Plural Serial Refractors Patents (Class 362/331)
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Patent number: 7726843Abstract: A lamp unit with a relay lens that allows two different focus points. Two different optical altering elements are hence simultaneously in focus. The elements can be taken in and out of focus to allow different effects.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2007Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLCInventors: Thomas A. Hough, James Bornhorst
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Patent number: 7726826Abstract: A thin direct-type backlight capable of realizing high brightness uniformity is provided by a specific configuration of the direct-type backlight whereby high light beam utilization ratio is maintained while periodical unevenness of the light emitting surface is suppressed. In a direct-type backlight device having a plurality of linear light sources in parallel, a reflection plate and a light diffusion plate, at least one of main surfaces of the light diffusion plate is provided with a prismatic ridges having a sawtooth-shaped cross-section. The apex angle “y” (degree) of the prismatic ridge of the light diffusion plate, the distance “a” (mm) between centers of the adjacent linear light sources, and the distance “b” (mm) from a center of the linear light sources to a surface of the light diffusion plate facing the light source satisfy the relationship of 80×(b/a)+15<y<180×(b/a)+70.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2005Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Zeon CorporationInventors: Kenji Kusano, Masahiko Hayashi, Keisuke Tsukada, Yasunori Takahashi
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Patent number: 7722225Abstract: A diffuser for a backlight unit of a display device including a base film, a first diffusion layer including a first resin and a plurality of first diffusion particles, and being formed on an upper surface of the base film, and a second diffusion layer including a second resin and a plurality of second diffusion particles, and being formed on a lower surface of the base film. Further, the plurality of first diffusion particles are contained within the first resin such that an upper surface of the first diffusion layer is substantially flat.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Kab Jin Hwang
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Patent number: 7717343Abstract: A hand held data collection device, such as a bar code scanner, portable data terminal, transaction terminal, or bar code verifier, containing at least one light-emitting diode (LED) that has been modified to improve the efficiency of light energy transmission. The modification involves transition features at the interface between the LED die surface and the ambient environment. Devices using such modified LEDs may offer a number of advantages such as extended read range, decreased read time, and improved battery life.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.Inventors: William H. Havens, James A. Cairns
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Publication number: 20100118516Abstract: The invention provides a novel lens sheet that can control a visual field range with high brightness while reducing side lobe generated in a conventional prism sheet, a low-profile, high-strength, high-display-quality optical sheet in which the lens sheet and a diffuser plate are optically integrated, and a backlight unit and display apparatus, in which the optical sheet is used.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2009Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tomohiro Nakagome
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Patent number: 7712931Abstract: An optical element is configured for use in conjunction with a directional light source such as an LED to form an illuminator. The optical element includes a light entry surface, a reflector and an emission surface. Each of the light entry, reflector and emission surfaces are surfaces of revolution defined by revolving straight or curved lines about an axis of revolution. The light entry, reflector and emission surfaces are configured to produce a radiation pattern from the illuminator that is collimated in a first direction and divergent or swept in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.Inventor: Todd J. Smith
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Patent number: 7711223Abstract: A composite light guiding film module is disclosed, which includes: a light guiding film; a light diffusion structure comprising a plurality of micro concave lenses arranged in a first direction and a second direction to form a second dimensional array and the curvature of each concave lens and the junction of the concave lenses are not equal to zero; and a refraction element comprising at least one refraction structure, wherein light from a light source passes through the refraction element and is refracted to the light diffusion structure, and the light passing through the light diffusion structure is refracted into the light guiding film and then propagates in the light guiding film by total reflection.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Chih-Chiang Chao, Po-Ling Shiao, Yu-Tsan Tseng, Mei-Chun Lai
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Patent number: 7699502Abstract: An optical member (3) has an entrance bottom surface (6) opposed to LED chips (1) and the entrance bottom surface (6) is configured to receive light from the LED chips (1), an exit top surface (7) opposite to the entrance bottom surface (6) and the exit top surface (7) is configured to emit the light outside the optical member(3), and an outer peripheral side surface (8) disposed between the entrance bottom surface (6) and the exit top surface (7). The outer peripheral side surface (8) has a plurality of circumferentially extending grooves (9) each having a V-shaped sectional configuration. The grooves (9) are set at an angle at which the entered light can be totally reflected inwardly in the optical member (3).Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2008Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Junji Miyashita
