Reflector Having Particular Shape Behind Light Source Patents (Class 349/67)
  • Patent number: 8536568
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a higher contrast in a display device having a lighting device as a front light. A lighting portion is attached to a reflective liquid crystal display portion. A first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate made of a glass substrate etc. are attached to each other with a sealing layer coated on those peripheral portions therebetween. The back surface of the first transparent substrate is attached to the reflective liquid crystal display portion, and an organic EL element is formed on the front surface of the first transparent substrate. The organic EL element is sealed in a space surrounded by the first transparent substrate, the second transparent substrate, and the sealing layer. The organic EL element is formed in a region corresponding to a pixel region of the reflective liquid crystal display portion. A desiccant layer is formed on the front surface of the second transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignees: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Tanase, Kazunobu Mameno, Norio Koma, Manabu Takemoto
  • Patent number: 8520162
    Abstract: This invention relates to a back light module and a liquid crystal display thereof. The back light module includes a rear panel, an LGP, a PCB, a plurality of LEDs and at least an elastic clamping fastener. The rear panel includes a base plate and at least a sidewall. The LGP is positioned on the base plate. The PCB opposite to the LGP is positioned on the sidewall of the rear panel. The LEDs are positioned on the PCB. At least an elastic clamping fastener successively passes through the rear panel and the PCB to fasten the rear panel and the PCB. In addition, the top of the elastic clamping fastener is higher than the surface of the LEDs. The back light module and the liquid crystal display thereof in this invention are simple in structure, convenient in assembly, and low in cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Guofu Tang
  • Patent number: 8514352
    Abstract: A phosphor-based multi-colored display is provided which includes a spatial light modulator comprising an addressable array of apertures each corresponding to a respective sub-pixel in the display; an array of phosphor regions each indexed to a corresponding aperture of the spatial light modulator; and a backlight which provides quasi-monochromatic light to phosphor within each of the phosphor regions. The phosphor within each of the phosphor regions, upon being excited by the quasi-monochromatic light of the backlight, emits light having a color different from a color of the quasi-monochromatic light, through the corresponding aperture of the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: David James Montgomery, Peter John Roberts, Lesley Ann Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Publication number: 20130188100
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to realize the suppression of uneven brightness at low cost in a lighting device. A backlight unit 12 according to the present invention includes: LEDs 17 as a light source; a chassis 14 including a bottom plate 14a disposed on a side opposite to a light output side with respect to the LEDs 17 and housing the LEDs 17; and a first reflection sheet 22 reflecting light including a square-shaped bottom portion 24 disposed along the bottom plate 14a, and at least two rising portions 25 and 26 rising from at least two adjacent sides of the bottom portion 24 toward the light output side such that a seam J is formed between adjacent side edges 25a and 26a. An overhang portion 28 is formed on the side edge 25a of the first rising portion 25 of the at least two rising portions 25 and 26. The overhang portion 28 overhangs beyond the seam J in a direction from the bottom portion 24 to the second rising portion 26.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kaori Ikuta
  • Publication number: 20130182201
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel in the pixel electrode and common electrodes formed within a pixel comprise repeating structures. The angular range of light incident from the light source is narrower along a direction of the repeating structures than along an orthogonal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
  • Patent number: 8480282
    Abstract: A reflective plate includes a high heat conductivity material having a first heat conductivity and a reflective material having a second heat conductivity on the high heat conductivity material, wherein the first heat conductivity of the high heat conductivity material is greater than the second heat conductivity of the reflective material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myong Gi Jang, Gi Bin Kim, Tae Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20130169905
    Abstract: A backlight device, for irradiating lights on a liquid crystal panel, comprises plural numbers of backlight blocks, each backlight block has a sheet-like reflection member (19), which is disposed on a bottom surface of the backlight block, a plate-like optical element (2), provided facing to the reflection member and disposed separating in direction perpendicular to a light irradiating surface of the backlight from the reflection member, and LEDs (7), disposed within a space between the optical element and the reflection member, for emitting the lights in direction in parallel with the light irradiating surface of the backlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: SATOSHI OUCHI, Hidenao KUBOTA, Mayumi NAGAYOSHI, Makoto TSUMURA
  • Patent number: 8477265
