Light Modifier For Edge Lit Light Source (incident Edge) Patents (Class 362/608)
  • Patent number: 8931911
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a backlight unit and a display apparatus using the same. The backlight unit includes a first reflector, a second reflector partially having an inclined surface, at least one light source module disposed between the first and second reflectors, and at least one reflective structure disposed on the second reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Sung Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20150009709
    Abstract: This invention relates to a light guide plate and a backlight unit, and more particularly, to a light guide plate and a backlight unit, wherein the light guide plate includes a light incident part to which light is incident from a light source located at a lateral side of the light guide plate and which is imparted with patterns, in which the patterns are formed such that a pattern-dense region and a pattern-sparse region are periodically repeated, and the pattern density between the pattern-dense region and the pattern-sparse region varies in a gradation, thus increasing luminance uniformity without affecting the luminance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kwan Min Choi, Jun Kil Doo, Tae Gap Jang, Min Jeong Kim
  • Patent number: 8926112
    Abstract: The backlight device is configured in a planar geometry by the combination of a plurality of light emitting units. The light guide plate of the light emitting unit has a light guide unit that guides light from the light source and a light emission surface that emits light from the light guide unit. Adjacent light emitting units are arranged to cross to each other and the light emission surface of a light emitting unit overlaps with the light guide unit of another light emitting unit such that the light guide unit of each light guide plate of the light emitting unit does not extend outside the light emission region of the backlight device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uchiike, Masanao Kurita
  • Publication number: 20150002771
    Abstract: A back light unit includes a light guide plate having at least one light introducing portion and a light exit portion, the front surface of the light exit portion being a light exit surface, and a light source facing the light guide plate and emitting light in a light emitting direction. The at least one light introducing portion includes a first portion and a second portion which is connected to the light exit portion, and in which the second portion spreads wider than the first portion in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamoto, Mitsuhiro Sugiyama, Masahiro Ito
  • Publication number: 20150003035
    Abstract: A display module is provided. A light source is configured to provide an illumination beam. A light guide plate has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and an incident surface connecting the first surface and the second surface. The illumination beam enters the light guide plate through the incident surface. An optical structure is connected to the light guide plate and configured to change a propagation direction of the illumination beam. A reflective display unit is capable of modulating a polarization state of the illumination beam to form a modulated beam. The second surface is disposed between the reflective display unit and the first surface. The first surface is disposed between the second surface and a reflective polarizer, and the reflective polarizer filters the modulated beam into an image beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Himax Display, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuet-Wing Li, Kuan-Hsu Fan-Chiang
  • Publication number: 20140376259
    Abstract: A red phosphor includes a nitride represented by an empirical formula of Sr1?x?yBaxEuyAlSi4N7. A composition ratio (x) of barium (Ba) satisfies 0<x?0.3 and a composition ratio (y) of europium (Eu) satisfies 0<y?0.1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Woo CHOI, Chul Soo YOON
  • Publication number: 20140376258
    Abstract: A planar light source including a light guide plate (LGP) and a light source device is provided. The LGP includes a plate portion and at least one prism portion. The plate portion has a light incident surface, a reflective surface, a bottom surface, and a light exiting surface. The prism portion is disposed on the bottom surface of the plate portion, and has a first plane and a second plane. An included angle between the first plane and the bottom surface is smaller than an included angle between the second plane and the bottom surface, and a shortest distance between the first plane and the light incident surface is smaller than a shortest distance between the second plane and the light incident surface. The light source device is disposed adjacent to the light incident surface. The disclosure provides planar light source with good light uniformity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: YOUNG LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Jhong-Hao Wu, Chin-Ku Liu
  • Patent number: 8911132
