Prism Patents (Class 362/626)
  • Patent number: 7942541
    Abstract: A light guide including a transparent substrate; a plurality of guide members formed on a first surface of a transparent substrate, the guides have guide bases separated by an open area on the first surface of the transparent substrate having a width “a”, and the guide bases overlapping an area on the first surface of the transparent substrate having a width “b”, facing sides of adjacent guides each forming an obtuse angle with the first surface of the transparent substrate and, wherein the ratio “b” divided by “a” is substantially equal to N where N is an integer greater than 2 a transparent substrate having an incidence surface and a transmitting surface; and a plurality of guides each formed on the incidence surface of the transparent substrate and each guide having opposing side surfaces each forming an angle with the incidence surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hoon Kang
  • Patent number: 7940352
    Abstract: A light diffusion module and a back light module using the same. The light diffusion module is disposed corresponding to the light source module of the back light module. The light diffusion module includes a first diffusion layer and the second diffusion layer. The first diffusion layer is disposed on top of the light source module and the top light exit surface has a plurality of first micro structures juxtapositioned to each other. The second diffusion layer is disposed on top of the first diffusion layer, and the top surface has a plurality of second micro structures juxtapositioned to each other. The ratio of the width of each first micro structure to the width of each second micro structure is between 1.1 and 1.8. The ratio of the height of each first micro structure to the height of each second micro structure is between 0.8 and 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chung Chuan Chen, Kuang Ting Cheng, Kai-Ti Chen
  • Patent number: 7941013
    Abstract: A process comprises imagewise exposing at least a portion of a photoreactive composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons/thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of light extraction structures. Each one of the array of light extraction structures has at least one shape factor; the shape factor may vary across the array. At least one light extraction structure may have the geometric configuration of a truncated asphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Charles A. Marttila, Charles D. Hoyle, David A. Ender, Jaime B. Willoughby, Robert J. DeVoe
  • Patent number: 7936411
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a light guide plate, a backlight assembly including the light guide plate, and a liquid crystal display device including the backlight assembly which can uniformly maintain the brightness uniformity and prevent the moiré phenomenon. The light guide plate in accordance with the present disclosure includes: an incident surface, to which light generated from a light source is incident, including a diffusion pattern formed in a round shape; an emitting surface, through which the light is emitted, including a first prism pattern; and an opposite surface, formed opposite to the emitting surface, including a direction change pattern by which the direction of the light is changed toward the emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyoung-Joo Kim, Jae-Joong Kwon, Seung-In Baek, Sung-Kyu Shim, In-Sun Hwang
  • Patent number: 7932968
    Abstract: A light diffusion module and a back light module using the same. The light diffusion module is disposed corresponding to the light source module of the back light module. The light diffusion module includes a first diffusion layer and the second diffusion layer. The first diffusion layer is disposed on top of the light source module and the top light exit surface has a plurality of first micro structures juxtapositioned to each other. The second diffusion layer is disposed on top of the first diffusion layer, and the top surface has a plurality of second micro structures juxtapositioned to each other. The ratio of the width of each first micro structure to the width of each second micro structure is between 1.1 and 1.8. The ratio of the height of each first micro structure to the height of each second micro structure is between 0.8 and 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chung Chuan Chen, Kuang Ting Cheng, Kai-Ti Chen
  • Publication number: 20110090427
    Abstract: Provided is a light guide plate which can suppress glare with reduced thickness. Specifically, a light guide plate (1) is provided with a light incoming surface (1a), a light outgoing surface (1b) and a light reflecting surface (1c). A diffraction grating pattern (11) is formed on the light outgoing surface (1b), and a prism pattern (12) is formed on the light reflecting surface (1c). On a region of the light reflecting surface (1c) on the side of the light incoming surface (1a), the prism pattern (12) does not exist, and the region where the prism pattern (12) is formed is smaller than the region where the diffraction grating pattern (11) is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Ohue, Koji Yamabuchi, Yuji Yashiro, Hiroaki Shigeta
  • Patent number: 7905647