    Abstract: A display apparatus and a backlight unit are provided. The display apparatus includes: an image receiving unit which receives an image signal; an image processing unit which processes the received image signal; a display panel which displays the processed image signal; a cover unit which accommodates the display panel; a light source unit which is accommodated in an edge region of the cover unit; a reflective member which is accommodated in the cover unit in such a manner that the reflective member is disposed in the rear side of the display panel and which reflects the light emitted from the light source unit toward the display panel; and an integrally formed support member including a support member body which is disposed in the edge region, a light source unit support unit which is formed in the support member body and supports the light source unit, and a panel support unit which is formed in the support member body and supports the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun-mo Yoo
  • Patent number: 8477266
    Abstract: Disclosed are a display backlight module and its manufacturing method. A multilayer reflector is particularly introduced into the display backlight module for a LCD display. The multilayer reflector is composed of a plurality of inter-stacked polymer films with various indexes of refraction. With introduction of interference principle, the multilayer reflector is designed to reflect or transmit the light with a specific wavelength range for acquiring a more uniform backlight. According to one of the embodiments, the display backlight module includes a backlight module, such as a direct-type or an edge-type light source. The module further includes the multilayer reflector and an optical-film module. This optical-film module optionally includes a brightness-enhancement film and a diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Extend Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chao-Ying Lin, Jen-Huai Chang
  • Patent number: 8471983
    Abstract: A polarizing element is provided that can serve as a reflective polarizing element, can be produced with relative ease, and is not problematic in terms of strength. Further, the polarizing element can maintain the intensity and the propagation direction of the light that has passed through the polarizing element. Further, a liquid crystal display device is provided that can use light with improved efficiency with the use of the polarizing element. Specifically, the polarizing element includes a plurality of specifically angled, polygonal prisms on a surface of a substantially uniaxial sheet having an in-plane optical axis, and an optically transparent resin layer having a refractive index substantially the same as the fast-axis refractive index of the sheet, and that coats the prisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ikeda, Takashi Shiro
  • Patent number: 8467013
    Abstract: This invention relates to a light guide device and methods of manufacture. The light guide device is suitable for use in a range of applications, particularly in connection with the backlighting of displays, for example, liquid crystal displays. The light guide device comprises a combination of guide layers and one or more scattering structures in order to mask the appearance of one or more light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: ITI Scotland Limited
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Patent number: 8460973
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting apparatus of side emission type includes disposing a light emitting device on a substrate having a predetermined electrode pattern. A side member is disposed on the substrate to be spaced apart from the light emitting device with a predetermined space. The light emitting device and the electrode pattern are electrically connected. A light reflecting member is disposed in the space between the side member and at least one side surface of the light emitting device so that the light reflecting member is in contact with the at least one side surface of the light emitting device. A light-transmitting sealing member is disposed to surround the light emitting device other than the at least one side surface that is in contact with the light reflecting member. A light-reflective ceiling member is disposed at least over the sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 8462294
    Abstract: A backlight unit is provided and includes a light source emitting light, a light guide plate disposed parallel to the light source, and a reflective sheet disposed at a bottom of the light guide plate. One side of the reflective sheet is slanted toward the light guide plate. A reflective member includes three sides surrounding the light source and a slanted fourth side supporting a slanted bottom of the reflective sheet. A bottom cover contacts the three sides of the reflective member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin Il Park
  • Patent number: 8456592
    Abstract: A backlight unit and a liquid crystal display including the same are provided. The backlight includes a light guiding plate, a reflector, and at least one LED assembly including an LED light source, a substrate, and a support plate. A plurality of protrusions formed on a cover of the liquid crystal display are configured to mate to a plurality of concave portions formed on the light guiding plate, the reflector, and the LED assembly to mount the various components of the liquid crystal display onto the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Wangseop Go, Sangho Seo
  • Publication number: 20130128128
    Abstract: A backlight unit includes a chassis including a bottom plate and side plates rising toward a front side with an opening on a front side, LEDs housed in the chassis, an optical member arranged on an opening side of the chassis and through which light from the LED passes, a reflection member including inclined surfaces configured to lead the light from the LED toward the optical member, and a support pin attached to the bottom plate of the chassis and extending from an LED mounting surface toward the optical member such that a tip end of the support pin is in contact with the optical member to support it. The support pin is arranged between the LEDs and equally away from each of the LEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kaori Ikuta