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Patent number: 7699504Abstract: The present invention relates to a light source package structure, which comprises: an accommodating space for accommodating a light source, a first refraction surface, and at least a second refraction surface. The first refraction surface receives light discharging from the light source while refracting the same to form a first refracting light, the upper part of the first refraction surface further comprising a refracting structure for refracting the light emitted from the light source. The second refraction surface receives and refracts the first refracting light to form a discharging light being emitted out of the light source package structure. Wherein, an included angle is formed between the normal vector of a portion of the second refraction surface and the central axis of the light source package structure. It is noted that the aforesaid package structure can be used in various packaging for improving refraction.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2006Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Yi-Ting Sun, Po-Hung Yao, Heng-Chun Huang, Hsiu-Chen Hsu
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Patent number: 7699503Abstract: A light control film enabling improvement in front luminance, having appropriate light diffusing property and free from problems of interference pattern, glare etc. is provided. A light control film 10 having a rough surface as one surface and a substantially smooth surface as the other surface is constituted so that total light transmission of the film for lights entered from the smooth surface should be not more than 65%, total light transmission of the film for lights entered from the rough surface should be not less than 80%, as measured according to the measurement method defined in JIS K7361-1:1997, and a value obtained by subtracting the total light transmission for smooth surface incidence from the total light transmission for rough surface incidence should be not less than 30%.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2005Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Kimoto Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hideki Etori
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Patent number: 7695167Abstract: An optical sheet has a large number of cylindrical lens elements provided successively on one of principal faces thereof. The cylindrical lens elements have a finite focal distance on the emission side of illumination light and have an aspheric face of a leftwardly and rightwardly symmetric sectional shape. Where a Z axis is taken in parallel to a normal line direction to the optical sheet and an X axis is taken in a direction of the row of the cylindrical lens elements, a cross sectional shape of the cylindrical lens elements satisfies Z=X2/(R+?{square root over ( )}(R2?(1+K)X2))+AX4+BX5+CX6+ . . . (where R is the radius of curvature of a distal end vertex, K is a conic constant, and A, B, C, . . . are aspheric coefficients).Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2005Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Mitsuo Arima, Jun Shimizu, Hirokazu Odagiri, Eiji Ohta, Kei Obata
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Patent number: 7690814Abstract: A luminaire is provided with a one-sided diffuser, located a predefined distance below the light output ports, in order to efficiently distribute light through an upper smooth surface and a lower surface having light altering tracks where each wherein each light altering tracks distributes its received light over a range of angles within a predefined cutoff angle.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Saccomanno, Ivan B. Steiner
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Patent number: 7686481Abstract: A radiant energy redirecting apparatus, method, and system. In one aspect, it comprises two radiant energy distribution surfaces, each surface comprised of a multiplicity of equivalently shaped linear distribution elements, where each surface acts to distribute radiant energy in orthogonal directions, and where each surface is comprised of refractive or total internal reflection elements, or a combination thereof, for the purpose of efficiently directing pseudo-collimated radiant energy into a generally rectangular-shaped output distribution in angle space.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2005Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Innovative Lighting, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. Condon, Mark B. Pruss
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Patent number: 7686474Abstract: A light emitting device including a substrate, a plurality of light sources and a lens array is provided. The light sources and the lens array are disposed on the substrate, and the light sources are arranged to a polygon. The lens array includes a plurality of first lenses and a plurality of second lenses. The first lenses surrounded by the second lenses cover the light sources and respectively correspond to one of the light sources.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Young Lighting Technology CorporationInventors: Wei-Jen Chou, Wei-Chih Wang
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Patent number: 7682063Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 26, 2007Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: AU Optroncis CorporationInventors: Chih-Yen Chen, Han-Ping Kuo
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Patent number: 7665876Abstract: A backlight unit includes: light guide plate surrounded by main surfaces and end surfaces, one end surface facing a light source designated as entrance surface, one main surface designated as emitting surface; first prism sheet provided above the light guide plate, having first prism columns on a top surface and second prism columns on a bottom surface, each first prism column has first ridge line parallel or perpendicular to the entrance surface, each second prism column has second ridge line extending in a different direction from the first ridge line; second prism sheet provided above the first prism sheet, having third prism columns abutting each other on a top surface, each third prism column has third ridge line extending in a direction different from the first and second ridge lines; and reflection sheet facing the light guide plate below the light guide plate.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2008Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masato Taya, Tokutarou Komatsu, Yasushi Sugimoto, Tadashi Okuda, Teruo Teshima
