Prismatic Type Patents (Class 362/339)
  • Patent number: 8425069
    Abstract: A lighting device 12 of the present invention includes a plurality of light sources 17 and an optical member arranged closer to the light-exiting portion 15z than the light sources 17. The optical member 15 includes a prism diffuser plate 15a for diffusing light emitted from the light sources 17 and exiting from a lens sheet 15c arranged closer to the light-exiting portion 15z than the prism diffuser plate 15a. The prism diffuser plate 15a has prisms on a surface located on a side closer to the light-exiting portion 15z. The lens sheet 15c has convex lenses 62 on a surface closer to the light-exiting portion 15z.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuki Yamamoto, Yasumori Kuromizu, Kaori Yamamoto, Takahiro Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20130094220
    Abstract: An optical compound sheet for a backlight module includes a base layer formed of a transparent material, a plurality of structured patterns formed on the base layer at a predetermined interval, a light-condensing layer which includes a surface coating including nano-particles distributed on the surface of the structured patterns at the thickness of 0.01 ?m to 1 ?m, and an anti-scratching layer which is coated under the base layer at the thickness of 0.1 ?m to 3 ?m by using the UV-curable bond containing nano-particles. While improving the anti-scratching performance by using the surface coating and the anti-scratching layer containing the nano-particles, the wet-out and Moire phenomena are greatly reduced by the finely separate coating of the nano-particles, thereby achieving both the light-condensing function and light-diffusing function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: SHANGHAI CCS INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT HOLDING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qingsong Jin, Qing Wang
  • Patent number: 8414162
    Abstract: A light guide (11; 101; 111) comprising first and second oppositely arranged faces, an in-coupling portion (13a-f) for in-coupling of light from a light-source (12a-f; 95a-f; 102; 106a-c; 112a-f), and an out-coupling portion (15a-f; 103; 113a-f) located adjacent to the in-coupling portion (13a-f). The out-coupling portion (15a-f; 103; 113a-f) is configured to out-couple a primary light beam having a direction of propagation directed from a position in the in-coupling portion (13a-f) with a lower out-coupling efficiency than a secondary light beam having a direction of propagation directed from a position in the light guide (11; 101; 111) outside the in-coupling portion (13a-f). In this manner, a good mixing of light in the light guide can be achieved without imposing any particular requirements on the collimation of the in-coupled light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Fetze Pijlman, Willem Lubertus Ijzerman, Hugo Johan Cornelissen, Marcellinus Petrus Carolus Michael Krijn, Ramon Pascal Van Gorkom, Oscar Hendrikus Willemsen, Michel Cornelis Josephus Marie Vissenberg
  • Patent number: 8403539
    Abstract: A light guide guides light from a light emitter that is adjacent to an aperture of an electronic device. The light is eventually emitted from the aperture, to thereby provide lighting. The light guide can include a plurality of prisms which can thereby permit reduction in the overall thickness of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Hsin Chin Lee, Antanas Matthew Broga
  • Publication number: 20130070478
    Abstract: There is provided a light distribution control member with a plurality of first prisms that have inclined surfaces of which each edge of a hexagon is a base edge, and a plurality of second prisms that have inclined surfaces of which each edge of a triangle is a base edge. The first prisms are arranged in a houndstooth pattern, and the second prisms are arranged in areas surrounded by three first prisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi EDAMITSU, Shun KATOH
  • Patent number: 8398274
    Abstract: Light redirecting film including a thin optically transparent substrate having a pattern of individual optical elements of well-defined shape on at least one surface that are quite small relative to the length and width of the surface. At least some of the optical elements have at least one flat surface and at least one curved surface, and intersecting each other over an intersection volume of the intersecting optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
  • Patent number: 8400714
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include reflector systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a light reflector. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for manufacturing a multi-layer light reflector. The method can include attaching a rear reflective layer to a lenticular lens optical film layer. The lenticular lens optical film layer includes a smooth surface and a structured surface. The rear reflective layer is disposed adjacent to or in contact with the smooth surface of the lenticular optical film. The method also includes attaching a diffusion layer to the lenticular lens optical film layer. The diffusion layer includes a smooth film surface and a structured diffusing surface. The smooth film surface of the diffusion film is disposed adjacent to or in contact with the structured surface of the lenticular lens optical film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc., Trustee of the LDH Trust
    Inventor: Leslie D. Howe
  • Patent number: 8401741