    Abstract: A prism sheet, a back light unit using the same and liquid crystal display device having the back light unit are disclosed, for improvement of light concentration, frontal luminance and viewing angle, in which the prism sheet includes a light-condensing film. The light condensing film has a plurality of prism peaks, each having a triangular cross section inclined surface which is inclined from a top surface of the light-condensing film at an angle of about 20° to about 40°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: LG. Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoe Sup Soh, Man Hoan Lee, Ji Su Yoon, Sung Keun Lee, Jin Hyuk Kwon
  • Patent number: 7883254
    Abstract: A light guide plate capable of omitting use of a directional sheet such as a prism sheet as much as possible and ensuring a viewing angle without decreasing brightness in the vertical direction. A light guide plate 1 is used for an edge-light surface illuminant device 10. The light guide plate comprises an emission plane 6, a bottom plane 7 facing the emission plane 6 and an incident end face 8 which enters light emitted from a primary light source 4 provided in a side face between the emission plane 6 and the bottom plane 7. Each of the emission plane 6 and the bottom plane 7 comprises a pattern having convex portions and/or concave portions formed at predetermined pitches. The pattern formed on the emission plane 6 is orthogonal to the incident end face 8 and also the pattern formed on the bottom plane 6 is parallel to the incident end face 8. The emission plane 6 or the bottom plane 7 comprises a trapezoidal convex portion 2 and a trapezoidal concave portion 3 which are alternately arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Kinoshita, Yukihiro Yanagawa
  • Patent number: 7883257
    Abstract: An optical film and a display device having the same are disclosed. The display device comprises a display panel including a plurality of subpixels and an optical film disposed at one side of the display panel, the optical film includes a base film and a plurality of prisms, wherein a bias angle between a long axis direction of the subpixels and a longitudinal direction of the prisms is substantially 2 to 88 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hanbitt Joo, Kwangwon Lee
  • Patent number: 7883256
    Abstract: There is disclosed a timepiece (40) including optical means for forming a decorative pattern, in the form of a figurative image, in response to an action by the user. The optical means forming a figurative image include an optical guide (1, 51) having two large faces (10, 11) and at least one lateral face (12). Optical extractors (19) each having at least one light reflective surface (20) are arranged in at least one of the large faces (11). A light source (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) is arranged so as to emit light in the direction of the reflective surfaces (20), via the lateral face (12) of the optical guide. Thus, each of the reflective surfaces causes a reflected light beam to form in a well defined direction, the set of light beams forming a figurative image in that direction, which can typically be selected as the normal with respect to the mid-plane of the watch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventor: Pascal Winkler
  • Patent number: 7845811
    Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet (20) includes a light input surface (201), a light output surface (202) opposite to the light input surface, and a plurality of micro-depressions (205). The plurality of micro-depressions are defined in the light output surface and arranged in a skewed matrix. Each micro-depression has four side surfaces connected to each other, and a transverse width of each side surface decreases along a direction away from the light output surface and close to the light input surface. The present invention also provides a liquid crystal display device (200) using the above-described prism sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7845840
    Abstract: A light guide plate has a light-receiving surface, a light-emitting surface, and a light-reflecting surface. Multiple first arc-shaped longitudinal structures are arranged on the light-receiving surface with their longitudinal directions being substantially parallel with each other. Multiple second arc-shaped longitudinal structures are arranged on the light-emitting surface with their longitudinal directions being substantially parallel with each other. The light-reflecting surface is shaped to form a plurality of prismatic structures, and a luminance-adjusting structure is formed on part of the light-reflecting surface near the point light source and interlaced with the prismatic structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventors: Chong-Yang Fang, Yu Chen Ting, Chih Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 7845810
    Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet includes a light input surface, a light output surface opposite to the light input surface, and a plurality of micro-protrusions formed on the light output surface and arranged in a skewed matrix. Each micro-protrusion includes at least three side surfaces connected in turn. A transverse width of each side surface decreases along a direction away from the light output surface. A liquid crystal display device using the prism sheet can efficiently decrease moiré patterns between the prism sheet and the liquid crystal display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Publication number: 20100277951