    Abstract: Optic entrance features may be used to optically control light transfer from a light source to a light emitting panel (LEP). In a particular embodiment, an LEP includes a first LEP side configured to emit light. The LEP also includes a second LEP side. The first LEP side and the second LEP side are opposite sides of the LEP. The LEP further includes a cutout area providing an air gap in the LEP through the first LEP side and the second LEP side. The LEP also includes a light receiving side. The cutout area is proximal to the light receiving side, and the light receiving side is configured to pass light through towards the cutout area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Adam Moore Foy, Scott David Wegner
  • Patent number: 8911131
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling light from concentric illuminators into a light source in the form of a surface are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of concentric tubes, each tube including a light diffuser. The apparatus also has a sheet having a first edge with the plurality of concentric tubes placed along the first edge. Each tube of the plurality of concentric tubes diffuses light such that the light emanates in a predetermined pattern along the first edge of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: I2iC Corporation
    Inventors: Udayan Kanade, Balaji Ganapathy
  • Publication number: 20140362092
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for reducing hotspots in backlit displays. Hotspot artifacts in multi-color backlit displays can be reduced by incorporating optical structures along the edges of light guides incorporated into the backlights. The optical structures are positioned adjacent to light emitting modules that emit light into the light guide. Light emitted from the light emitting modules passes through the optical structures before entering the light guide. Hotspot size can be reduced by appropriately configuring the shapes and sizes of these optical structures. In some implementations, the optical structures may include serrations along the side of the light guide adjacent to the light sources. In some other implementations, the optical structures may include dimples. Size of hotspots may also be reduced by reducing the distance between adjacent light sources of the same color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Xiang-Dong Mi, Jignesh Gandhi, Jianru Shi
  • Patent number: 8905563
    Abstract: A display device with narrowed frame border and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The display device includes a backlight module, an optical film, and a display panel. The backlight module includes an outer frame and a light source module. The outer frame has a bottom plate and a sidewall connected to the bottom plate, and the light source module is disposed in the outer frame near the sidewall. The optical film is disposed on the backlight module and covers the light source module. One side of the optical film protrudes outside from the sidewall and is bent to attach a portion of the sidewall. The display panel is disposed on the optical film opposite to the backlight module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Hao Wu, Darman Ng
  • Publication number: 20140347882
    Abstract: An optical system comprises a light source emitting light, a collimating structure to substantially collimate the light, a converter unit to receive the substantially collimated light having an area illuminating a first aspect ratio and outputting light having an area illuminating a second aspect ratio, the second aspect ratio greater than the first aspect ratio by at least a factor of four, and a backlight light guide to receive the light from the converter unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Kelly R. Ingham
  • Publication number: 20140347840
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel, a backlight unit configured to output light to the display panel, and a lens part interposed between the display panel and the backlight unit, and configured to transmit the light output from the backlight unit is transmitted, wherein the backlight unit includes an optical module configured to output the light, and a light guide plate configured to form a light path through which the light that is output from the optical module and incident on the light guide plate is transmitted and to scatter the incident light, the light guide plate including a fixing hole, a first pattern part configured to scatter the incident light output from the optical module, and a second pattern part provided adjacent to the fixing hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kil Hong LEE, Dae Hee LEE, Sin Wook HYUNG, Young Man AHN, Hyeong Sik CHOI
  • Patent number: 8894264
    Abstract: A spread illuminating apparatus includes: a light guide plate with an emitting surface, a plurality of optical sheets laminated on the emitting surface, a light-blocking member that defines an effective area of the emitting surface, a light source, and a frame for accommodating the above constituents. The plurality of optical sheets are formed such that a position of an edge of each optical sheet on the incident light surface side of the light guide plate is spaced farther apart from the incident light surface of the light guide plate as moving toward a top layer of the optical sheets counted from the emitting surface, and the light-blocking member is fixed to each optical sheet and extends from the incident light surface side of the light guide plate so as to cover a vicinity of the edges of the plurality of optical sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shohei Takada, Tomotaka Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20140340932