    Abstract: A headlamp in an automobile, which is rotatable about a yaw axis when negotiating a bend, has a controller for controlling the rotary movement. In order to improve the illumination of a roadway lying in front of an automobile, the controller may take into account a driving profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Justus Illium, Torsten Kanning
  • Patent number: 8393758
    Abstract: A laser light source device includes a light source unit that emits laser light, an optical axis adjusting unit that adjusts an optical axis of the laser light, and a mounting member on which the optical axis adjusting unit is mounted. The optical axis adjusting unit includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the positions of a lens in X- and Y-axis directions. The adjustment mechanism includes an X-axis moving part that is movable in the X-axis direction, a Y-axis moving part that is moved together with the X-axis moving part in the Y-axis direction, X-axis adjusting means that is provided at the X-axis moving part and adjusts the position of the lens in the X-axis direction, and Y-axis adjusting means that is provided at the Y-axis moving part and adjusts the position of the lens in the Y-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kihara
  • Publication number: 20130051032
    Abstract: A light extraction film having multi-periodic zones of engineered nanostructures. The light extraction film includes a flexible substrate, a layer of low index engineered nanostructures applied to the substrate, and a high index backfill layer applied over the nanostructures. The multi-periodic zones include a repeating zone of the nanostructures having multi-periodic characteristics. The repeating zone includes first and second sets of nanostructures having different periodic pitches. The multi-periodic zones can be used to enhance the light output and tune the angular luminosity of organic light emitting diode devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Vivian W. Jones, Sergey A. Lamansky, James M. Nelson, Ha T. Le
  • Patent number: 8367186
    Abstract: An optical substrate possesses a structured surface that enhances luminance or brightness and reduces the effects of structural defects on perceived image quality. User perceivable image cosmetic defects caused by manufacturing or handling, can be masked by introducing structural irregularities in the optical substrate, which may be non-facet flat sections or in-kind to the defects. Optical defects caused by non-facet flat sections in the prism structure of the optical substrate (e.g., flat-bottom valleys with a certain valley bottom thickness above the base layer, and/or flat-top peaks, and/or openings in the optical substrates that expose flat sections of underlying base layer) can be masked by providing distributed in-kind non-facet flat sections (e.g., flat-bottom valleys, and/or flat-top peaks, and/or openings exposing sections of underlying base layer), to diffuse the prominence of the original defects with the introduced irregularities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ubright Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kong-Hua Wang, Craig Lin, Daniel Yaw-Chung Ko
  • Patent number: 8369678
    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: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: RPC Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Chakmakjian, Donald J. Schertler, Tasso Sales, G. Michael Morris
  • Patent number: 8366309
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a light guide plate and a backlight module having the same. The light guide plate includes a light emitting surface, a light incident surface, a light reflecting surface, and a plurality of prisms disposed on the light reflecting surface. The disposition direction of the prisms can be parallel or perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the light reflecting surface. An inclined angle may exist between the disposition direction of the prisms and the lengthwise of the light reflecting surface. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, a light source, and an optical film set, wherein the light source is disposed near the light incident surface. The optical film set partially covers the light emitting surface, wherein a distance exists between a vertex of the prism and an edge of the optical film set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Chang Huang, Kang-Chung Liu, Wen-Yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 8354806
    Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed that relate to scanning the direction of light emitted from optical collimators. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a system for scanning collimated light, the system comprising an optical wedge, a light injection system, and a controller. The optical wedge comprises a thin end, a thick end opposite the thin end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the thick end and the thin end, and a back surface opposite the viewing surface. The thick end of the optical wedge further comprises an end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure. The light injection system is configured to inject light into the thin end of the optical wedge, and the controller is configured to control the location along the thin end of the optical wedge at which the light injection system injects light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian Travis, Timothy Large, Neil Emerton, Steven Bathiche
  • Patent number: 8348473