  • Patent number: 8436876
    Abstract: Provided are a backlight unit and a display device having the same. The backlight unit includes a case having an opening, at least one lamp assembly disposed on a side surface of the case and including a light source, an optical transreflective unit on the case, the optical transreflective unit transmitting a portion of first light passing through the opening and reflecting a portion of second light generated from the light source, and an optical sheet including a first diffusion unit on the optical transreflective unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho Young Jeong, Deuk Su Lee, Jun Hyeok Yu, Jae Jung Han, Mi Young Do, Tae Han Kim
  • Publication number: 20130107171
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a back light unit including a bottom case; a first light source unit comprising first light sources and a first board, wherein the first light sources are placed above the first board; a second light source unit comprising second light sources and a second board, wherein the second light sources are placed below the second board; a light guide plate disposed between the first and second light sources; and a support main disposed above the light guide plate. The present invention also relates to an LCD device including the same and a method of making the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Dal Jae LEE
  • Patent number: 8425104
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes; a plurality of light sources which emit a light, a display panel which displaying an image using the light, a light guide plate which guides the light emitted from the light sources to the display panel, and a plurality of reflection members that are spaced apart from each other and coupled with a first side of the light guide plate and a second side of the light guide plate facing the first side to reflect light traveling inside the light guide plate to the first and second sides, wherein the plurality of light sources include; a plurality of first light sources, each of the plurality of first light sources being arranged corresponding to an area between two adjacent reflection members of the plurality of reflection members on the first side and a plurality of second light sources each being arranged corresponding to an area between two reflection members on the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taek-Sun Shin, Seunghwan Chung, Seungin Baek, Jaejoong Kwon, Young-Min Park, Dong-Yeol Yeom, Kwang-Wook Choi, Rae-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 8416364
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique which makes a backlight used in a liquid crystal display device thin and light-weight. The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which includes a display panel and a backlight arranged behind the display panel, wherein the backlight includes a film-like light guide member, a film-like light semi-transmissive member adhered to a first surface of the light guide member which faces the display panel in an opposed manner, a film-like reflective member adhered to a back surface of the light guide member opposite to the first surface, and a spot light source arranged at a position of the light guide member at which light is incident on the light guide member from the first surface or the back surface. A refractive index of the light semi-transmissive member is set smaller than a refractive index of the light guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignees: Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 8416367
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display module includes a liquid crystal display panel to display an image; a back light unit to irradiate light onto the liquid crystal display panel includes a luminescent lamp to emit light, a light guide panel to convert light emitted from the luminescent lamp into plane light and to emit the plane light, a lamp housing to fix the luminescent lamp to the light guide panel, the lamp housing condenses the light generated from the luminescent lamp, a reflection plate formed on the rear surface of the light guide panel to reflect light, and optical sheets formed on the front surface of the light guide panel; a main support to receive the liquid crystal display panel and the back light unit; and a reinforcing member formed on the rear surface of the light guide panel and overlapping the lamp housing and the reflection plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nam Do Son
  • Patent number: 8402647
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing light panels having at least one re-entrant turning feature. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a light panel includes providing a base layer, providing a cover layer, and coupling the cover layer to the base layer to form at least one re-entrant turning feature between the base layer and the cover layer. In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a light panel includes providing a base layer, forming at least one receiving space in the base layer, providing at least one prismatic block, and coupling at least a portion of the prismatic block into the receiving space such that re-entrant turning features are formed between the prismatic block and the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Chui, Gaurav Sethi, Jonathan Charles Griffiths, Manish Kothari
  • Patent number: 8405798
    Abstract: Disclosed are a backlight unit capable of reducing heat and noise and a liquid crystal display using the same. The backlight unit comprises a light source unit comprising light sources for irradiating light; a cover bottom disposed under the light source unit; a vibration-absorbing member attached on the other surface of the cover bottom; and an inverter coupled to the cover bottom via the vibration absorbing member interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minso Jo, Hakmo Hwang
  • Patent number: 8400579
