Including Liquid Crystal Display (i.e., Lcd) Patents (Class 362/561)
  • Patent number: 8075150
    Abstract: A backlight unit illuminating the rear of a transmissive display panel with light includes a light source substrate, a base member, and a heat pipe. The light source substrate has a light source and faces the rear of the display panel. The base member is made of sheet metal, on which the light source substrate is mounted, and fixed to the rear of a chassis of the backlight unit. The heat pipe is attached to the base member and receives heat generated in the light source through the base member. The base member includes a plurality of groove portions extending in a lengthwise direction of the light source substrate formed at predetermined intervals and a plurality of planes on which the light source substrates facing the display panel are formed respectively. The heat pipe is provided in the lengthwise direction of the light source substrate under each of the planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8054284
    Abstract: A back light module and a method for driving the back light module are disclosed. The back light module includes a plurality of light emitting units and a driving unit. The driving unit is electrically connected to the light emitting units and utilized for driving the light emitting units according to a switched-on number of the light emitting units and a dithering scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Chih Tai, Tzu-Chiang Shen, Chia-Lin Liu, Chi-Neng Mo
  • Patent number: 8047668
    Abstract: A backlight module includes at least one light source, a lamp cover and a circuit board. The lamp cover has a containing portion and at least one projection. The containing portion is arranged for containing the light source. The projection is located at an outer side of the containing portion on which the circuit board is placed so that at least one fixing portion of the circuit board is in contact with the projection for constraining movements of the circuit board relative to the lamp cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Jen Chang, Shun-Nan Chang
  • Patent number: 8038316
    Abstract: Color displays superpose a two color image component with a monochrome image component to yield full color images. Each image component may be generated by controlling an array of light sources. In some embodiments the monochrome image component is provided by a backlight and the two color component is provided by an array of sub-pixels of two types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Louis D. Silverstein, Cecil W. Penn
  • Patent number: 8033710
    Abstract: A plurality of mirror surfaces (5), which extend in a direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to a light incident surface (2a), are formed side by side in a longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the light incident surface (2a) on a light distribution control surface (4a) of both surfaces (4a, 4b) of a light guide plate (1) in a thickness direction (Z-axis direction) thereof, and a plurality of prisms (7) extending in the Y-axis direction are formed side by side in the X-axis direction in areas other than the mirror surfaces (5). The mirror surfaces 5 are formed in such a way that Y-axis direction widths thereof vary in the X-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Omori, Michiyo Tokita
  • Patent number: 8029179
    Abstract: Laser lights emitted from a light source 30 are diffused in a direction parallel to main surfaces of a light guide plate 9 by a one-dimensional diffuser 5. The diffused laser lights are converted to parallel lights by a first cylindrical lens 6, and are then converged in a direction of the thickness of the light guide plate 9 by a second cylindrical lens 7. The converged laser lights are reflected 90 degrees twice by a mirror 8, and are guided to a side surface of the light guide plate 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Itoh, Takayuki Nagata, Tetsuro Mizushima, Kazuhisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8026893
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel with four colors of sub-pixels, and a backlight unit having light emitting diodes of at least five colors to apply multi-primary light to the liquid crystal display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Jung Hong, Kyung Joon Kwon
  • Patent number: 8016455
    Abstract: An optical device for creating an illumination window includes radiation sources and an optical element. The optical element is arranged to create a substantially collimated radiation beam from radiation generated by the radiation sources, in which the radiation generated by the respective sources is substantially unmixed. The optical device further includes a first lens plate having first sub-lenses, in which each first sub-lens projects a part of the radiation beam at an illumination window, such that the projections of each first sub-lens at least partially overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Elvira Johanna Maria Paulussen
  • Patent number: 8018551
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display module displays an image on a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal module includes a liquid crystal panel and a backlight assembly. The backlight assembly includes a reflecting sheet having a raised portion that receives a light source and supports a diffusing sheet and/or optical sheet positioned between the liquid crystal panel and the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Im Huo, Jong-Kook Lee
  • Patent number: 7985016