    Abstract: An illumination optical system includes a prism disposed on an incident optical axis and a lens that is disposed between the light source and an incident surface of the prism or between an emitting surface of the prism and an illuminated object, at least one of the reflection surfaces being a transmission/reflection surface. Additionally, an illumination optical system includes a prism having a surface that is disposed so as to obliquely intersect with an incident optical system, that transmits a part of the entering light to be emitted therefrom, and that deflects at least part of the rest of the light in a direction that intersects with the incident optical axis to be emitted therefrom. Furthermore, an illumination optical system has a rod lens that is disposed so that a longitudinal direction thereof is inclined with respect to an incident optical axis is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Yuji Kamo, Hideyasu Takato, Tsutomu Sasamoto
  • Patent number: 8322888
    Abstract: An illumination system shares portions of an objective of an optical inspection system. A plurality of beam-shaping optics collects light from a plurality of effective light sources and directs the light through a portion of the objective for illuminating an object under inspection. The objective includes a front relay lens, a rear relay lens, and an objective stop disposed between the front and rear relay lenses for collecting light scattered from the object and forming an image of the object with the collected light. The beam-shaping optics, which surround the objective stop, are arranged together with the associated effective light sources for non-uniformly distributing light within a range of angles required for illuminating the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Quality Vision International, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie M. Bloch, David E. Lawson
  • Patent number: 8317368
    Abstract: Light redirecting film including a thin optically transparent substrate having a pattern of individual optical elements of well-defined shape on at least one surface that are quite small relative to the length and width of the surface. At least some of the optical elements have at least one flat surface and at least one curved surface, and intersecting each other over an intersection volume of the intersecting optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
  • Patent number: 8297802
    Abstract: An optical film includes a body and a plurality of first linear protrusions. The body has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first linear protrusions are disposed on the first surface, and each first linear protrusion is extended along a first direction and has a first curvy ridge line departing from the first surface, wherein the first curvy ridge lines are concave towards a fixed direction. When the first curvy ridge line is located on a suppositional plan, the suppositional plan is not parallel to the first surface. A ratio of a maximum distance between each of the first curvy ridge line and the first surface over a minimum distance between the corresponding first curvy ridge line and the first surface is greater than 1 but less than 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventors: Zhi-Ting Ye, Chun-Chih Huang
  • Patent number: 8292467
    Abstract: The invention provides an illumination device (1) comprising a lighting unit (2). The lighting unit (2) comprises a light source (100) and a substantially flat light guide (200), arranged to collimate light source light (111). The light guide (200) has an entrance window (210), an edge window (220), a first light guide surface (201), a second light guide surface (202), a first side edge (230) and a second side edge (240). One or more of the first light guide surface (201) and the second light guide surface (202) comprise a plurality of grooves (300). In this way, latitudinal collimation is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Michel Cornelis Josephus Marie Vissenberg, Anthonie Hendrik Bergman, Tim Dekker, Giovanni Cennini
  • Patent number: 8256932
    Abstract: An exemplary light diffusion plate includes a main body, and a plurality of diffusion particles dispersed in the main body. The main body includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface are on opposite sides of the main body. The first surface is a flat surface. The second surface defines a plurality of rectangular structures. Each rectangular structure defines four adjacent triangular pyramid depressions. A backlight module using the light diffusion plate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 8251565
    Abstract: A display device has at least one light source for emitting light and a light guide plate having a first surface for inputting light emitted from the at least one light source, a second surface for outputting illumination light, and a third surface opposite to the second surface. A display element having dots for displaying image information is arranged over the second surface of the light guide plate for receiving the illumination light. At least two microprisms are arranged on the third surface of the light guide plate in areas overlapping the dots of the display element. Each microprism has a height in the range of from 1 ?m to 10 ?m and a mirror surface for reflecting light emitted from the at least one light source. Each mirror surface has a base disposed perpendicular to a light path of the light emitted from the at least one light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Kurihara, Norihiro Dejima
  • Patent number: 8246220