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display includes a display module and a backlight module configured to irradiate light on the display module. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, a first light source, a reflective plate, and a second light source. The light guide plate has a light output face at a position corresponding to a first small area on the display module. The first light source is configured to irradiate light toward the light guide plate from a side of the light guide plate in such a manner that the irradiated light reaches the first small area. The reflective plate is facing to the light guide plate, and the reflective plate has a reflective face configured to reflect light toward a second small area different from the first small area. The second light source is configured to irradiate light toward the reflective plate from a side of the reflective plate in such a manner that the irradiated light reaches the second small area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Momonoi, Kazuyasu Ohwaki, Kenzo Isogawa, Takeshi Morino, Masataka Shiratsuchi
  • Patent number: 8400585
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Shinohara, Yasuhiro Tanoue, Takako Ishikawa, Yoshihiro Ueno
  • Patent number: 8395719
    Abstract: A display device and a light source block used therein are provided. The display device includes the light source block, a film set, and a display panel. The light source block has a reflective surface, a film supporter intersecting the reflective surface at an edge, and a panel supporting surface. The film supporter connects an end of an extremity surface, and the panel supporting surface connects the other end of the extremity surface. The film set is disposed on the film supporter, and the display panel is disposed on the panel supporting surface. The display panel has a display area and a light-shielding unit disposed outside the display area. The edge between the reflective surface and the film supporter falls into a vertical projection of the light-shielding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Hyung Chen, Ching-Kun Lai, Wen-Hsin Lin, Wei-Chih Chiu
  • Patent number: 8384852
    Abstract: An daylight-coupled display includes a plurality of passive backlights cascaded in a stack for backlighting of LCD panels or static display panels. The display includes a diffuser to transmit light to multiple cascaded curved reflectors, each of which reflects light for backlighting of the display. A polarization rotator is located within the backlight such that the reflectors provide the correct polarization of light to the LCD panel for backlighting of it. One daylight-coupled display can include an active light source to provide light to the reflectors A secondary light source can provide light to at least one of the reflectors to provide backlighting of the display in low lighting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Rolf W. Biernath
  • Patent number: 8384838
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is provided, capable of minimizing deterioration in display quality of a liquid crystal panel due to external force generated by connection with an external chassis such as a customer's chassis. The liquid crystal display device has, at least, a front frame, a liquid crystal panel, and a backlight unit having at least a rear frame, arranged in this order. A back fixing frame to be fixed to the front frame is provided on the back face of the liquid crystal display device, and attachment portions to be attached to an external chassis are provided in the back fixing frame. This makes it difficult for external force generated by connection with the external chassis to be transmitted to the liquid crystal panel or the backlight unit, suppresses deformation of the liquid crystal panel or reflection sheet and prevents deterioration in display quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Sugawara, Yasushi Takada
  • Patent number: 8379167
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides a light-reflecting strip for a liquid crystal display device. The light-reflecting strip includes a light-reflecting substrate having a configuration surface and a smooth surface; a light-reflecting base layer coated on the configuration surface; a reflecting layer deposited on the light-reflecting base layer by evaporation deposition; a high transmittance colorant layer printed on the reflecting layer by means of a screen printing with a screen having a mesh number greater than 300; an adhesive layer applied on the smooth surface of the light-reflecting substrate; and a release paper detachably adhered to the adhesive layer. Another aspect of the present invention provides a liquid crystal display device including the light-reflecting strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Paiho Limited
    Inventor: Allen Cheng
  • Patent number: 8373821
    Abstract: A front light guide panel including a plurality of embedded surface features is provided. The front light panel is configured to deliver uniform illumination from an artificial light source disposed at one side of the font light panel to an array of display elements located behind the front light guide while allowing for the option of illumination from ambient lighting transmitted through the light guide panel. The surface embedded surface relief features create air pockets within the light guide panel. Light incident on the side surface of the light guide propagates though the light guide until it strikes an air/light material guide interface at one on the air pockets. The light is then turned by total internal reflection through a large angle such that it exits an output face disposed in front of the array of display elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Sampsell, Russell W. Gruhlke, Mark Mienko, Gang Xu, Ion Bita
  • Patent number: 8358387