    Abstract: Fiber optic display systems and related methods are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a fiber optic display system can include a plurality of fiber optics. Output ends of the fiber optics can be spaced from one another and can be arranged in predetermined positions such that at least a portion of the output ends are positioned in a first plane and another portion of the output ends are positioned in a second plane. A light-transmissive material can contain the output ends. The output ends can terminate within the light-transmissive material and can be angled with respect to the light-transmissive material such that light transmitted within the fiber optics emits into the light-transmissive material. A light source can generate a plurality of light beams and selectively control input of the light beams into the input ends for transmission of light in the fiber optics such that an image is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventor: Dorian Christine Webb Fritze
  • Patent number: 7980743
    Abstract: A display system including a display panel having a first major surface and a second major surface and a lighting system adapted to provide uniform luminance proximal to the display panel is disclosed. The lighting system includes an illuminating substrate having a first major surface with reflective coating and a second major surface. The illuminating substrate defines an array of mounting holes, each hole occupied by an LED module. An array of light emitting diode (LED) modules are affixed to the illuminating substrate, each module including at least one light emitting diode adapted to emit light. The lighting system can also include a diffusant layer which can be optically coupled to the illuminating substrate by soft optical gel and is placed close to or made to contact the display panel. The optical gel may contain phosphors or other optical substance for added optical performance to the lighting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Ban P. Loh
  • Publication number: 20110170020
    Abstract: A backlight unit 12 includes a light guide plate 18, an LED 16, an LED board 17, a light exit portion 31, a board mounting portion 36, a clip 23 and a plate spring 47. The light guide plate 18 and the LED 16 extend in the front-to-rear direction. The rear part of the light guide plate 18 is fixed to the LED board 17 with a front part of the light guide plate 18 separating from the LED board 17. The light exit portion 31 is provided at a front part of the light guide plate 18. The light exit portion 31 has a light exit surface 36 from which light from the LED 16 exits and travel toward an optical member 15. The board-mounting portion 30 is provided at a rear part of the light guide plate 18 and mounted to the LED board 17. The clip 23 fixes the board-mounting portion 30 to the LED board 17. The plate spring 47 pushes a rear part of the board-mounting portion 30 located more to the rear than the clip 23 such that the rear part separates from the LED board 17.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Kasai
  • Patent number: 7978942
    Abstract: A system and method for compensating for non-uniform illumination from a light guide for a display in an electronics device is provided. The system comprises: a memory device storing a data representing a first compensation pattern for generation on the display to block light from a first portion of the light guide relative to light from a second portion of the light guide; a first module to incorporate the stored representation into an image to be displayed on the display; and a second module to generate the image with the stored representation for display on the display. In the system, when the first module generates the first compensation pattern on the display, the first compensation pattern aligns with the first and second portions to reduce an intensity of light from a light source passing through the first compensation pattern from the first portion relative to an intensity of light passing through the first compensation pattern from the second portion from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: James Robinson, Marc Drader, Michael Purdy
  • Patent number: 7967462
    Abstract: A light source includes a plurality of light emitting elements, and each light emitting element is disposed in such a manner that a direction of an optical axis of the light emitting element having a highest luminance is disposed at a predetermined inclination angle relative to a plane of the liquid crystal display. The optical guide member has an optical guide portion of a wedge shape having a first flat plane generally perpendicular to the optical axis of each light emitting element for receiving light from each light emitting element and a second flat plane having a predetermined angle relative to the optical axis and intersecting the first flat plane at an acute angle for reflecting light. A plurality of optical guide portions are disposed in a plane and formed integrally along a predetermined direction corresponding to the inclination direction of the light emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ogiro, Nobuo Masuoka, Kouji Fujita
  • Patent number: 7959305