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a light incident surface to which light is incident as incident light, an opposite surface formed opposite to the light incident surface, a light emitting surface through which the incident light is emitted, a rear surface formed opposite to the light emitting surface and including a prism pattern which reflects the incident light to the light emitting surface, and lateral surfaces, wherein a diffuse reflection pattern is formed on at least any one of the light emitting surface and the lateral surfaces to diffuse-reflect light incident to the lateral surfaces, thus rendering a brightness at both the opposite surface and the light incident surface substantially uniform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Hyoung-Joo KIM, Heu- Gon KIM, In-Sun HWANG, Taek-Sun SHIN, Byung-Seo YOON
  • Patent number: 7824093
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a light source, a light-guide plate (LGP), a reflective sheet and at least one optical sheet. The light source emits light. The LGP includes a light-incident surface, a light-reflecting surface and a light-emitting surface. The light-incident surface receives the light from the light source. The light-reflecting surface has a plurality of first prism patterns spaced apart from each other and flat portions formed between the first prism patterns, which are substantially perpendicular to the light-incident surface. The light-emitting surface has a plurality of second prism patterns formed thereon. The reflective sheet is disposed below the LGP. At least one optical sheet is disposed on the LGP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heu-Gon Kim, Byung-Seo Yoon, In-Sun Hwang, Taek-Sun Shin, Hyoung-Joo Kim, Seung-Hwan Chung
  • Patent number: 7824094
    Abstract: An exemplary backlight module (1) includes a light source (11) and a light guide plate (12). The light guide plate includes a light incident surface (121) to which the light source is placed adjacent, and a bottom surface (122) adjacent the light incident surface. The bottom surface defines a plurality of recesses (1222). Each recess defines a first slant (101) facing the light source and an arris (103) at a top of the first slant. The arris of the first slant at each recess is aligned substantially perpendicular to a main path of light beams that propagate from the light source to the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventor: Hsiang-Hui Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7815346
    Abstract: A method for calculating out an optimum arrangement pitch between each two LED chip package units, including: providing a backlight module with a predetermined brightness value and a predetermined material information that a customer needs; determining what brightness level and amount of LED chip package units need to be used by a designer according to the brightness value and the material information of the backlight module; and dividedly arranging the LED chip package units determined by the designer on a light-entering area of the backlight module in order to define what the optimum arrangement pitch between each two LED chip package units is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Harvatek Corporation
    Inventors: Bily Wang, Shih-Yu Wu, Wen-Kuei Wu
  • Patent number: 7812897
    Abstract: A method for making a prism sheet includes: providing a cutting device comprising a cutter, a table plate, and a control unit, the table plate controlled to move up and down by the control unit, and the cutter having a blade rotatable; providing a mold insert preform on the table plate, the mold insert preform having a flat surface; moving the cutter to etch the flat surface of the mold insert preform along a first direction, and simultaneously driving the table plate to move up and down by the control unit in a first predetermined manner to form first elongated depressions in the flat surface; moving the cutter to etch the flat surface of the mold insert preform along a second direction to form second elongated depressions in the flat surface, thereby forming a mold insert; using the mold insert to form the prism sheet by injection molding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-Ming Hsu, Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7810982
    Abstract: Optical assembly includes a light source adjacent a light input edge and generally parallel and planar first and second surfaces each comprising respective patterns of well defined optical elements that are quite small in relation to the length and width of the optical assembly. At least some of the optical elements of each pattern include a respective sloped surface for directing at least some light emitted from the light source. The respective slope angle of the sloped surface of at least some of the optical elements of one of the patterns is different from the respective slope angle of the sloped surface of at least some of the optical elements of the other pattern such that more of the light is emitted from one of the surfaces than is emitted from the other surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Robert M. Ezell
  • Patent number: 7806537