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a cover assembly; a liquid crystal panel; a light guide plate configured to guide light to the liquid crystal panel; a printed circuit board (PCB) to which the light guide plate is mounted; and a light emitting diode (LED) package which is mounted on the PCB and emits light to a lateral side of the light guide plate. The PCB includes a base substrate; a connecting hole which is formed in the base substrate to couple the base substrate to the cover assembly with a connecting member; an insulating layer which is coated on the base substrate while avoiding a head part of the connecting member; and a spacer tape which is provided on an upper side of the insulating layer so that the light guide plate is evenly mounted on the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suk Ju Choi, Kun Ho Cho, Yong Hun Kwon, Kye Hoon Lee, Gil Tae Hur, Young Min Lee
  • Patent number: 8355097
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes: a pair of liquid crystal shutter glasses; a liquid crystal panel which alternately displays a left image and a right image formed in a predetermined scanning direction according to a predetermined scanning cycle; a glasses controller which outputs a control signal to open and close a left glass and a right glass of the liquid crystal shutter glasses synchronizing with the scanning cycle; a light source unit which supplies light to the liquid crystal panel; and a light source driver which supplies driving power to the light source unit to emit light to the liquid crystal panel in the scanning direction posterior to the left and right images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-ho Jung, Yung-jun Park, Jun-ho Sung, Tae-hyeun Ha, Jung-jin Park
  • Patent number: 8350990
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light source for emitting light having high directivity; a reflecting plate for reflecting the light emitted by the light source; a liquid crystal layer that the light reflected by the reflecting plate penetrates; a position detector for detecting a position of eyes of a user viewing a display image on the liquid crystal layer to generate position information regarding the position of eyes; a reflection angle controller for controlling a rotation angle of the reflecting plate based on the position information; and a light emission controller for controlling light intensity and a light-emitting angle of the light source according to the rotation angle of the reflecting plate. This configuration enables to effectively radiate the light emitted by the light source toward the eyes of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuji Fuchikami, Yoichi Nishida, Ikuo Fuchigami
  • Patent number: 8350991
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for harnessing external light to illuminate a display screen of an electronic device are provided. The display screen may be illuminated using a light harness, a reflector, a translucent surface, or any combination thereof. The light harness may be cylindrical or hexahedral. The light harness may be coupled to an external light input or a collector. The reflector may be repositioned toward or away from the display screen to reflect external light toward the display screen. The translucent surface may allow external light to pass through it to illuminate the display screen. The translucent surface may protect the rear face of the display screen, or the rear face of the display screen may itself be translucent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Peter H. Mahowald
  • Patent number: 8350274
    Abstract: Provided are a light emitting device, a method for fabricating the light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting unit. The light emitting device includes a conductive support substrate, a first reflective layer on the conductive support substrate, a second reflective layer in which at least portion thereof is disposed on a side surface of the first reflective layer, a light emitting structure including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second conductive type semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer on the first and second reflective layers, and an electrode on the light emitting structure. The second reflective layer schottky-contacts the light emitting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun Kyong Cho
  • Patent number: 8339542
    Abstract: A passive daylight-coupled display having an LCD panel, a diffuser, and a curved reflector behind the LCD panel. For passive backlighting, the diffuser transmits daylight to the reflector, which reflects the daylight to the LCD panel and provides for substantially uniform distribution of the daylight on the LCD panel for backlighting it. An N-stack daylight-coupled display includes a plurality of passive backlights cascaded in a stack for backlighting of LCD panels or static display panels. One N-stack display can include an active light source to provide light to the reflectors, and a secondary light source to provide light to at least one of the reflectors to provide backlighting of the display in low lighting conditions. A collapsible daylight-coupled display includes a daylight-coupled backlight that is collapsible when not in use for hand-held or portable display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rolf W. Biernath, Jennifer R. Yi, Keith M. Kotchick
  • Patent number: 8339526
    Abstract: An inventive rearview assembly for a vehicle may comprise a mirror element and a display including a light management subassembly. The subassembly may comprise an LCD placed behind a transflective layer of the mirror element. Despite a low transmittance through the transflective layer, the inventive display is capable of generating a viewable display image having an intensity of at least 250 cd/m2 and up to 3500 cd/m2. The display includes a novel backlighting subassembly and novel optical components including a magnifying system, a depolarizer, a reflector, and a reflective polarizer. The display may be configured to display an image having edges contoured to correspond to the edges of the mirror element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Danny L. Minikey, Jr., Mark W. Newton, Ethan J. Lee, William L. Tonar, Darin D. Tuttle, David J. Cammenga, John S. Anderson, John B. Ostreko, Christian M. Kemperman, David A. Blaker