    Abstract: A digital micromirror projection display system is disclosed in which “off” pixel light is recaptured and recycled. In the disclosed system, a digital micromirror device directs incident light for “on” pixels in the image to be displayed through projection lenses to a projection screen. The digital micromirror device directs incident light for “off” pixels back toward the light source for recapture by a light integrator. Both the incident and projected light can pass through a rear group of projection lenses, with the first projection lens being disposed near the digital micromirror device. A mirror directs the incident light toward the digital micromirror device, and the “off” pixel light from the digital micromirror device toward the light integrator. As a result, “off” pixel light can be recycled without degrading image contrast, in a manner that can place fast projection lenses close to the digital micromirror device to save cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Patrick R. Destain
  • Patent number: 7956940
    Abstract: A display system includes a liquid crystal display (10) including a backlight (3), a liquid crystal display panel (1), and a viewing angle control panel (2) for controlling the viewing angle of the display panel (1), the display system causing the amount of external light reflected by the liquid crystal display (10) to be relatively larger than the amount of light leaked from the backlight (3) onto the liquid crystal display panel (1). This provides a display system having an enhanced blocking effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakai, Tsuyoshi Okazaki, Katsuhiko Morishita, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Chikanori Tsukamura, Takahiro Sasaki, Dai Chiba
  • Patent number: 7954967
    Abstract: A stereoscopic display apparatus includes a liquid-crystal display device that has display pixels arranged in a matrix and displays an elemental image array formed from a plurality of field images on the display pixels to render stereoscopic display, a parallax creating unit provided on the front surface or the rear surface of the liquid-crystal display device, and a directional backlight that emits light through the liquid-crystal display device then through the parallax creating unit and switches directions of the thus-emitted light among a plurality of directions according to a display of the field image is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masako Kashiwagi, Tatsuo Saishu, Rieko Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7949213
    Abstract: In various embodiments described herein, a display device includes a front illumination apparatus that comprises a first light guide disposed forward of an array of display elements, such as an array of interferometric modulators, to distribute light across the array of display elements. The light guide panel is edge illuminated by a light source positioned behind the array display elements. The light from such a light source is coupled to a second light guide disposed behind the array of display elements and positioned laterally with respect to the light source. The light in the second light guide is coupled into the first light guide using a small optical coupling element such as a turning mirror. In some embodiments the second light guide may comprise the backplate of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marek Mienko, Gang Xu, Ion Bita, Russell Wayne Gruhlke, Alberto Emerico Brewer
  • Patent number: 7942543
    Abstract: A light emitting head accessory includes an array of light emission devices positioned on a front surface of a strip of flexible material, a logic circuit, a power source, and an input device. The logic circuit is connected to the array of light emission devices and programmed to create arrangements on the array of light emission devices by illuminating a plurality of light emission devices in the array of light emission devices. The power source provides power to the array of light emission devices and the logic circuit. The input device is connected to and instructs the logic circuit to display various arrangements on the array of light emission devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Larry Ritter
  • Patent number: 7922357
    Abstract: Disclosed are an external light-shielding layer for a display filter preventing occurrence of ghosting using a difference between refractive indexes of a base substrate and an external light-shielding part, and a display filter and display apparatus including the external light-shielding layer. The external light-shielding layer for the display filter comprises a base substrate made of a transparent resin; and at least one external light-shielding part arranged on a surface of the base substrate and filled with an external light-absorption material, wherein ny of a refractive index of the base substrate is less than or equal to nx of a refractive index of the external light-shielding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Nim Jo, Sang Cheol Jung, Eun Young Cho
  • Patent number: 7922381
    Abstract: In a two-way backlight assembly and a two-way LCD apparatus, the two-way backlight assembly provides light emitted from one light source to a first direction where a main LCD panel is placed and to a second direction where a sub LCD panel is placed. Also, a sub mold part for receiving the sub LCD panel comprises a black-colored material so as to prevent reflection of the light. Accordingly, thickness and power consumption of the backlight assembly may be reduced and display quality may be also improved by preventing leakage of the light at ends of the sub LCD panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Woong Han, Sang-Hee Lee, Jae-Kwang Kim, Young-Bee Chu, Kyu-Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 7924370