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Publication number: 20100039819Abstract: A floodlight comprises means (110) for generating a parallel beam having a general direction (AA), a first convergent lenses array (120) for generating a plurality of convergent beams from said parallel beam, and a second lenses array (130) parallel to and integral with said first lenses array. The floodlight further comprises means for rotating simultaneously said first and second lenses arrays about an axis perpendicular to the general direction of the parallel beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2007Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.Inventors: Denis Fournier, Matthias Jouffrieau
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Patent number: 7645057Abstract: An optical sheet includes a substrate onto which light is incident, and a convex part protruded from the substrate by a predetermined thickness. A thickness of the convex part increases from an edge to a center thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2008Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Miraenanotech Co., Ltd.Inventors: Cheul Yong Kim, Sang Mook Kim, Jong Wook Huh, Dong Ryoul Kim, Ki Won Jeon, Ju Won Lee, Eun Jung Ham, Myung Su Lee
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Patent number: 7628526Abstract: A back light unit is disclosed, which improves condensing efficiency of light and viewing angle characteristics. The back light unit includes at least one lamp generating light, a light guide plate emitting light across a surface thereof using the light generated from the lamp, a diffusion sheet arranged above the light guide plate to diffuse the light passing through the light guide plate, a first condensing sheet condensing the light from the diffusion sheet using a plurality of first elliptical condensing patterns arranged on the diffusion sheet in a first direction, and a second condensing sheet further condensing the light from the first condensing sheet using a plurality of second elliptical condensing patterns arranged on the first condensing sheet in a second direction crossing the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Man Hoan Lee, Ji Su Yoon, Sung Keun Lee, Won Taek Moon, Jun Kyu Paik, Young Hun Jeong
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Publication number: 20090279312Abstract: A lens for a light emitting diode is formed with a material having a refractive index of n, and the lens includes a base, a first curved circumferential surface extending from the base, a curved center-edge surface extending from the first curved circumferential surface, and a curved centermost surface extending from the curved center-edge surface. The base includes a groove for receiving a light emitting chip therein. In the lens, a distance from a center of the base to a point of the curved center-edge surface is always shorter than the radius of curvature for the point of the curved center-edge surface. The curved centermost surface has a concave shape with respect to the base.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2009Publication date: November 12, 2009Inventors: JU-YOUNG YOON, GI-CHERL KIM, JONG-SEO LEE, CHUN-HO SONG, SE-KI PARK, SANG-GIL LEE, SEOCK-HWAN KANG
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Patent number: 7604381Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical article having a top layer with a structured surface that collimates light, a core layer secured to the top layer opposite the structured surface, and a bottom layer secured to the core layer opposite the top layer. Either the top layer or the core layer includes a first extrudable polymer having a flexural modulus of greater than 2.5 GPa, and the other layer includes a second extrudable polymer having a flexural modulus of 2.5 GPa or less, an impact strength of greater than about 40 J/m, and tensile elongation at break of greater than about 5%. The bottom layer includes a third extrudable polymer. The bottom layer of the optical article may be structured to diffuse light. One or two optical articles may be secured to an optical film such as a polarizer film. Methods and display devices are also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2007Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, James M. Jonza, Randy S. Bay, Graham M. Clarke, Raymond L. Lucking, Ta-Hua Yu, Terry O. Collier
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Patent number: 7591580Abstract: In the lighting device, cylindrical lenses are provided on a reflection surface side of a light guide plate, and the adjacent cylindrical lenses are connected by a concaved curved surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2008Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Satoshi Maeda, Hirokazu Aritake, Takao Satake, Susumu Fujiwara
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Patent number: 7593615Abstract: Optical devices for guiding illumination are provided each having a body of optical material with staircase or acutely angled ramp structures on its top surface for distributing light inputted from one end of the device from the front exit faces of such structures along certain angular orientations, while at least a substantial portion of the light is totally internally reflected within the body until distributed from such front exit faces. Optical devices are also provided each have a body of optical material having a bottom surface with acutely angled ramp structures and falling structures which alternate with each other, such that light is totally internally reflected within the device until reflected by such ramp structures along the bottom surface to exit the top surface of the device or transmitted through the ramp structures to an adjacent falling structure back into the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2006Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: RPC Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Stephen H. Chakmakjian, Donald J. Schertler, Tasso Sales, G. Michael Morris
