also reflects the visible light, thus achieving improved luminance. The backlight unit includes a plurality of light-emitting lamps arranged substantially in parallel, an outer case that fixes and supports the light-emitting lamps, and a reflection sheet disposed within the outer case and containing a fluorescent material that converts ultraviolet light into visible light and reflects the visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung Ill Cho
  • Publication number: 20090161385
    Abstract: Optical assembly includes a hollow backlight having at least one light input edge and at least one light source positioned adjacent to the at least one light input edge. A back reflector is positioned at or in close proximity to a first side of the hollow backlight for reflecting the light through the hollow backlight and out through a second side of the hollow backlight superimposed on the first side, and a reflective polarizer is positioned at or in close proximity to the second side of the backlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
  • Patent number: 7549760
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a plurality of lamps, a first reflecting plate and an optical member. The lamps are disposed substantially parallel with each other and generate light. The bottom reflecting plate is disposed under the lamps to reflect the light. The first reflecting plate is disposed over the lamps to transmit and reflect the light and has a plurality of penetration holes for transmitting the light. The optical member is disposed over the first reflecting plate. The formation density of the penetration holes increases as a position of the penetration holes approaches an intermediate region between adjacent lamps from a region corresponding to a position of the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Yoon Jung, Kwang-Hoon Lee
  • Publication number: 20090154197
    Abstract: An optical film with a plurality of micro structures which are capable of collecting incident light to the frontal and normalized view angle of the optical film for reducing the chance of incident light returning to light guild plate so as to enhance light collecting efficiency is provided in the present invention. In an embodiment, the optical film is combined with a flat light source so as to form a backlight system. By means of the merit of the optical film, the quantities of the optical film can be reduced so that the backlight system can have characteristics of thin thickness and low production cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: YI-TING SUN, CHIA-WEI YU, YU-NAN PAO
  • Patent number: 7543974
    Abstract: A display comprises a light source and a light redirecting polymeric film containing a structured surface on at least one side of the film and bearing a polymeric coating over at least part of the structured surface wherein the coating exhibits a variable thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert P. Bourdelais, John C. Brewer, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Esther M. Betancourt
  • Patent number: 7537370
    Abstract: Light emitting panel assemblies include an optical panel member having a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in one or both sides to cause light to be emitted in a predetermined output distribution. The pattern of light extracting deformities on or in one side may have two or more different types or shapes of deformities and at least one of the types or shapes may vary along the length or width of the panel member. Where the light extracting deformities are on or in both sides, at least some of the deformities on or in one side may be of a different type or shape or vary in a different way or manner than the deformities on or in the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventor: Jeffery R. Parker
  • Patent number: 7530726
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display comprising a light source and a light redirecting polymeric film containing a structured surface on at least one side of the film and bearing a discontinuous population of adherent beads bonded to the structured surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Robert P. Bourdelais, Esther M. Betancourt
  • Patent number: 7530721
    Abstract: A backlight device for a display comprising (1) a side-lit light source, (2) a light guide plate and (3) a turning film comprising a light entry and a light exit surface comprising lenticular elements on the exit surface and prismatic structures on the entry surface, wherein the average values of the parameters of the features and the thickness of the film are selected to provide a peak output angle of ±10° from normal to the light exit surface of the light guide plate and an optical gain of at least 1.25. Also disclosed are methods of making the turning film and a display incorporating the backlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiang-Dong Mi, Richard D. Bomba, Robert P. Bourdelais, Michael L. Ferranti, Jehuda Greener, Louis P. Harasta, Jr., Herong Lei, Stephen C. Meissner, Steven J. Neerbasch, Robert L. Walton, John M. Palmeri, Tomohiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7524099
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display and method of reducing light leakage in a black mode of a liquid crystal display is provided. In the liquid crystal display, a backlight assembly generates light, and a display unit is disposed over the backlight assembly to display an image by using light received from the backlight assembly. A DBEF (dual brightness enhanced film) is attached to a lower polarization plate provided at the display unit. A brightness control plate is interposed between the lower polarization plate and the DBEF to reduce the brightness of an inclined incident light that is not perpendicular to an absorbing axis of the polarization plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: LG. Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong Won Moon
  • Patent number: 7520653