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a light guide plate (52), a light source (51), a reflecting sheet (53), a diffusion sheet (54), and a reflective polarizing beam splitter (57). The light guide plate includes a light input surface (521), a light output surface (522) adjacent to the light input surface, a reflecting surface (523) opposite the light output surface, and a number of microstructures (524) located on the reflecting surface. In the light guide plate, stress-induced birefringence is introduced to achieve a polarization state conversion, thereby facilitating efficient use of the light generated by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xing-Peng Yang, Ying-Bai Yan, Guo-Fan Jin
  • Patent number: 7806582
    Abstract: A luminous module for mounting in a household appliance has a housing that is embodied in such a way as to receive a luminous element. The luminous module further contains a first optical wave guide having a light admission surface via which light emitted by the luminous element enters the first optical wave guide, and a light output surface via which the light emerges from the luminous module. The housing is embodied in such a way as to alternatively receive a first luminous element and a second luminous element that is different from the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Mayer, Roland Vetter
  • Patent number: 7796213
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device using a light emitting diode as a light source, even when a plurality of light emitting elements are provided, an inclined surface is formed on a light guide plate as a reflection surface, and a light is converged in the liquid-crystal-panel direction using the reflection surface. In a liquid crystal display device which includes a backlight for radiating a light toward a liquid crystal panel, LEDs are formed on the light guide plate which is mounted on the backlight as light emitting elements. The plurality of LEDs are arranged along a side surface of the light guide plate, and a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface are formed on a bottom surface of the light guide plate. The second reflection surface is arranged closer to the LEDs than the first reflection surface and an angle of the second reflection surface is set larger than an angle of the first reflection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Shiraishi, Akiyoshi Tobe, Nobuyuki Koganezawa
  • Patent number: 7794129
    Abstract: The optical element apparatus for two-dimensional controllable localized partition backlight module is disclosed. The optical element apparatus comprises of a plurality of optical units which include a plurality of point light sources, light guides and collimating sheets. The point light source is located at the center of the light guide. The light guide includes the incident surface, the bottom place connecting with the light incident surface, and the light output surface. There are micro structures on the bottom place of the light guide and the top surface of the collimating sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Chung-Hao Tien, Yen-Hsing Lu, Yu-Kuo Cheng, Po-Yi Lu
  • 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: 7780331
    Abstract: A plurality of convex strip portions are formed on a front surface (or a back surface) of a light guiding plate, extending in a direction from a light incidence plane to an opposite side surface. A concave portion is formed on a side surface of each convex strip portion. An inner wall of the concave portion is formed from at least two flat planes inclined with respect to three axial directions orthogonal to each other (X, Y and Z axial directions), respectively. Thereby, damage to the surface illuminant equipment such as a light guiding plate due to the interference between a back surface and units disposed on the back surface of the light guiding plate is prevented, while preventing a linear part with relatively low luminance from being viewed from the front surface of the light guiding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Ohmori
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20100195022
    Abstract: It is aimed to provide an LCD backlight device and liquid crystal display that can suppress light quantity loss and ensure uniform brightness. An LCD backlight device 101 has a laser light source 1 that emits laser light, and a light guiding plate 3 that transforms the laser light from the laser light source 1 into linear laser light, and transforms the linear laser light into a planar laser light, and emits the planar laser light, and the light guiding plate 3 has a third side face 6 that transforms the linear laser light into the planar laser light by reflecting the linear laser light by a plurality of reflection surfaces that are formed along the entrance direction of the linear laser light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Shinichi Shikii, Tetsuro Mizushima, Tatsuo Itoh, Akira Kurozuka, Takayuki Nagata, Kazuhisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7764334
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a light guide plate composed of a plurality of aligned blocks; and a plurality of light sources, each being provided for one of the blocks and emitting light to the one block. A gap of 0.1 microns or more is formed in at least part of a region between the adjacent blocks. An inside of the gap serves as an air layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toshitake Kitagawa, Naotada Okada
  • Patent number: 7753543
    Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet includes a transparent main body. The main body includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface are on opposite sides of the main body. The first surface and the second surface define a plurality of first micro-depressions and a plurality of second micro-depressions respectively. Each first micro-depression is defined by four connecting curved inner sidewalls. A transverse width of each curved inner sidewall of each first micro-depression progressively decreases with increasing distance from the first surface. Each second micro-depression is defined by four connecting inner sidewalls. A transverse width of each inner sidewall of each second micro-depression progressively decreases with increasing distance from the second surface. A backlight module using the present prism sheet is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-Ming Hsu, Shao-Han Chang
  • Publication number: 20100157626
    Abstract: Disclosed are a film-type light guide plate capable of readily securing mass-production and realizing low weight and slimness, a method for manufacturing the same and a backlight unit using the same. The method includes loading a base film on a movable first conveyor belt, coating a liquid ultraviolet curable resin on the first surface of the base film, rotating a surface-treated roll on the coated ultraviolet curable resin to form a prism pattern provided with a first protrusion pattern, and curing the prism pattern using an ultraviolet lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Jae-Hyun PARK
  • Patent number: 7740393
    Abstract: A light guide plate (LGP) adapted to a backlight module having a light emitting surface, a bottom surface opposite to the light emitting surface, and at least one light incident surface contacting with the light emitting surface and the bottom surface is provided. The bottom surface has a plurality of flat surfaces and a plurality of groove groups. The groove groups and the flat surfaces are arranged in an alternating fashion. Each of the groove groups has at least two grooves. Each of the grooves has a first slanted surface, a peak, and a second slanted surface intersecting with the first slanted surface at the peak. In each of the grooves, a first edge side of the first slanted surface away from the peak is at a first distance from a second edge side of the second slanted surface away from the peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Tzeng-Ke Shiau, Ching-Shiang Li, Chao-Hung Weng, Jiun-Chian Liao, Chih-Jen Tsang
  • Patent number: 7736045
    Abstract: A plate-shaped light guide for a planar light source device that guides a light emitted from a primary light source includes a light incident end face, a light emitting face and a back surface on the opposite to the light emitting face, wherein a plurality of first elongated lenses having an average slant angle of 0.5 to 60° are continuously or intermittently formed on one of the light emitting face and the back surface, and at least a portion of a surface of each first elongated lens, or at least a portion of the other one of the light emitting face and the back surface, or at least the portion of the surface of each first elongated lens and at least the portion of the other one of the light emitting face and the back surface includes a rough surface having an average slant angle of 0.1 to 8°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyoshi Yamashita, Yasuko Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20100142225
    Abstract: Provided is an illuminating device including a plurality of light sources. Micro prisms are provided in an opposed surface of a light guide plate. Each of the micro prisms is provided so that a reflective surface has a bottom side located at substantially 90 degrees with respect to an optical path of a beam from any one of the light sources. In a display device including a liquid crystal panel illuminated by the illuminating device, at least two micro prisms are provided in each area overlapped with aperture portions of the liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Makoto Kurihara, Norihiro Dejima
  • Patent number: 7726854
    Abstract: A lighting and/or signaling device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one light source emitting a light beam and at least one optical guide in which the light beam propagates, the optical guide comprising: a first face forming an exit face for the light beam, and a second face, opposite to the exit face, forming a reflection face for the light beam, such that the light guide is associated with a diffusing screen disposed opposite the reflection face of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: David Bourdin, Christophe Dubosc, Julien Muller
  • Patent number: 7726827
    Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet includes a transparent main body. The main body includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is opposite to the second surface. A plurality of micro-depressions are defined in the first surface. A plurality of elongated arc-shaped protrusions are formed on the second surface. Each micro-depression is defined by four connecting sidewalls. A transverse width of each sidewall of each micro-depression progressively decreases with increasing distance from the second surface. A backlight module using the present prism sheet is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-Ming Hsu, Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7722241