  • Patent number: 8339540
    Abstract: A reflection sheet is made of material having a coefficient of thermal expansion different from that of an LED substrate. A fixing member and a retaining member extend through the reflection sheet and the LED substrate so as to fix the reflection sheet and the LED substrate. The reflection sheet includes a fixing hole into which the fixing member is inserted, a retaining hole into which the retaining member is inserted, and LED holes within which light emitting diodes are disposed, respectively. Retaining of the reflection sheet by the retaining member has, compared to fixing of the reflection sheet by the fixing member, a higher degree of freedom of movement in a direction along a surface of the reflection sheet. The LED holes located in positions far from the fixing hole are larger than the LED holes located in positions close to the fixing hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Fujimoto, Hiroshi Obata
  • Patent number: 8334943
    Abstract: A backlight unit 12 includes LEDs 16, a first light guide plate 18A, a second light guide plate 18B and a fitting structure. Each of the first light guide plate 18A and the second light guide plate 18B has a light entrance surface 34 and a light exit surface 36. The light entrance surface 34 faces the corresponding LED 16 and light from the LED 16 enters through the light entrance surface 34. The light exit surface 36 through which light exits is arranged along an arrangement direction in which the LED 16 and the light entrance surface 34 are arranged. The light guide plates 18 are arranged in a parallel layout in the arrangement direction and partially overlap in a direction perpendicular to the light exit surface 36. A light exit portion 31 is an overlapping area OA that is provided on the first light guide plate 18A on a relatively light output side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shiyoshi Cho
  • Patent number: 8334948
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes; a plurality of light guide blocks disposed substantially in parallel with each other along a first direction, each of the plurality of light guide blocks including; a light guide plate (“LGP”) having a wedge-shape decreasing in thickness from a first side thereof to a second side thereof, and a light source unit disposed facing a side surface of the LGP, and a light source driving unit which individually controls the light source units of the plurality of light guide blocks to emit light via a local dimming method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heu-Gon Kim, In-Sun Hwang, Taek-Sun Shin, Byung-Seo Yoon, Yong-Woo Lee, Se-Ki Park
  • Patent number: 8325297
    Abstract: In a display panel, a plurality of pixel sections are arranged in the form of a matrix. Each of the pixel sections includes a pixel for displaying an image for the left eye and a pixel for displaying an image for the right eye. Lenticular lens having repeated convex surfaces is disposed in front of the display panel to deflect the light emitted from each pixel in the horizontal direction from the pixel for displaying the image for the left eye to the pixel for displaying the image for the right eye in each pixel section. Reflection plate reflects the exterior light toward the display panel and has surface projections on the surface. In this case, the focal distance f of the lens is different from the distance H between the surface of the reflection plate and the apex of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: NLT Technologies
    Inventors: Shin-ichi Uehara, Nobuaki Takanashi
  • Patent number: 8325292
    Abstract: A backlight unit having a LED light source which includes a light guide plate partitioned in areas having a tapered shape formed of a thick and thin portion. The light guide plate forms a thick and thin portion repeated at certain intervals, and the repeated thick portions and the repeated thin portions gradually decrease in thickness. The LED light source is attached to a lateral side of thick portions. Grooves are formed in the light irradiation direction of the LED light source and in a direction perpendicularly intersecting the light irradiation direction. Each of the grooves is formed in an concave shape. There is a relation 0.2/30<=W/D<0.1 where D denotes the distance between the light guide plate and a light diffusion plate, and W denotes the width of each of the grooves. An inclination angle ? relative to the center of each of the grooves is between 9 and 15 degrees inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ouchi, Koichi Sakita, Hajime Inoue, Seiji Murata
  • Publication number: 20120300139
    Abstract: A planar lighting apparatus, liquid crystal display having the same and a television having the same are provided. The planar lighting apparatus includes a reflection sheet; a prism sheet which is spaced apart from the reflection sheet, and which includes a prism pattern on a surface of the prism sheet facing the reflection sheet; and a light source which emits light toward a space between the reflection sheet and the prism sheet and is disposed on at least one side of the space, wherein the prism pattern has a shape which reflects the light emitted from the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-eun LEE, Young-chol LEE, Nae-won JANG, Hyeong-sik CHOI
  • Patent number: 8310616
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display device which is capable of preventing light leakage and preventing a dark portion from being viewed. The liquid crystal display device includes: a lower receiving container; a plurality of supporting walls arranged in a line along at least one side wall of the lower receiving container with gaps therebetween; a plurality of light sources arranged in a line so as to be provided in the gaps; and a reflecting cover covering at least a portion of each of the gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Su-Young Yun, Young-Ho Lee, Jae-Hwan Chun