    Abstract: A backlight unit includes a lamp to generate and radiate an ultraviolet ray, a light guide plate including a light receiving portion to receive the ultraviolet ray, an optical sheet disposed on the light guide plate to change the ultraviolet ray into a visible ray, the optical sheet including a fluorescent material, and a reflective sheet arranged under the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-Hun Han
  • Publication number: 20090097273
    Abstract: A light guide plate including a transparent light guide substrate and a micro-structural reflective film is provided. The transparent light guide substrate has a light-emitting surface, a bottom surface opposite to the light-emitting surface, and at least one light incident surface connecting the light-emitting surface and the bottom surface. The micro-structural reflective film is disposed below the bottom surface of the transparent light guide substrate and includes a micro-structural layer and a reflective material layer. The micro-structural layer has a plurality of micro-structures, and the reflective material layer covers the micro-structures of the micro-structural layer. Only top ends of the micro-structures and the reflective material layer are laminated on the transparent light guide substrate, such that there is an air gap between the transparent light guide substrate and the micro-structural reflective film. Furthermore, a light-emitting apparatus having the light guide plate is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Yem-Yeu Chang
  • Patent number: 7513674
    Abstract: A display system combines the principles of total internal reflection and halftone reflection. The display system includes a light guide, a light-reflecting see-through image disposed on the surface of the light guide, and a light-blocking see-through layer disposed over the image. A person viewing the light-blocking layer at a certain distance can see through the light guide without seeing the image. The display system can include a pair of eyeglasses that can provide self-illumination for night reading or serve as a hands-free flashlight. Also, novelty glasses can emit different colored lights as well as colored, lighted images. The display system can also include one-way see-through windows that emit lighted text and images for signage and advertising.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventor: Kevin Gerard Donahue
  • Patent number: 7513673
    Abstract: An exemplary optical plate (30) includes a transparent plate (321) and a light diffusion layer (322). The transparent plate includes a light output surface (3213), a light input surface (3211) opposite to the light output surface, and a plurality of elongated depressions (3215) formed on the light input surface. The light diffusion layer is coated on the light input surface and filled with the elongated depressions. The light diffusion layer covers the light input surface. The tight diffusion layer includes transparent resin matrix material, first light diffusion particles and second light diffusion particles dispersed in the transparent resin matrix material uniformly. A refractive index of the second light diffusion particles is greater than that of the first light diffusion particles. A backlight module using the present optical plate is also provided. The present backlight module using the optical plate can have a thin body with a good optical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7513669
    Abstract: An apparatus having a light source, light pipe, and light conversion layer is disclosed. The light source includes a plurality of LED dies arranged in an array, each LED emitting light having an excitation wavelength, the light source emitting light within a cone of angles. The light pipe is positioned to receive the light within the cone of angles through an edge surface such that the light within the predetermined cone of angles is totally reflected from the top surface. The light pipe has features that redirect some of the light at angles such that some of the redirected light exits through the top surface. The light conversion layer overlies the top surface and converts light of the excitation wavelength to light in an output spectrum having wavelengths different from the excitation wavelength. A display layer can be placed such that it is illuminated by light from the light pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Janet Bee Yin Chua, Yue Hoong Lau
  • Patent number: 7515339
    Abstract: A light pipe is obtained by laminating on one or both surfaces of a light-transmitting resin plate a polarized-light scattering plate having fine birefringent domains dispersed therein and hence showing anisotropy in scattering. The polarized-light scattering plate comprises a transparent film having fine domains dispersed therein comprising a liquid crystal polymer which exhibits nematic at temperatures lower than the glass transition temperature of the polymer constituting matrix of the transparent film and has a glass transition temperature of 50° C. or higher. The light pipe as a laminate may further comprise a specular reflection layer, a polarization-retaining lens and a light diffusion layer laminated thereon. The light pipe may further comprise a light source mounted at least on one side face thereof to provide a planar polarized-light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Miyatake, Takafumi Sakuramoto
  • Patent number: 7513668
    Abstract: An illumination system for use in illuminating a spatial light modulator for a head up display system. The illumination system includes a high power light emitting diode (LED) array assembly; and, a Fresnel lens array operatively associated with the LED array assembly for receiving light produced by the LED and providing a nearly collimated light output for use by the spatial light modulator. Utilization of the ultra bright LED array and Fresnel lens array provides the capability of the illumination source to be made very thin, light weight, and efficient. The Fresnel lens array, which converges the light to be nearly collimated, enhances the harvest of the available flux thus increasing the system efficiency and providing a system that gives the illusion of having an image at infinity. Additional components such as holographic elements, optical compensation films, and brightness enhancement films can be used to tailor the light if required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Guolin Peng, Martin J. Steffensmeier