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) array comprises an array of LEDs mounted to a substrate. The LEDs emit light in a direction generally perpendicular to the substrate. An optical sheet is disposed over the LEDs. At least a portion of light entering one side of the optical sheet from the LEDs is guided within the optical sheet in a direction generally parallel to the substrate. Light extraction features direct light from the optical sheet in a generally forward direction. Such an array is useful for several applications, including space lighting, direct information display and backlighting of liquid crystal displays. The light spreading effect of the optical sheet reduces the amount of black space between LED pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Hung T. Tran, John C. Schultz, Robert M. Emmons
  • Patent number: 8246188
    Abstract: An illuminating device capable of decreasing not only in-plane luminance unevenness in the front face direction but also in-plane luminance unevenness when viewed from a diagonal direction is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Shinkai, Shigehiro Yamakita, Hirokazu Odagiri, Yasuyuki Kudo
  • Patent number: 8193703
    Abstract: An OLED display includes a first substrate including a thin film transistor and an OLED, and a second substrate on the first substrate and including a corner-cube pattern facing the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-Chul Jeon, Woo-Suk Jung, Soon-Ryong Park, Eun-Ah Kim, Chul-Woo Jeong, Hee-Seong Jeong, Noh-Min Kwak, Joo-Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 8194170
    Abstract: An optical lens array for imaging and illumination applications is provided. The lens array comprises a first axicon at a first end of the array, a second axicon positioned distally from the first axicon along an optical axis and a third axicon positioned distally from the second axicon along the optical axis. The third axicon provides an objective lens to a focal region or focus region. The third axicon is positioned at a fixed location in the array wherein the distance between the first and second axicons can be altered to control the position of the focal region defined by the depth of field for imaging applications and depth of focus for illumination applications of the third axicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Algonquin College
    Inventors: Ilya Golub, Brahim Chebbi
  • Patent number: 8174640
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus is disclosed. The illumination apparatus includes a polarization plate, a light source, and a light transmission film disposed between the polarization plate and the light source and including a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof. The plurality of prisms each have a ridge line in a first direction and are continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a perpendicular direction and an approximately perpendicular direction to a transmission axis of the polarization plate. The plurality of prisms each have refractive indexes in the ridge line direction, an arrangement direction, and a thickness direction, the refractive index in the ridge line direction being larger than the refractive indexes in the arrangement direction and thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsunari Hoshi
  • Patent number: 8164738
    Abstract: In an illumination optical system arranged to illuminate an illumination target plane by using light from a light source, the illumination optical system includes a prism unit arranged to refract the light, an optical integrator arranged to form a plurality of light sources with light emerging from the prism unit, and an optical system arranged to introduce light emerging from the optical integrator to the illumination target plane. The prism unit includes a pair of conical refractive surface having a conical concave refractive surface and a conical convex refractive surface, and a pair of pyramidal refractive surface having a pyramidal concave refractive surface and a pyramidal convex refractive surface. At least one of the concave refractive surface and the convex refractive surface of the one pair is disposed between the concave refractive surface of the other pair and the convex refractive surface of the other pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takanori Uemura
  • Patent number: 8157429
    Abstract: An optical sheet includes a base layer, a light-condensing layer and a plurality of light-reflecting portions. The light-condensing layer includes a plurality of light-condensing portions formed on a second surface of the base layer along a first direction extending from a first side surface to a second side surface perpendicular to the first side surface. The light-condensing portions extended in a second direction crossing the first direction at an angle with respect to the side surface. The light-reflecting portions are formed in the first surface along the second direction and corresponding to a plurality of recesses where the light-condensing portions meet each other. The center of the light-reflecting portion is off set from the recesses along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Hoon Lee, Byung-Yun Joo, Min-Young Song, Jin-Sung Choi, Seung-Hwan Chung, Dong-Kwan Kim
  • Publication number: 20120075870