  • Patent number: 8305515
    Abstract: Provided are a backlight unit and a display device having the same. The backlight unit includes a case having an opening, at least one lamp assembly disposed on a side surface of the case and including a light source, an optical transreflective unit on the case, the optical transreflective unit transmitting a portion of first light passing through the opening and reflecting a portion of second light generated from the light source, and an optical sheet including a first diffusion unit on the optical transreflective unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho Young Jeong, Deuk Su Lee, Jun Hyeok Yu, Jae Jung Han, Mi Young Do, Tae Han Kim
  • Publication number: 20120274871
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device including a backlight unit that irradiates the entire image formation region with light from light emitting diodes disposed in a concentrated manner, in order to reduce warpage of a reflection sheet to obtain uniform illumination, provided is a liquid crystal display device (1), including: a liquid crystal panel (3); a reflection sheet (6), which is disposed on a rear surface side of the liquid crystal panel (3) and is curved so as to have a concave surface facing the liquid crystal panel (3); a light emitting diode substrate on which a plurality of light emitting diodes (14) are disposed along a horizontal direction; and a support (21) for fixing the reflection sheet (6) at a curved portion of the reflection sheet (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sachiko YAMAZAKI, Ikuko IMAJO, Masashi BABA
  • Patent number: 8297773
    Abstract: The backlight device 12 of the present invention includes a plurality of tubular light sources 17 provided in a parallel arrangement and a light reflecting member 20 arranged on a opposite side from an illuminating side that is illuminated with light from the light sources 17. The arrangement of the tubular includes a narrow pitch area 17a in which an arrangement interval is relatively small and a wide pitch area 17b in which an arrangement interval is relatively large. A dot pattern including a plurality of dots 22 is formed on the light reflecting member 20. Light reflectivity of the dots 22 is different from that of the light reflecting member 20. Light reflectivity of a light reflecting surface including surfaces of the light reflecting member and the dot pattern is low in the narrow pitch area 17a than in the wide pitch area 17b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasumori Kuromizu
  • Patent number: 8300177
    Abstract: A backlight device (10) includes: an LED package (12) including an LED chip (12A) and an Ag reflective layer (12B); and an optical member (for example, a prism sheet (16)) for adjusting light emitted from the LED package (12). The optical member (16) adjusts an amount of a halogen thus contained and the like so that emission of halogen is decreased to a degree in which no silver halide is generated on the Ag reflective layer (12B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Takemoto, Kiyohisa Ohta, Kenichi Ukai, Nobuyuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120268438
    Abstract: A display includes a reflective Liquid Crystal (LC) panel having an LC layer, an optical unit having a light source, and a transmission plate unit stacked on the reflective LC panel. The transmission plate unit includes a first transmission plate and a second transmission plate that have respective and different indexes of refraction. Light incident on a first side of the first transmission plate is totally internally-reflected by a boundary between the first transmission plate and the second transmission plate, and travels through the first transmission plate to the reflective LC panel. The LC layer of the reflective LC panel reflects the incident light of spectra corresponding to pixel signals in order to display a video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Woo Cheol LEE
  • Patent number: 8290318
    Abstract: A light trapping optical cover employing an optically transparent layer with a plurality of light deflecting elements. The transparent layer is configured for an unimpeded light passage through its body and has a broad light input surface and an opposing broad light output surface. The light deflecting elements deflect light incident into the transparent layer at a sufficiently high bend angle with respect to a surface normal and direct the deflected light toward a light harvesting device adjacent to the light output surface. The deflected light is retained by means of at least TIR in the system formed by the optical cover and the light harvesting device which allows for longer light propagation paths through the photoabsorptive layer of the device and for an improved light absorption. The optical cover may further employ a focusing array of light collectors being pairwise associated with the respective light deflecting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: SVV Technology Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Sergiy Victorovich Vasylyev
  • Patent number: 8284351
    Abstract: A backlight unit and a video display apparatus having a plural number of sets of one or more of light sources. A light guidance plate for guiding lights from the light sources to a side of a liquid crystal panel, to be emitted. The light sources are disposed on one end side of the light guidance plate. Assuming that width of the gap or groove is “d”, distance between a light incident surface of the liquid crystal panel and a light emission surface of the light guidance plate, or distance between a light incident surface of an optical member disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the light guidance plate and a light emission surface of the light guidance plate is “h”, and further 2.0 mm>d?0.1 mm and 10.0 mm>h?0.4 mm, then the following condition is satisfied: 4?h/d?100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ouchi, Koichi Sakita, Hajime Inoue, Yoshiharu Yamashita