    Abstract: Disclosed is an LED lighting device which is easily assembled and disassembled and has a stable assemblability without structural shaking. The LED lighting device is able to improve a heat radiating characteristic and optical efficiency. The LED lighting device comprises a light guide plate comprising a top surface; an upper case comprising a base disposed on the top surface of the light guide plate, and an edge extending from the base, wherein the base is thicker than the edge; a lower case comprising a body coupled to the edge of the upper case; a reflective sheet disposed between the top surface of the light guide plate and the base of the upper case; and a light source unit disposed between the light guide plate and the body of the lower case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Han Gyoul Kim, Hwa Young Kim, Il Yeong Kang, Jin Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 8888348
    Abstract: Provided is an illumination device that is capable of improving the utilization efficiency of light, while being lighter and thinner. This illumination device (10) is provided with: a light source (11) that emits ultraviolet light; a light guide plate (14) that guides the light from the light source; an optical member (15) placed between the light source and the light guide plate and that allows ultraviolet light emitted from the light source to pass through and that reflects visible light; and a fluorescent member (16) that is arranged between an ultraviolet light incident surface (15d) of the optical member and the light guide plate and that converts the ultraviolet light into visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Terashima
  • Patent number: 8888356
    Abstract: A backlight assembly that is adapted for use with an image displaying flat panel includes a light guide plate assembly and one or more light sources disposed under the light guide plate assembly. An upper portion of the light guide plate assembly is overlapped by a display area of the flat panel while a lower portion is disposed under the upper portion, and includes light guiding material for redirecting sourced light as well as reflectors for also redirecting light sourced from small, light sourcing areas underneath the upper portion for redistribution into the larger area of light guiding material provided in the upper portion of the light guide plate assembly. The upper portion also has one or more light reflectors. In one embodiment, opposed ones of light sources are angled so they don't shine light directly into one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Ran Son, Cheol-Yong Noh, Ju-Hwa Ha
  • Publication number: 20140334181
    Abstract: A backlight unit of a display device includes a light bar and a light guide plate (LGP), where a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged on the light bar, and a light incident surface of the LGP and the UV LEDs are oppositely arranged. at least one red-green-blue (RGB) quantum dot phosphor layer is arranged in a path of a light from the UV LEDs to a light emitting surface of the LGP. The RGB quantum dot phosphor layer comprises a red quantum dot fluorescence film, a green quantum dot fluorescence film, and a blue quantum dot fluorescence film that are successively arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Che chang HU, Yong FAN
  • Patent number: 8882322
    Abstract: A backlight unit is provided. The backlight unit may include a light emitting device package, a light guide plate including a first region and a second region extending from the first region, with upper surfaces of the first and second regions being spaced apart so as to form a stepped surface. A recess may be formed in a lateral surface of the second region to receive the light emitting device package, and an optical sheet may be received on the upper surface of the second region of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sungchul Ham
  • Publication number: 20140328082
    Abstract: A lighting panel and method of production thereof is described. The lighting panel comprises a transparent substrate (7), upon a first surface of which are mounted one or more light sources (1) is described. The lighting panel further comprises a guide layer (9) wherein the guide layer is arranged so as to encapsulate the one or more light sources upon the first surface. The one or more light sources comprise top emitting LEDs side mounted upon the first surface. In this way the described apparatus provides an optically efficient means for providing “warm white” backlighting of products that can be manufactured on a commercial scale while offering acceptable levels of reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Publication number: 20140321157
    Abstract: A backlight unit with a light guide plate preventing a dark area between LEDs is provided, wherein dark area-preventing patterns may adequately compensate for the brightness in a gap between the LEDs that may be a dark area even under the condition that the gap is relatively large and greater than or equal to the width of an LED and thus, uniform brightness may be obtained without an occurrence of the dark area. Accordingly, the number of the LEDs may decrease and thus, a large-sized backlight unit may be fabricated with a relatively low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: HB TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Choongyop RHEW, Daisoung PARK, Seungkeun LEE
  • Patent number: 8870434
