Plural Serial Refractors Patents (Class 362/331)
  • Patent number: 7726843
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Hough, James Bornhorst
  • Patent number: 7726826
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Zeon Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kusano, Masahiko Hayashi, Keisuke Tsukada, Yasunori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7722225
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kab Jin Hwang
  • Patent number: 7717343
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Havens, James A. Cairns
  • Publication number: 20100118516
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Nakagome
  • Patent number: 7712931
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Smith
  • Patent number: 7711223
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chih-Chiang Chao, Po-Ling Shiao, Yu-Tsan Tseng, Mei-Chun Lai
  • Patent number: 7699502
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Miyashita
  • Patent number: 7699504
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yi-Ting Sun, Po-Hung Yao, Heng-Chun Huang, Hsiu-Chen Hsu
  • Patent number: 7699503
    Abstract: A light control film enabling improvement in front luminance, having appropriate light diffusing property and free from problems of interference pattern, glare etc. is provided. A light control film 10 having a rough surface as one surface and a substantially smooth surface as the other surface is constituted so that total light transmission of the film for lights entered from the smooth surface should be not more than 65%, total light transmission of the film for lights entered from the rough surface should be not less than 80%, as measured according to the measurement method defined in JIS K7361-1:1997, and a value obtained by subtracting the total light transmission for smooth surface incidence from the total light transmission for rough surface incidence should be not less than 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Kimoto Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Etori
  • Patent number: 7695167
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Arima, Jun Shimizu, Hirokazu Odagiri, Eiji Ohta, Kei Obata
  • Patent number: 7690814
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Saccomanno, Ivan B. Steiner
  • Patent number: 7686481
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Innovative Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Condon, Mark B. Pruss
  • Patent number: 7686474
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Young Lighting Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Jen Chou, Wei-Chih Wang
  • Patent number: 7682063
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide panel and a backlight module using the light guide panel. The light guide panel is disposed corresponding to a light source module of the backlight module. The light guide panel mainly comprises a plate, a plurality of microstructures and a plurality of protrusions. The plate is disposed close to the light source module and includes a microstructure surface. The microstructures and the protrusions are disposed on the microstructure surface, and the heights of the protrusions are greater than those of the microstructures, and a plurality of the microstructures are disposed between the adjacent protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: AU Optroncis Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Yen Chen, Han-Ping Kuo
  • Patent number: 7665876
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Taya, Tokutarou Komatsu, Yasushi Sugimoto, Tadashi Okuda, Teruo Teshima
  • Publication number: 20100039819
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Denis Fournier, Matthias Jouffrieau
  • Patent number: 7645057
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 7628526
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Man Hoan Lee, Ji Su Yoon, Sung Keun Lee, Won Taek Moon, Jun Kyu Paik, Young Hun Jeong
  • Publication number: 20090279312
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: JU-YOUNG YOON, GI-CHERL KIM, JONG-SEO LEE, CHUN-HO SONG, SE-KI PARK, SANG-GIL LEE, SEOCK-HWAN KANG
  • Patent number: 7604381
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, James M. Jonza, Randy S. Bay, Graham M. Clarke, Raymond L. Lucking, Ta-Hua Yu, Terry O. Collier
  • Patent number: 7591580
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Maeda, Hirokazu Aritake, Takao Satake, Susumu Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7593615
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: RPC Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Chakmakjian, Donald J. Schertler, Tasso Sales, G. Michael Morris
  • Publication number: 20090231858
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kentaro YAMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 7581867
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junwon Lee, David Kessler
  • Publication number: 20090207622
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miki Tsuboi, Yuichi Takai, Mariko Obinata
  • Patent number: 7572036
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 7553057
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Ho Hwang, Seung-Hoon Yang
  • Publication number: 20090127477
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Koichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7527398
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 7527394
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hibiki Tatsuno
  • Patent number: 7520642
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Digital Optics International Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Holman, Arthur Cox
  • Patent number: 7510308
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Goto
  • Patent number: 7506999
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Uchida, Toshiyuki Kondo
  • Publication number: 20090073344
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Man Hoan Lee, Jae Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 7497599
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
  • Publication number: 20080285304
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Charles M. Rankin, JR., Peter T. Aylward, Leonard S. Gates, Ronald J. Sudol
  • Patent number: 7448775
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
  • Patent number: 7445366
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Tsukamoto, Hiroshi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 7445359
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7438445
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Tzeng-Ke Shiau, Wen-Bin Chou, Teng-Chao Hou
  • Patent number: 7438444
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yu-Nan Pao, Po-Hung Yao, Tsung-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 7434975
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Innolux Display Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Cheng Lin, Brian (Xi-Yu) Guo, Chiu-Lien Yang, Chia-Lung Lin, Jia-Pang Pang
  • Patent number: 7431490
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tai-Cherng Yu
  • Patent number: 7422353
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Tenmyo
  • Patent number: 7422347
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Nichia Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyairi, Kazunori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7416315
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Osram OPTO Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventor: Simon Blümel
  • Publication number: 20080180956
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Wayne Gruhlke, Mark Mienko, Gang Xu, Ion Bita
  • Patent number: 7400439
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Digital Optics International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Holman
  • Publication number: 20080137334
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: HON HAI Precision Industry CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tung-Ming Hsu, Shao-Han Chang