    Abstract: A lens member includes a central axis, a light-incident side including a Fresnel-lens surface provided with a plurality of annular prisms concentrically arranged with respect to the central axis, and a light-exit surface opposite to the light-incident side. The Fresnel-lens surface further includes an annular lens portion that is concentrically arranged with respect to the central axis and that is extended to be longer and wider than the plurality of annular prisms. Provided is an optical unit in which a light source and a lens member are combined, and parts are disposed in a space provided in an outer periphery of the annular lens portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicants: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD., CITIZEN ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Kayanuma, Junji Miyashita
  • Patent number: 8116019
    Abstract: An illumination system including at least one coherent light source, a light uniforming element, and a prism is provided. The coherent light source is capable of emitting a coherent beam. The light uniforming element is disposed on a transmission path of the coherent beam. The prism is disposed on the transmission path of the coherent beam and between the coherent light source and the light uniforming element. The prism has a light incident end and a light exit end. The light incident end has at least one incident polygonal pyramid portion protruding away from the light exit end. The prism is capable of rotating about an axis, and the axis extends from the light incident end to the light exit end. The illumination system effectively reduces the degree of the speckle phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventor: S-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8113705
    Abstract: Provided is an optical plate that resolves white screen generation while maintaining emission brightness, a backlight assembly and a display device including the same. The optical plate is a light guide plate for a liquid crystal display. The light guide plate includes at least one plane in which a plurality of uneven patterns forming crests and valleys are formed. The plurality of uneven patterns is formed such that the crests rise to a plurality of different heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heu-Gon Kim, Taek-Sun Shin, In-Sun Hwang, Byung-Seo Yoon
  • Patent number: 8098347
    Abstract: A backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light guide having a light emission surface and an opposing light extraction surface, a first side extends between the light emission surface and the light extraction surface, and a second side extends between the light emission surface and the light extraction surface, the second side opposing the first side. A centerline extends parallel to the first side and second side and is equidistant from the first side and the second side. A center elongated prism extends along the centerline and forms a portion of the light extraction surface. A plurality of elongated prisms extend parallel to the center elongated prism wherein the prisms are progressively more canted for each subsequent elongated prism further from the center elongated prism. A plurality of light sources disposed along the first side and the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Brott, Michael J. Sykora, John C. Schultz, John C. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8096693
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes: a plate surrounded by two main surfaces and a plurality of end surfaces connecting the main surfaces, one of the end surfaces designated as an entrance surface, one of the main surfaces designated as a reflection surface; a first reflection element provided in a first region of the reflection surface separated from the entrance surface, and configured to reflect a light incident from the entrance surface in a first angle with respect to the reflection surface; and a second reflection element provided in a second region of the reflection surface between the entrance surface and the first region, and configured to reflect the light in a second angle different from the first angle with respect to the reflection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Taya, Tokutarou Komatsu, Yasushi Sugimoto, Tadashi Okuda, Teruo Teshima
  • Patent number: 8092068
    Abstract: Optical assembly includes a generally planar light output surface located on a first major plane, and a generally planar second surface located on a second major plane approximately parallel to the first major plane and superimposed thereon. Both the light output surface and the second surface have respective first and second patterns of well defined optical elements that are quite small in relation to the length and width of the optical assembly. The optical elements of the first pattern have an apex angle formed by a first sloped surface that is larger in an area closer to at least one light input edge of the optical assembly and smaller in another area further away from the light input edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Robert M. Ezell
  • Patent number: 8087793
    Abstract: A back-light assembly for uniformly illuminating large area displays. The back-light assembly includes a uniformly thin waveguide, a reflector and a plurality of light sources evenly distributed along the display area between the waveguide and the reflector. Prismatic facets are provided along the lower surface of the waveguide for effectively coupling light emitted from light sources into the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventors: Edward Pakhchyan, Haik Mesropian, Syuzi Pakhchyan
  • Patent number: 8089697