    Abstract: A planar light guide film for a backlight unit having at least one point light source is disclosed. The light guide film includes a light input surface for receiving light from the point light source, a light redirecting surface for redirecting light received from the light input surface and a light output surface for outputting at least the light redirected from the light redirecting surface. The light input surface further includes a composite lens structure having a first and second circular tip segment each circular tip segment with a first contact angle, and a first and second circular base segment each circular base segment with a top and bottom contact angle, the contact angles of the circular base segments being less than the contact angle of the circular tip segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qi Hong, Karen A. Malburne
  • Patent number: 8870431
    Abstract: A mixing light module includes a matrix, a fluorescent film, and a plurality of micro-structures. The matrix includes an incidence surface, an emission surface and a reflective surface. The fluorescent film disposed on or above the emission surface has an upper surface and a lower surface and includes a plurality of fluorescent particles. The matrix receives a first light having a first wavelength, and the reflective surface reflects the first light to make the first light to be emitted from the emission surface. Since the plurality of fluorescent particles receives a part of the first light from the emission surface, the plurality of fluorescent particles is excited to emit a second light having a second wavelength. The second light and the first light are mixed into a predetermined light. The plurality of micro-structures is used to make the first light or the second light uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hui-Hsiung Lin, Chiun-Lern Fu, Hsiao-Wen Hung, Wen-Hsun Yang, Chi-Hung Liao, Wen-Jung Chen
  • Patent number: 8870438
    Abstract: A surface light source includes a light source facing an end face of a lightguide plate, a rectangular-shaped frame surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the lightguide plate, and a reflecting sheet is disposed on a lower surface of the frame. The frame is formed such that an inside frame portion is made of a white resin and an outside frame portion is made of a black resin. The inside frame portion and the outside frame portion are integrally molded by a two-color molding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Ozawa, Kensuke Nambu, Yuichi Hiraki
  • Publication number: 20140313770
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display device. The display device includes a light source, a light guide part to receive a light emitted from the light source, a light conversion member between the light source and the light guide part, and a spacer between the light source and the light conversion member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Seung Ryong PARK, Hyun Ho CHOI, Gi Seok LEE
  • Patent number: 8864357
    Abstract: Disclosed are a light emitting device and a light unit including the same. The light emitting device includes a body having a cavity with an open upper portion, a protrusion protruding from an upper portion of the body, a plurality of lead electrodes in the cavity, and a light emitting diode provided in the cavity and electrically connected to the lead electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8864358
    Abstract: In a surface light source device frame, an amount of light that leaks from an outer peripheral surface of the frame can be decreased while a decrease in luminance is suppressed in an emission surface. The frame includes a rectangular frame main body made of a black resin and an auxiliary member made of a white resin. In inner peripheral surfaces of both lateral sides of the frame main body, fitting portions are provided in an end portion on a side farther away from the light source in the frame main body in order to fit the leg portions. The auxiliary member is attached to the inner peripheral surface on the side farther away from the light source in the frame main body while the leg portions are fitted in the fitting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Nambu, Kenji Ozawa, Yuichi Hiraki
  • Publication number: 20140307468
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a light emitting surface, a bottom surface opposite to the light emitting surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a light incident surface. The first side surface and the second side surface connect the light emitting surface to the bottom surface. The light incident surface is connected to the light emitting surface, the bottom surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface. A plurality of diffusing micro-structures is formed on the light incident surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: YUNG-CHANG TSENG
  • Publication number: 20140307467
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a profiled light guide plate, a backlight module and a liquid crystal display device. In the profiled light guided plate according to the embodiments of the present invention, because the reflectivity of the profiled assembly is less than that of the light entry assembly, the emergent angle of the light beam entering into the profiled assembly from the light entry assembly is larger than the incident angle thereof, which causes the light beam entering from the light entry assembly into the profiled assembly to converge towards the central part of the profiled assembly, away from the ramp of the profiled assembly, thereby decreasing the amount of light leakage from the ramp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lili Jia, Xiuyun Chen, Ji Chen