    Abstract: An exemplary optical plate includes at least one transparent plate section. The transparent plate section includes a light output surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of spherical protrusions, a plurality of microstructures, and a lamp-receiving portion. The light output surface is opposite to the bottom surface. The spherical protrusions are formed on the light output surface. The microstructures are formed on the bottom surface. The lamp-receiving portion is defined in the bottom surface. A backlight module using the present optical plate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7717604
    Abstract: A side-edge backlight module includes at least a light guide board, a reflector film, a plurality of optic films and a light source. The optic film has a surface on which a plurality of rib-like micro light guides is formed. Each micro light guide includes a plurality of ridges, which are of different heights and show variation of height. Either a high ridge or a low ridge of the micro light guide is made a continuous left-and-right wavy configuration and/or a continuous up-and-down height-variation configuration. Thus, light transmitting through the optic film and converged by the micro light guides leaves the optic film in a form that is not very regular so as to facilitate subsequent use of the light in for example a liquid crystal display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignees: Gamma Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Chin Mai
  • Patent number: 7712944
    Abstract: An optical substrate possesses a structured surface that enhances luminance or brightness and reduces chatter phenomenon. A structured surface is provided, in which some of the valleys (low valleys) are coplanar to the surface of the underlying support layer and other valleys (high valleys) are not coplanar on the support layer. The low valleys have bottom thickness that is substantially smaller than that of the high valleys. The distance from the valleys to the support layer remains substantially similar for a first number of adjacent valleys, but is substantially zero for a second number of adjacent valleys after every n-th adjacent valleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Ubright Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kong-Hua Wang, Craig Lin, Daniel Yaw-Chung Ko
  • Patent number: 7697813
    Abstract: A light guide member capable of guiding light received from at least a first light source and second light source, wherein the first light source is spaced a distance D3 from the second light source. The light guide member may include a first side including a plurality of first grooves extending along a first direction and a plurality of second grooves extending along the first direction, wherein the first grooves may have a first pitch and the second grooves have a second pitch, the first pitch being different from the second pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Ho Lee, Won Ki Cho, Min Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7695152
    Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet includes a light input surface, a light output surface opposite to the light input surface, and a plurality of triangular pyramidal micro-elements and a plurality of hexagonal pyramidal micro-elements. The triangular pyramidal micro-elements and the hexagonal pyramidal micro-elements are formed on the light output surface. Each triangular pyramidal micro-element surrounded by three adjacent hexagonal pyramidal micro-elements. Bottom surfaces of each hexagonal pyramidal micro-element and each triangular pyramidal micro-element are coplanar with the light output surface. A liquid crystal display device using the prism sheet is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7695165
    Abstract: An exemplary optical plate includes one or more transparent plate unit. The transparent plate unit includes a light output surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of elongated V-shaped protrusions, a plurality of conical frustum protrusions, and a lamp-receiving portion. The light output surface is opposite to the bottom surface. The elongated V-shaped protrusions are formed on the bottom surface. The conical frustum protrusions are formed on the light output surface. The lamp-receiving portion is defined in the bottom surface. A backlight module using the present optical plate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7690810
    Abstract: A plurality of LEDs are arrayed in the X-direction, and a light-guide plate is provided facing the LEDs. A plurality of prisms extending in the Y-direction are formed on a light-receiving surface of the light-guide plate. A plurality of prisms are additionally formed on a light-emitting surface of the light-guide plate. Light emitted from the LED is thereby divided into a plurality of light beams by the prisms, and a portion of the light is condensed toward the prisms. Light that is condensed toward the prisms is divided in a plurality of directions and transmitted in the light-guide plate. When the light reaches another prism, the light is reflected by the prism and emitted from the light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Goroh Saitoh, Masao Imai
  • Patent number: 7690811