    Abstract: A method for making a prismatic laminate includes the steps of: a) forming a back-coating roller having a roller surface with a plurality of recesses arranged in a predetermined pattern and produced by laser holography; b) preparing a prismatic structure including a plate body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of prismatic strips formed on the first surface of the plate body; c) applying a coating containing a resin component and an antistatic agent on the second surface of the plate body; and d) embossing the coating with the back-coating roller to form an optical layer including a plurality of microstructures protruding in a direction away from the second surface of the plate body and having a pattern corresponding to that of the recesses in the roller surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Optivision Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Whey-Bin Lor, Kuang-Lin Yuan, Ru-Ping Huang, Chia-Chu Lin, Tsung-Sung Tsai, Ming-Hsiang Lee, Ching-Hung Lin, Ming-Cheng Shih
  • Publication number: 20110315862
    Abstract: An optical system for light energy concentration may comprise a light concentrator to convert incident light to converging light, a light collimating element to receive the converging light and to reduce an angle of convergence of the converging light, and a light directing element to direct the reduced-angle converging light to a light guide to transmit the directed light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Ming Lu, Xuyan Huang
  • Patent number: 8079734
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a light source, first and second beam-directing prism elements, and a transmission device. The light source emits a light beam. The first beam-directing prism element is arranged in a first direction. The second beam-directing prism element is arranged in a second direction and partially overlapped with the first beam-directing prism element. When the light beam passes through different regions of the first and second beam-directing prism elements, different bending angles are resulted. The transmission device is connected to the first and second beam-directing prism elements for driving movement of the first beam-directing prism element in the first direction and movement of the second beam-directing prism element in the second direction. Accordingly, the light beam emitted by the light source simultaneously passes through one of the regions of the first beam-directing prism element and one of the regions of the second beam-directing prism element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Lite-On IT Corporation
    Inventor: Sheng-Fa Hou
  • Patent number: 8075174
    Abstract: A light guide plate microstructure is provided. The light guide plate microstructure is located on at least one surface of the light guide plate and has a plurality of groove units. Each groove unit has multiple V-shaped grooves, and each V-shaped groove has an apex angle within a range of about 80°-160°. Furthermore, at least two of the V-shaped grooves of a groove unit have different apex angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shau-Yu Tsai, Super Liao
  • Patent number: 8075167
    Abstract: An optical film and an illuminating device having the optical film are provided. The optical film may include a first surface including a plurality of peaks and valleys formed from the plurality of peaks, a second surface opposite the first surface and a plurality of scattering patterns on the second surface. One of the scattering patterns may correspond to 3 to 6 peaks of the plurality of peaks on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Yong Shu Shin
  • Patent number: 8070342
    Abstract: A light emitting element is mounted on the surface of a board. The light emitting element emits light. The light passes through a translucent optical member. The light enters the translucent optical member through a incident surface. The lines of protrusions make the incident surface jagged. The jagged surface resulting from the protrusions enables diffusion of the light entering through the incident surface. The light spreads along the surface of the board. Simultaneously, the emitted light is partly reflected on the incident surface. The reflected light is reflected on a reflecting surface placed behind the light emitting element. The reflected light then enters the translucent optical member. The translucent optical member is thus allowed to illuminate over a wide range with a sufficient brightness. An impressive illumination can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takehisa Ishikawa, Yoshifumi Kajiwara, Hiroaki Sakashita, Yoshiya Matsumoto, Kazunori Maruyama, Atsuko Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8061877
    Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet includes a transparent main body. The transparent main body includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface are on opposite sides of the main body. The first surface of transparent main body is flat. The second surface defines a plurality of parallelogram microstructures. Each parallelogram microstructure defines four adjacent triangular pyramid depressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Publication number: 20110280044
    Abstract: A planar light source, Fresnel lens sheet, and louver are disposed in the stated order in a light source apparatus. The Fresnel lens sheet deflects and focuses in one dimension light that has entered from the planar light source. The louver is disposed in the optical path of the light emitted from the Fresnel lens sheet, and the directivity of the light can be increased by restricting the traveling direction of the light to the focal direction of the Fresnel lens sheet. The light utilization ratio can thereby be increased, the directivity of planarly emitted light can be increased, and the brightness can be made uniform at the point of observation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Niioka, Ken Sumiyoshi, Shin-Ichi Uehara, Masao Imai, Kenichi Takatori, Fujio Okumura