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Publication number: 20090231858Abstract: An illumination homogenizing optical element is disclosed that includes at least one optical surface having a plurality of refractive structures formed as either grooves or protrusions that, individually, are wider than the wavelength of light incident onto said illumination homogenizing optical element. At least part of the light incident onto the illumination homogenizing optical element is removed from the optical path by refraction of said light so as to provide even illumination on an illuminated surface. The illumination homogenizing optical element is advantageous over prior art illumination homogenizing optical elements in that it is easy and inexpensive to manufacture while providing sufficient optical performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2009Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventor: Kentaro YAMAZAKI
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Patent number: 7581867Abstract: A brightness enhancement article and illumination system provides light from a two-dimensional surface. The brightness enhancement article has a plurality of light collecting structures wherein each light collecting structure is longitudinally extended in a length direction along the surface. The structures may have various lengthwise shapes such as being curved, concentric, radial, or of varying thickness.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2006Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junwon Lee, David Kessler
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Publication number: 20090207622Abstract: A lighting system is provided that includes: an optical device including a cylindrical lens made up of a liquid lens, an emission unit including an axis line in the Z-axis direction, and a reflecting mirror configured to reflect light emitted from the emission unit. The cross-sectional shape of a light reflecting portion when cutting away the reflecting mirror at a virtual plane perpendicular to the Z axis is a part of a parabola. The axis line of the emission unit is positioned between the vertex-of the parabola and a focal point. Thus, there is provided a lighting system in which an optical device, which is made up of a liquid lens employing an electrowetting phenomenon, having an arrangement and configuration whereby high optical power can be obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2008Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Miki Tsuboi, Yuichi Takai, Mariko Obinata
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Patent number: 7572036Abstract: A lens for a light emitting diode is formed with a material having a refractive index of n, and the lens includes a base, a first curved circumferential surface extending from the base, a curved center-edge surface extending from the first curved circumferential surface, and a curved centermost surface extending from the curved center-edge surface. The base includes a groove for receiving a light emitting chip therein. In the lens, a distance from a center of the base to a point of the curved center-edge surface is always shorter than the radius of curvature for the point of the curved center-edge surface. The curved centermost surface has a concave shape with respect to the base.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2005Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ju-Young Yoon, Gi-Cherl Kim, Jong-Seo Lee, Chun-Ho Song, Se-Ki Park, Sang-Gil Lee, Seock-Hwan Kang
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Patent number: 7553057Abstract: A backlight unit for a display device includes a light guide plate formed with a first prism pattern on one of top and bottom surfaces, a lamp including first and second lamp portions facing first and second side surfaces, respectively, of the light guide plate, and a reflector facing the bottom surface of the light guide plate, wherein the first prism pattern is formed in a direction of crossing at least one of the first and second lamp portions.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2005Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae-Ho Hwang, Seung-Hoon Yang
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Publication number: 20090127477Abstract: A laser beam having homogeneous intensity distribution is delivered without causing interference stripes of a laser to appear on an irradiation surface. A laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator passes through a diffractive optical element so that the intensity distribution thereof is homogenized. The beam emitted from the diffractive optical element then passes through a slit so that low-intensity end portions in a major-axis direction of the beam are blocked. Subsequently, the beam passes through a projecting lens and a condensing lens, so that an image of the slit is projected onto the irradiation surface. The projecting lens is provided so that the slit and the irradiation surface are conjugated. Thus, the irradiation surface can be irradiated with the laser having homogeneous intensity while preventing the diffraction by the slit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2006Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., LtdInventor: Koichiro Tanaka
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Patent number: 7527398Abstract: A flat panel display can include a transparent substrate, a light emitting device formed on a surface of the transparent substrate, and a prism sheet formed on the other surface of the transparent substrate and having a plurality of polygonal protruding members having lengthwise axes parallel to one another to direct light output from the light emitting device in a predetermined direction. The sum of the thickness of the transparent substrate and the thickness of a portion of the prism sheet excluding the polygonal protruding members can be about 0.1 to about 0.5 mm.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2005Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Young-Woo Song, Young-Rag Do, Yoon-Chang Kim, Sang-Hwan Cho, Ji-Hoon Ahn, Joon-gu Lee, So-Young Lee