    Abstract: A backlight assembly for a display panel includes a light pipe that is divided into a plurality of horizontal portions, a light source including a plurality of selectively illuminated lamps arranged at lateral sides of each of the horizontal portions for emitting light into the light pipe, a plurality of diffusion surfaces, each of the diffusion surfaces being provided on a selected area of a respective one of the plurality of the horizontal portions, wherein each of the diffusion surfaces causes light to be emitted from the selected area of the respective horizontal portion when the light pipe is illuminated by the lamp associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: TTE Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Cadio, Estill Thone Hall, Jr., Brent Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7914152
    Abstract: A portable projector with a heat dissipation system, includes a housing and two LED light sources located in the housing. Each of the LED light sources includes a circuit aboard, an LED device mounted on the circuit aboard and a heat pipe. The heat pipe has an evaporating section thermally contacting the circuit board, and a condensing section. A fin set thermally contacts with the condensing section of the heat pipe for dissipating heat therefrom. The fin set of one LED light source is located behind the evaporating section of the heat pipe of the other light source and closely adjacent to a wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xu Li, Gen-Ping Deng, Chun-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 7905648
    Abstract: A device that enlarges text and images to enable a low vision person to see the text and images includes a hollow structure including a top housing and a bottom housing that are connected to one another. A camera aperture is formed in the bottom housing and a transparent light guide lens is disposed in closing relation to the camera aperture so that all light entering the camera aperture must first pass through the light guide lens. A cavity formed in the light guide lens is bounded by walls that are positioned at a critical angle. Light-emitting diodes are positioned at critical locations about the periphery of the light guide lens to illuminate the object being viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Freedom Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Hanney, Peter Iezzi, Todd Conard
  • Patent number: 7901124
    Abstract: A light guide member in which a light that has entered one major face from an illuminant is emitted from the other major face, includes a cut portion provided with a specified face inclined toward the other face at a section of one major face that faces the illuminant, and a reflecting portion, which reflects a light emitted from the illuminant, on the inclined face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Shuji Gomi, Kenji Shinozaki, Shuichi Naijo, Takeo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7903201
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, a plurality of light sources disposed behind the liquid crystal display panel, and a cover which accommodates the light sources. The cover includes a first cover part parallel with the liquid crystal display panel and disposed behind the light sources, a second cover part bent upward from an end portion of the first cover part, and a third cover part bent upward from the first cover part which faces the light sources. An end portion of the light sources is disposed between the second cover part and the third cover part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-woan Cho, Du-hwan Chung, Tae-seok Jang, Seong-sik Choi
  • Patent number: 7891857
    Abstract: The present invention is broadly directed towards a receiving container for an LCD apparatus for securing a lamp and lamp wiring connected to a lamp. The receiving container has features for substantially preventing the lamp wiring from being disconnected from the lamp. For example, a first through-hole for receiving the lamp wiring, a first trench, securing members, and securing projections are utilized to substantially prevent lamp wiring from being disconnected from a lamp. Additionally, the LCD apparatus is easily handled, dissipates heat effectively, and has a light weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Jin Lee, Jong-Dae Park, Jung-Soo Ok
  • Patent number: 7887225
    Abstract: In a direct-type backlight unit, a board has upper and lower surfaces defining a thickness therebetween. A plurality of unit light sources are disposed on the board. Here, in each of the unit light sources, a wiring pattern is formed on the board. A light emitting device is disposed on the wiring pattern to electrically connect thereto. A non-conductive side wall surrounds, without interruption, the light emitting device at a predetermined interval therefrom, the non-conductive side wall having a height lower than that of the light emitting device. Also, an encapsulant is formed in a dome shape inside the side wall. In this fashion, the light emitting devices are mounted on the board by a chip-on-board technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung LED Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Joon Lee, In Tae Yeo, Hun Joo Hahm, Young Sam Park, Kyung Taeg Han, Ho Sik Ahn, Chang Ho Song
  • Patent number: 7880825
    Abstract: A backlight assembly of an LCD device which is capable of securing a enough space to mount a light guide plate by guiding lamp wires in the direction of a rear surface of the backlight assembly includes a lamp, a light guide plate configured to guide light emitted from the lamp, an optical sheet formed at an upper surface of the light guide plate, a mold frame accommodating the lamp, the light guide plate, and the optical sheet, a back cover formed at one side of a rear surface of the mold frame to protect the lamp and light guide plate, lamp wires connected at both ends of the lamp, and a wire outlet penetrating the back cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Chul Jeong