  • Patent number: 8057073
    Abstract: A light pipe and an illuminating device having the light pipe are provided. The light pipe may include an optical film in a rolled shape to have a hollow conduit and a supporter surrounding a surface of the optical film. The supporter may have at least one of a protrusion and an indentation on a surface of the supporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hwan Hee Lee
  • Publication number: 20110261569
    Abstract: A lens member includes at least one of the annular prisms including a facet at an edge between an inner annular surface and an outer surface of the at least one of the annular prisms. The prisms with facets may be provided at a central portion of the lens member and the facets are configured to refract light toward a light-exit side of the lens member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicants: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD., CITIZEN ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuaki KAYANUMA
  • Patent number: 8042975
    Abstract: A plano-Fresnel LED lens and a LED assembly thereof are revealed. The lens is a Fresnel lens whose optical surface on the forward side thereof is a plano surface having saw teeth with vertical taper (draft with vertical shape) so that the lens in the LED assembly concentrates light emitted from a LED chip to generate light whose peak intensity is an elliptic distribution pattern. Moreover, the lens and the LED assembly thereof satisfy certain conditions. Thereby, light from the LED chip is gathered by a single lens to form a preset specific distribution pattern and is satisfying requirement of the ratio of the luminous flux that is larger than 85%. The plano-Fresnel LED lens and a LED assembly thereof are applied to lights and flashlights in mobile phones or cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: E-Pin Optical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: San-Woei Shyu, Yi-Min Chen
  • Publication number: 20110249452
    Abstract: Provided is a compound light-condensing apparatus preferably including a lens body with refractive index n, and light-incident surface and light-ejected surface. The light-ejected surface has one set of Fresnel lens. When an incident light passes through the Fresnel lens structure, a focus with focal length F is formed. Two types of Fresnel lens structure are disposed on a light-ejected surface. More particularly, plural prism bodies are orderly disposed on the second type of Fresnel lens structure. The prism bodies counted from the central line is j and two adjacent prism bodies are spaced by p. The distance Tj is from a base surface to light-ejected surface. An included angle ?j between ejected light and light-ejected surface is formed. By orderly changing the refractive angle of ejected light can be changed for achieving shorter focal length and better light condensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Yan-Zuo Chen, Wen-Feng Cheng, Tzu-Heng Chen
  • Patent number: 8035771
    Abstract: A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight positioned to provide light to the liquid crystal display panel, and a double sided prism film disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight. The backlight includes a light guide having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and having a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. A plurality of first light sources is arranged along the first side of the light guide for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side. A plurality of second light sources is arranged along the second side of the light guide for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side. The second surface includes a regular array of linear prism or lenticular features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Brott, John C. Schultz, John C. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8023068
    Abstract: An optical sheet, a backlight unit including the optical sheet, and a liquid crystal display including the backlight unit are provided. The optical sheet includes a base film including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and a plurality of projections on the base film. A first thickness between the first surface and the second surface is different from a second thickness between the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hanbitt Joo, Kabjin Hwang
  • Patent number: 8023193
    Abstract: An illumination system including at least one coherent light source, a light uniforming device and a lenticular sheet module is provided. The coherent light source is capable of emitting a coherent beam. The light uniforming device is disposed on a transmission path of the coherent beam. The lenticular sheet module disposed on a transmission path of the coherent beam and between the coherent light source and the light uniforming device, includes a first lenticular sheet and a second lenticular sheet. The first lenticular sheet includes a plurality of first rod-like lenticulars disposed side by side extending along a first extending direction. The second lenticular sheet disposed between the first lenticular sheet and the light uniforming device, includes a plurality of second rod-like lenticulars disposed side by side extending along a second extending direction. The first extending direction and the second extending direction make an angle greater than 0 degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventor: S-Wei Chen