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Patent number: 7527394Abstract: An image-displaying apparatus comprising a light-emitting diode, a relay lens, a secondary light source-forming prism arranged between the light-emitting lens and the relay lens, and a light valve, said secondary light source-forming prism having opposed first and second opposed rectangular planes and at least four polygonal planes, said first and second rectangular planes being positioned on sides of the light-emitting diode and the light valve, respectively, and an area of the first rectangular plane being greater than that of the second rectangular plane, wherein a light emitted from the light-emitting diode is illuminated upon the light valve through the relay lens and the secondary light source-forming prism.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2005Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Hibiki Tatsuno
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Patent number: 7520642Abstract: A compact and efficient optical illumination system featuring planar multi-layered LED light source arrays concentrating their polarized or un-polarized output within a limited angular range. The optical system manipulates light emitted by a planar array of electrically-interconnected LED chips positioned within the input apertures of a corresponding array of shaped metallic reflecting bins using at least one of elevated prismatic films, polarization converting films, micro-lens arrays and external hemispherical or ellipsoidal reflecting elements. Practical applications of the LED array illumination systems include compact LCD or DMD video image projectors, as well as general lighting, automotive lighting, and LCD backlighting.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2007Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Digital Optics International CorporationInventors: Robert L. Holman, Arthur Cox
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Patent number: 7510308Abstract: The present invention provides a diffusing sheet, a surface light source device, and a transmission type display, that can attain uniform illumination so that the brightness of light on the display screen appears uniform regardless of the position from which the display screen is observed. A transmission type display 10 comprises an LCD panel 11, and a surface light source device 16 for illuminating the LCD panel 11 from its rear. The surface light source device 16 includes a plurality of cathode ray tubes 13 that are arranged in parallel. A diffusing sheet 14 and a convergent sheet 12 are placed between the cathode ray tubes 13 and the LCD panel 11 in the surface light source device 16. The diffusing sheet 14 includes, on its light-emerging side surface, a diffusion lens array 141.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2005Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masahiro Goto
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Patent number: 7506999Abstract: A lighting device can include a light source in line and a reflector behind the light source. In front of the light source, a transparent inner lens and a transparent outer lens can be provided with a gap formed therebetween. The shape of the lens can be defined by bending a plate member so as to have a projection portion that surrounds or opens towards the light source. The inner lens and the outer lens can each have a flat part at a position opposite the light source and in the illumination direction. When observed from different positions, the light source can appear as if it is displaced or deformed.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2007Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Uchida, Toshiyuki Kondo
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Publication number: 20090073344Abstract: Provided are an optical sheet, a backlight unit and an LCD device having the same. The backlight unit includes a first layer, a second layer, and a refractive pattern. The first layer has a larger refractivity than an air layer, and the second layer has a larger refractivity than the first layer. The refractive pattern is disposed at a boundary surface between the first layer and the second layer and has ridges and furrows that change a traveling path of light. The optical sheet refracts light at least three times to condense the light in a direction perpendicular to a light-exiting surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2007Publication date: March 19, 2009Inventors: Man Hoan Lee, Jae Hyun Park
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Patent number: 7497599Abstract: The transreflectors may comprise a transparent substrate having reflective surfaces and other light transmissive surfaces for respectively reflecting and transmitting a greater portion of the light striking opposite sides of the substrate. Alternatively, the transreflectors may comprise two or more transparent substrates of different indices of refraction bonded together, with a pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of one of the substrates and an inverse pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of an other substrate in mating engagement with each other. The transreflectors are used in a transreflector system or display to transmit more of the light emitted by a backlight or other light source incident on one side of the transreflectors and reflect more of the light incident on the opposite side of the transreflectors. The transreflectors and backlight may be tuned to each other to enable the transreflectors to better transmit more of the light emitted by the backlight.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Solid State Opto LimitedInventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
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Publication number: 20080285304Abstract: A backlight comprises in order a lightguide plate with a sidelit light source and bonded thereto a light extraction unit containing in order from the lightguide plate, a first polymeric layer, an adhesive layer, a second polymeric layer bearing features at least partly embedded in the adhesive layer wherein the materials of the first polymeric layer, the adhesive layer, and the second polymeric layer differ by less than 0.05 in refractive index, the interstitial regions between the non-embedded portions of the features containing a material having a refractive index at least 0.1 lower than that of the material comprising the features.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2007Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Charles M. Rankin, JR., Peter T. Aylward, Leonard S. Gates, Ronald J. Sudol