  • Patent number: 7878698
    Abstract: A backlight unit and a liquid crystal display device improve uniformity of a luminance and a color of a display surface. The backlight unit includes a light source device and a circuit board, the light source device including a first board and a plurality of point light sources connected in series, the plurality of point light sources being arranged on the first board, and the circuit board including a second board, a driving circuit for the plurality of point light sources, and a variable resistance device, the driving circuit for the plurality of point light sources and the variable resistance device being arranged on the second board, wherein a resistance adjusting element of the variable resistance device is exposed to an outside, and at least one point light source arranged on an end side among the plurality of point light sources is connected in parallel to the variable resistance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Hamada
  • Patent number: 7862186
    Abstract: This projector comprises a source lamp, a lamp storage portion, storing the source lamp therein, including an air discharge opening for discharging internal air from the lamp storage portion and a netlike member so arranged as to cover the outer side of the air discharge opening of the lamp storage portion for inhibiting fragments of the source lamp from being discharged outward from the lamp storage portion through the air discharge opening when the source lamp is broken. The lamp storage portion further includes a protrusion provided on the outer side surface close to the air discharge opening to protrude in a direction intersecting with the extensional direction of the netlike member with a function of inhibiting the fragments of the source lamp from passing through a clearance between the lamp storage portion and the netlike member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shingo Hamada
  • Patent number: 7852560
    Abstract: A display includes a liquid crystal display panel, an optical cavity producing substantially collimated light and a birefringent reflective polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Olester Benson, Jr., Michael F. Weber, Carl A. Stover, David I. Wortman, Sanford Cobb, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7837377
    Abstract: A backlight unit for a display device includes a frame; a circuit board extending from an end of and on a first surface of the frame; lamps over the frame; and an inverter on a second surface of the frame connected to an end of each of the lamps via a first hole through the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Bum Lee, Seung-Cheol Back, Myeong-Kuk Jin, Kang-Ju Lee
  • Patent number: 7826005
    Abstract: A display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, a light source unit and a housing accommodating the light source unit. The light source unit includes a light source part and a light source supporting member supporting the light source part. The housing includes an insertion accommodating part provided in a bottom surface of the housing. The light source supporting member includes a planar main body, a light source holder and an insertion part protruding from the main body toward the housing to be coupled to the insertion accommodating part. The insertion part includes an engagement part and a connecting part. The insertion part is inserted in the insertion accommodating part and the light source supporting member is rotated at a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-hyeok Lee, Yong-il Kim, Sang-sun Han, Jae-min Choi, Dong-wook Kim, Young-nam Kim
  • Patent number: 7815355
    Abstract: Direct-lit backlights and associated methods and components are disclosed in which a transflector that partially transmits and partially reflects incident light is shaped to form at least one concave structure facing a back reflector of the backlight. This provides at least one recycling cavity therebetween, the at least one recycling cavity substantially filling the output area of the backlight. At least one light source is disposed behind the output area to inject light into each cavity, and can be positioned in the recycling cavity or behind an aperture in the back reflector. The cavities are preferably shallow and wide, having a width-to-depth ratio of at least 5 or 10, and can provide uniform brightness and color at the output area with sparsely distributed light sources and in a thin profile backlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David Scott Thompson, Craig R. Schardt, Brian W. Ostlie, Scott J. Kienitz, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 7815358
    Abstract: A backlight for a display device, such as a liquid crystal display device, includes a light guiding plate having a front and a rear surface. The front and rear surfaces may be parallel to one another, or may instead be non-parallel. To the extent that such surfaces are non-parallel, one surface may be inclined at a single, or multiple angles with respect to the other surface. The backlight further includes a light source that is coupled to an edge of the light guiding plate by means of an energy conserving coupling section, and which provides light that is conditioned and transmitted through the light guiding plate. Light extractors are disposed on at least one side of the light guiding plate to assist in the transmission and conditioning of the light that is provided to the light guiding plate by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Benzion Alter Inditsky