  • Publication number: 20090086506
    Abstract: The light guide plate includes a light exit plane, two light entrance planes, two symmetrical inclined rear planes increasingly distanced from the light exit plane from the two light entrance planes toward a center of the light exit plane, a curved portion joining the two inclined rear planes and scattering particles for scattering light travelling inside the light guide plate. The light guide plate satisfies given ranges set for a length between the two light entrance planes, a thickness of each of the two light entrance planes, a thickness at the center of the curved portion, a radius of curvature thereof, tapers of the inclined rear planes, and a particle diameter and a density of the scattering particles, and conditions that a light use efficiency be 55% or greater and that a middle-high ratio represented by the brightness distribution at the light exit plane be greater than 0% and not greater than 25%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takamitsu OKUMURA
  • Patent number: 7507011
    Abstract: A surface light source equipment includes a light source and a light conductive plate having a light outgoing surface from which a light introduced from the light source outgoes. The light conductive plate is configured so tat the outgoing light is spread across substantially the entire surface of the light outgoing surface, and a plurality of patterns for reflection of a light conducted in the light conductive plate is formed on an opposite surface to the light outgoing surface of the light conductive plate. The respective patterns are structurcd such that, as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light outgoing surface, a light is incident from a substantially fixed direction determined for every pattern. Each of the patterns has an inclined surface on a light incident side. The inclined surface substantially wholly shields both side surfaces of the pattern, as viewed from a direction of light incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ueno, Katsuyuki Manabe, Masayuki Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20090067194
    Abstract: A light guide includes a transparent sheet exhibiting total internal reflection in at least one direction and phosphor printed on the transparent sheet. The phosphor extracts light from the transparent sheet when the sheet is edge-lit and converts the light from one wavelength to another wavelength. The phosphor is pressed into the surface of the sheet after heating the surface to its softening temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: World Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Oscar Ozuna Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20090067190
    Abstract: An optical film enhances provide brightness in the frontal direction and light diffusing without using a prism sheet or a lens sheet. Two laminates each produced by providing a light diffusing layer formed from acrylic resin particles and a styrene acrylic copolymer resin binder on a transparent support are superimposed to form the optical film. The styrene acrylic copolymer resin binder preferably has a glass transition temperature of 40° C. or higher. The light diffusing layer 12 preferably contains an acrylic resin binder having a glass transition temperature of 30° C. or lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: KIMOTO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Funabashi, Yasumaro Toshima
  • Patent number: 7497598
    Abstract: A light diffusion film 1 according to the present invention comprises a transparent substrate 11 and a light-diffusing layer 15 provided on the transparent substrate 11, and the light-diffusing layer 15 comprises an ionizing radiation curing resin and an ultraviolet light absorber and has, on its surface, fine irregularities 17 that have a function of diffusing light. The ultraviolet light absorber is one, or two or more compounds selected from benzotriazole ultraviolet light absorbers, salicylate ultraviolet light absorbers, and benzophenone ultraviolet light absorbers. The light-diffusing layer 15 does not contain any filler having a function of diffusing light but has, on its surface, fine irregularities 17 made by DPS (Drum Printing System).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Masaki, Fumihiro Arakawa
  • Patent number: 7481564
    Abstract: The light control film provides improved front luminance and appropriate diffusion without the problems of interference pattern, glare. The light control film has a rough surface that, for substantially any arbitrary cross section perpendicular to a base plane of the film, has an average ?ave of absolute values of slope, with respect to the base plane of a curve along the edge of the cross section, which is not less than 20 degrees and not more than 75 degrees, and has an absolute value of skewness (JIS B0601:2001) of the profile curve of not more than 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kimoto Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Etori
  • Patent number: 7467887
    Abstract: Light emitting assemblies include a transparent light emitting panel member having two or more separate parts or modular components each having at least one side edge or end edge facing each other and in close proximity to one another. One or both sides of one or more of the parts or components has a pattern of light extracting deformities for providing a desired light output distribution from the panel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventor: Jeffery R. Parker