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Patent number: 7448775Abstract: Light emitting assembly includes at least one film, sheet, plate or substrate positioned between a light source and a display for redirecting at least some of the light emitted by the light source. One side of the film, sheet, plate or substrate may have a pattern of reflective or refractive surfaces or deformities and the other side may have corresponding or aligned optical deformities of well defined shape. Light emitted from the light source that strikes a reflective or refractive surface or deformity on the one side of the film, sheet, plate or substrate passes through the film, sheet, plate or substrate and is redirected by at least one corresponding optical deformity on the other side of the film, sheet, plate or substrate.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2006Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Solid State Opto LimitedInventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
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Patent number: 7445366Abstract: A lamp for a vehicle is provided with a projection lens, a light source, a reflector having a reflecting surface, which reflects a light from the light source toward the projection lens; a body of a vessel shape; a cover forming a lamp chamber together with the body; and an auxiliary lens. The auxiliary lens diffuses an incident light in a horizontal direction and is provided at least on one side of the projection lens in the vehicle width direction. A horizontal section of the cover is tilted in with respect to a phantom line that extends in a vehicle width direction, and the auxiliary lens is formed such that a thickness thereof becomes gradually thin in an outward direction from the projection lens, and that an outermost surface thereof in the horizontal section is parallel to the cover.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2006Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michio Tsukamoto, Hiroshi Kawashima
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Patent number: 7445359Abstract: An exemplary light emitting diode (30) includes a light output unit (31), an optical lens (33), and a reflective sheet (35). The optical lens is mounted on the light output unit. The optical lens includes a light input surface (331), a generally funnel-shaped top surface (333) and a light output surface (335). The funnel-shaped top surface is distal from the light input surface. The light output surface generally between the light input surface and the top surface is an annular bulging surface. It is relatively easy to configure an injection mold for making the optical lens.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
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Patent number: 7438445Abstract: A side-emitting light-emitting element and a packaging lens thereof, wherein the packaging lens comprises an incident surface, a reflective surface, a first refractive surface, and a second refractive surface. The first refractive surface has zigzag surfaces. After a light from a light source enters into the packaging lens through the incident surface, a portion of the light is reflected by the reflective surface to the first refractive surface via total internal reflection to vertically penetrate the first refractive surface and then proceeds along a first optical path. The other portion of the light is refracted by the second refractive surface to penetrate the second refractive surface and then proceeds along a second optical path, which is parallel to the first optical path. A zigzag surface of the first refractive surface avoids from undesired lights reflected by the first refractive surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Coretronic CorporationInventors: Tzeng-Ke Shiau, Wen-Bin Chou, Teng-Chao Hou
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Patent number: 7438444Abstract: A light guide lens includes a lens body having a light incidence surface and a light emission surface, a plurality of refraction structures formed on the light incidence surface, and a plurality of reflection structures formed on the light emission surface. The refraction structures send incoming light rays to the light emission surface by refraction. Each of the refraction structures turns incoming light rays coming in all directions into refracted parallel light rays. The refracted parallel light rays arriving from the refraction structures reflect off the corresponding reflection structures and then laterally exit the lens body. The refracted parallel light rays arriving from each of the refraction structures travel to a corresponding one of the reflection structures, such that eventually the incoming light rays exit laterally. The present invention further provides a light emitting diode package structure having the light guide lens.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Yu-Nan Pao, Po-Hung Yao, Tsung-Hsin Lin
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Patent number: 7434975Abstract: A liquid crystal display device 700 has a liquid crystal panel 701 and a backlight module 70 under the liquid crystal panel for providing light beams to the liquid crystal panel. The backlight module includes at least one light source 720, and a light guide plate 711. The light guide plate has an incident surface 710 for receiving light beams from the at least one light source, an emitting surface 712 adjacent the incident surface, and a bottom surface 713 opposite to the emitting surface, at least one brightness enhancing pattern being provided at the bottom surface. The at least one brightness enhancing pattern has a plurality of brightness enhancing element 714, each of which is an arcuate and generally subtending the at least one light source.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2006Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Innolux Display Corp.Inventors: Yu-Cheng Lin, Brian (Xi-Yu) Guo, Chiu-Lien Yang, Chia-Lung Lin, Jia-Pang Pang