  • Patent number: 7810982
    Abstract: Optical assembly includes a light source adjacent a light input edge and generally parallel and planar first and second surfaces each comprising respective patterns of well defined optical elements that are quite small in relation to the length and width of the optical assembly. At least some of the optical elements of each pattern include a respective sloped surface for directing at least some light emitted from the light source. The respective slope angle of the sloped surface of at least some of the optical elements of one of the patterns is different from the respective slope angle of the sloped surface of at least some of the optical elements of the other pattern such that more of the light is emitted from one of the surfaces than is emitted from the other surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Robert M. Ezell
  • Patent number: 7806535
    Abstract: Described herein are devices that provide projection-type video output in a portable design. The projection-type display devices include a battery that stores electrical energy. The battery increases display device portability and flexible usage by permitting display device operation in locations not serviceable by a fixed power supply. For example, inclusion of a battery extends projector-type display device usage into a car, library, remote environment, or any other setting where fixed power outlets are not readily available or within power cord reach. To increase device endurance from a finite battery power supply, the present invention may also implement one or more hardware designs that reduce power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventor: William J. Plut
  • Patent number: 7800578
    Abstract: A method for driving a light source first sets a frame time and a unit time, and calculates the number of the unit time that the frame time can contain. Based on the turned-on duration (DTi) of a light-emitting device of the light source and the unit time, the turned-on numbers (Ni) and the compensation times (CTI) of the light-emitting devices are calculated. The light-emitting device is driven to emit a light beam according to the turned-on numbers (Ni) and the compensation times (CTI). The present driving method can be applied to light source and backing light source of liquid crystal displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chih Tsung Shih, Shih Tsai Huang, Hsin Yu Tsai, Hung Lieh Hu
  • Patent number: 7798694
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal layer, as well as a backlight unit and a display device including the same. A composition for the thermal layer comprises a thermally conductive material, about 10 to 40 parts by weight of a binder based on 100 parts by weight of the thermally conductive material, about 5 to 30 parts by weight of a filler based on 100 parts by weight of the thermally conductive material, and about 5 to 40 parts by weight of a curing agent based on 100 parts by weight of the binder. A backlight unit according to the present invention comprises a light source, a reflector reflecting a light emitted from the light source and the present thermal layer disposed on one surface of the reflector. The thermal layer is formed by applying a mixture of the thermally conductive material, the binder, the filler and the curing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kab Jin Hwang
  • Publication number: 20100226145
    Abstract: A backlighting optical fiber consists essentially of an optical fiber with an axially recess disposed along the inner wall; a reflector set into said axially recess, said reflector includes a reflecting surface disposed on the inner side of said reflector, to reflect the incident light toward the opposite direction of said reflector and emitting outwardly. A backlight module formed therefrom comprises a plurality of said optical fibers parallel arranged on a plane surface of a substrate and a LCD display device includes said backlight module and a LCD display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Chu-Yih Yu
  • Patent number: 7784988
    Abstract: The invention provides a diffusion plate and a backlight module. The backlight module includes pluralities of light sources, a reflector and a first diffusion plate. The light sources, which are disposed in the reflector, are spatially arranged. The first diffusion plate is disposed on the light sources. There are pluralities of bar-shaped first patterns and second patters, which are arranged in the alternating way, disposed on the emission surface of the first diffusion plate. The contours of first patterns and second patterns are arc shaped. The height of first patterns is H1, and the width is W1. The height of second patterns is H2, and the width is W2. The value of H1/W1 is between 0.4 and 1. The ratio of H2/W2 versus H1/W1 is between 0.6 and 0.9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Entire Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Feng Cheng, Chao-Ying Lin, Chen-Sheng Lee, Tsung-Chang Yang
  • Patent number: 7784986
    Abstract: A light unit which includes a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) light sources arranged in parallel, a light-guiding member arranged on said LED light sources, a light reflecting part for reflecting light from said LED light sources forward, a light diffusion part for outgoing light from the surface of said light-guiding member to outside, and an optical path changing part arranged above said light-diffusion part, wherein a side of said light-guiding member that faces said light diffusion part is flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Adachi, Ikuo Hiyama, Makoto Tsumura, Shusuke Endo