    Abstract: An illumination system includes a backlight housing, a plurality of light valves coupled to the backlight housing, and a plurality of light sources arranged in the backlight housing and optically coupled to the light valves. The illumination system may further include a light-scattering substrate optically coupled between the plurality of light sources and the light valves, and a plurality of light modulating dots patterned on the substrate to modulate transmitted intensity of light from the plurality of light sources to achieve increased luminance uniformity by decreasing banding caused by the separated light sources. The light modulating dots may include comprise reflective dots, transmissive dots, absorptive dots, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravi Shankar Durvasula, Mark Marshall Meyers, Peter William Lorraine
  • Patent number: 7690830
    Abstract: The present invention makes a radiation angle of light at a portion of a light guide plate in front of an LED formed on one edge of a light guide plate and a radiation angle of light at a corner portion of the light guide plate equal to each other as much as possible. A shape of beam control elements which are arranged on a lower surface of a light guide plate is arranged concentrically about the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignees: Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Hitachi Display Devices, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Koganezawa, Akiyoshi Tobe, Fumiyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 7686497
    Abstract: A light guide and module for motor vehicles that directs light generally along a horizontal axis. The module includes an array of light sources, an array of reflectors and a light guide. The light guide defines a body having opposed upper and lower walls. Formed in the lower wall is at least one prismatic structure having a reflecting surface oriented to reflect light based the principle of total internal reflection and to redirect light toward the upper wall. Formed in the upper wall is at least one decoupling prism element. The decoupling prism elements corresponding in number to the prismatic structures and are located in the upper wall so as to receive redirected light from its corresponding prismatic structures. The decoupling prism element includes a second reflecting surface that reflects light redirected from the first reflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Miroslav Kropac, Jan Martoch
  • Patent number: 7682063
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide panel and a backlight module using the light guide panel. The light guide panel is disposed corresponding to a light source module of the backlight module. The light guide panel mainly comprises a plate, a plurality of microstructures and a plurality of protrusions. The plate is disposed close to the light source module and includes a microstructure surface. The microstructures and the protrusions are disposed on the microstructure surface, and the heights of the protrusions are greater than those of the microstructures, and a plurality of the microstructures are disposed between the adjacent protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: AU Optroncis Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Yen Chen, Han-Ping Kuo
  • Patent number: 7684118
    Abstract: A diffusion plate assembly includes a diffusion plate made from transparent material. Pluralities of bar-type patterns are disposed on the emission surface of the diffusion plate. The outline of these patterns has a first curve and a second curve. The protruding direction of the first curve and the second curve are inversed. The second curve is an arc whose radius curvature is between 0.05 mm and 0.3 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Entire Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Jang Yang, Wen-Feng Cheng
  • Patent number: 7677749
    Abstract: An exemplary optical plate includes at least one transparent plate unit. The transparent plate unit includes a light output surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of through holes and at least one lamp-receiving portion. The light output surface is opposite to the bottom surface. Each of the through holes communicates the light output surface with the bottom surface. The lamp-receiving portion is defined in the bottom surface. A backlight module using the present optical plate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shao-Han Chang, Fen Chen
  • 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: RE41995
    Abstract: There is provided a very thin light guide plate for a surface light source device and a method of manufacturing it without the use of high-precision molding machine. A surface light source device using this light guide plate generates outgoing light having high uniformity. According to the manufacturing method, a light guide plate free from a weld line or warp can be manufactured with good transferring characteristics. The light guide plate is thick on an incident surface 1 side and thin on a lower surface 4 side. At the central portion of an incident surface 1 in a longitudinal direction, a projecting portion obtained by cutting an overhang portion 7 at a position a distance D apart from the incident surface 1 is formed. The cut surface of the projecting portion is not made specular and is kept rough. In molding of the light guide plate, a molten material is supplied from the position of a gate mark 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ishikawa, Hiroshi Yamazaki