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Patent number: 7431490Abstract: A light guide plate (200) includes an emission surface (204), a bottom surface (206), and at least one chamfering (202). The emission surface intersects with the chamfering. The bottom surface intersects with the chamfering and is opposite to the emission surface. The light guide plate further includes a plurality of prism structures (208) formed at least one of within and on at least one of the emission surface and the bottom surface. A backlight module (50), adopting the above-mentioned light guide plate, further includes a corresponding light source (220) positioned beside each chamfering of the light guide plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2006Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tai-Cherng Yu
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Patent number: 7422353Abstract: A light-emitting device is disclosed which enables efficient use of luminous flux and achieves a desired light emission characteristic. The light-emitting device has an optical member which has an emergence surface and a plurality of optical portions, each of the optical portions including a first surface which directs light incident thereon to the emergence surface. The plurality of first surfaces are inclined on the same side with respect to the emergence surface. The light-emitting device also has a light guiding member which directs light from a light source to the plurality of optical portions from one side of a direction in which the plurality of optical portions are arranged.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2006Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshiharu Tenmyo
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Patent number: 7422347Abstract: A planar light source comprises at least one point light source disposed on a supporting substrate, and a cylindrical lens that covers the light emitting observation side of the point light source, wherein the cylindrical lens has a concave lens function in the direction (y direction) perpendicular to the supporting substrate, and has a convex lens function in at least part of the horizontal direction (x direction).Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2006Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Nichia CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Miyairi, Kazunori Watanabe
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Patent number: 7416315Abstract: A faceted reflector includes a plurality of individual reflectors embedded in a carrier, one main area of the carrier being a light entry side, and another main area being a light exit side. The individual reflectors may be cavities in the carrier, which, preferably, have a prismatic form. The radiation to be reflected is subjected to total reflection at a part of the cavity interfaces.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2002Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Osram OPTO Semiconductors GmbHInventor: Simon Blümel
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Publication number: 20080180956Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include an interferometric optical modulator comprising a substrate layer and a light direction layer. Such an interferometric modulator may be integrated with a diffuser layer in a display device in a way that physically integrates the diffuser layer into the light direction layer in a way where the diff-user layer does not interact with light propagating within the light direction layer. As a result, most of the light propagating within the light direction layer does not penetrate into the diffuser which would inhibit performance of the display. In some embodiments, the interface between the diffuser layer and the light direction layer has a lower index of refraction than the light direction layer and the transparent substrate so that total internal reflection occurs at the interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Russell Wayne Gruhlke, Mark Mienko, Gang Xu, Ion Bita
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Patent number: 7400439Abstract: A compact and efficient optical illumination system featuring planar multi-layered LED light source arrays concentrating their polarized or un-polarized output within a limited angular range. The optical system manipulates light emitted by a planar light emitters such as electrically-interconnected LED chips. Each light emitting region in the array is surrounded by reflecting sidewalls whose output is processed by elevated prismatic films, polarization converting films, or both. The optical interaction between light emitters, reflecting sidewalls, and the elevated prismatic films create overlapping virtual images between emitting regions that contribute to the greater optical uniformity. Practical illumination applications of such uniform light source arrays include compact LCD or DMD video image projectors, as well as general lighting, automotive lighting, and LCD backlighting.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Digital Optics International CorporationInventor: Robert L. Holman
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Publication number: 20080137334Abstract: An exemplary optical plate includes a first transparent layer (21), a second transparent layer (23) and a light diffusion layer (22). The first transparent layer includes an outer surface (210) and a plurality of semi-spherical depressions (211) protruding out from the outer surface. The second transparent layer includes an outer surface (230) and a plurality of conical frustum-shaped depressions (231) defined at the outer surface. The first transparent, the light diffusion layer, and the second transparent are integrally formed, with the first transparent layer in immediate contact with the light diffusion layer, and the second transparent layer in immediate contact with the light diffusion layer. The light diffusion layer includes a transparent matrix resin (221) and a plurality of diffusion particles (222) dispersed in the transparent matrix resin.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2007Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: HON HAI Precision Industry CO., LTD.Inventors: Tung-Ming Hsu, Shao-Han Chang