  • Patent number: 7777166
    Abstract: A lighting panel includes a tile having a first side parallel to a principal plane of the lighting panel, a plurality of solid state lighting devices arranged on the first side of the tile and configured to emit light, a reflector sheet on the first side of the tile, and a brightness enhancement film on the reflector sheet. The reflector sheet may be arranged between the tile and the brightness enhancement film and the brightness enhancement film may be configured to increase the on-axis intensity of emitted light. A luminaire adapted for general illumination includes a lighting panel as described above, a current supply circuit configured to supply an on-state drive current to a string of lighting devices in response to a control signal, a photosensor arranged to receive light from one of the solid state lighting devices, and a control system configured to receive an output signal from the photosensor and to adjust the control signal responsive to the output signal of the photosensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: John K. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7775700
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to an optical turning film for providing light redirection, comprising: (a) an input surface for accepting incident light comprising a plurality of roof prism structures arranged in a two-dimensional array; and, (b) a substantially planar output surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronics Materials LLC
    Inventor: Junwon Lee
  • Patent number: 7771072
    Abstract: A backlight unit and a display device using the same include a light-guiding plate having a plurality of grooves, a plurality of light-emitting lamps in the respective grooves of the light-guiding plate, and a light-diffusion sheet above the light-guiding plate and the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun Jin So
  • Patent number: 7771098
    Abstract: A multi-primary color display has a backlight source and pixels. Each pixel has at least four sub pixels, which display red primary color, green primary color, blue primary color and a fourth primary color, respectively. At the peak position of the fourth primary color located in the wavelength range between 550 nm˜600 nm, the relative luminance ratio of the fourth primary color to the green primary color is greater than or equal to 0.5. When the ratio of the relative luminance meets the requirement and the relative luminance of a newly added primary color is greater than a certain value, the colors beyond the three-primary color gamut, which includes natural colors and other colors outside the natural color gamut, can be reproduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hui Chu Ke, Chih-Cheng Chan, Guo-Feng Uei
  • Patent number: 7766533
    Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination module, and a display and a general lighting apparatus using the same. Said illumination module includes a plurality of light guiding strips arranged in juxtaposition with a predefined distance; a plurality of light sources, disposed on at least one end of said light guiding strips respectively for providing the light into said light guiding strips; and a plurality of light reflecting units, disposed between said light guiding strips for reflecting the light from said light guiding strips. The light reflecting units according to the present invention can guide the light from the sides of light guiding strips or other light not toward the right side of the illumination module back to the right side of the illumination module, and thus improving the light output efficiency and uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying Liu, Pak-Hong Ng, Shou-Lung Chen
  • Patent number: 7762702
    Abstract: A light guide display system includes a display and a first light guide adjacent the display and having transmissive and nontranasmissive regions. The transmissive regions are configured to transmit light in a first pattern from the first light guide to the display. A second light guide is adjacent the first light guide opposite the display. The second light guide has transmissive and nontransmissive regions, and the transmissive regions of the second light guide are configured to transmit light from the second light guide through the first light guide and to the display in a second pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: William Haywood Tolbert, Stjepan Begic
  • Patent number: 7764267
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus time-divides a frame into a plurality of fields, in which lights having a color different from each other, are generated. The LCD apparatus includes a backlight unit. The backlight unit includes n of light-generating units sequentially generating the lights in the fields. An initial light-generating time of an nth light-generating unit being delayed by a predetermined time gap relative to the (n?1)th light-generating unit so that each of the fields includes a first period, in which one of the lights is generated, and a second period, in which at least two of the lights are generated. The light-generating units generate a peak light having a peak intensity in the first period. Thus, the intensity of light or the time period for which the light is generated, is controlled so that color mixing is minimized and color purity is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-Sik Shin, Jong-Seo Lee, Joo-Young Lee, Tae-Jong Jun, Jung-Suk Han