  • Patent number: 8858060
    Abstract: A surface emitting apparatus includes a light guide plate, a plurality of point light sources, a diffusing member, and a spacer member. The light guide plate has an end surface and a light emitting surface and is configured to allow light incident on the end surface to be emitted from the light emitting surface. The plurality of point light sources is provided to oppose the end surface of the light guide plate. The diffusing member is provided on a light emitting surface side of the light guide plate. The spacer member defines a space between the light emitting surface and the diffusing member such that a distance between the light emitting surface and the diffusing member is larger than a thickness of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Inagaki, Norihito Kino
  • Patent number: 8858058
    Abstract: A planar light guide film for a backlight unit having at least one point light source is disclosed. The light guide film includes a light input surface for receiving light from the point light source, a light redirecting surface for redirecting light received from the light input surface and a light output surface for outputting at least the light redirected from the light redirecting surface. The light input surface includes a composite lens structure having a first and second circular tip segment each circular tip segment with a first contact angle, and a first and second circular base segment each circular base segment with a top and bottom contact angle, the contact angles of the circular base segments being greater than the contact angle of the circular tip segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qi Hong, Karen A. Malburne
  • Publication number: 20140301105
    Abstract: A backlight unit with a light guide plate preventing the dark area between light emitting diodes (LEDs) is provided, wherein a plurality of dark area-preventing patterns formed on an incidence plane of a light guide plate and having different angles of inclination or different radii of curvature may evenly diffuse lights incident from an LED even under the condition that the gap between the LEDs is relatively broad and greater than or equal to the width of an LED and thus, uniform brightness may be obtained without an occurrence of a dark area. Accordingly, the number of the LEDs may be decreased and the backlight unit may be fabricated with a relatively low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: HB TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Choongyop RHEW, Daisoung PARK, Seungkeun LEE
  • Patent number: 8851732
    Abstract: In a light-guide module, a method of manufacturing the light-guide module and a backlight assembly having the light-guide module, the light-guide module includes a light-guide plate (“LGP”) and a thin-film layer. The LGP has a light-incident surface into which lights are incident and a light-exiting surface through which lights exit. The thin-film layer is formed on the LGP. The thin-film layer has a concavo-convex pattern formed on an opposite surface of a surface contacting the LGP. Accordingly, a thin-film layer having a concavo-convex pattern is formed on a light-incident surface of an LGP, so that a reflectance of light incident into the LGP may be decreased. Moreover, a light amount transmitted through the LGP is increased in accordance with a decreasing of reflectance, so that a light transmittance may be increased in total.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Ho Lee, Sang-Won Lee
  • Publication number: 20140293646
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a translucent member having the same cross sectional tubular shape throughout a longitudinal direction and including a lens that includes a light incident surface for receiving incident light and a pair of light exit surface for diffusing and emitting the light incident on the light incident surface to the outside, and a light-emitting portion mounted on a substrate and emitting the light toward a region including the light incident surface of the translucent member, where in the translucent member includes a pair of light guide portions for guiding the light incident on the light incident surface to a pair of the light exit surfaces so that the light incident on the light incident surface is diffused and emitted from the pair of light exit surfaces in a width direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: KOHA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki IWAZAKI, Kentaro TONE
  • Publication number: 20140293645
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an illumination device includes a light-guiding unit having a light output surface which outputs light and a back surface facing the light output surface, wherein the light-guiding unit has a curved surface in a region of the back surface farther than a first position on the back surface that is away by a first distance from an axis passing the light output surface and the back surface, and a rough surface in a region of the light output surface farther than a second position on the light output surface that is away by a second distance from the axis in a same direction as a direction from the axis toward the first position, and where an intersection of the axis and the back surface is an origin point, and a direction of the axis from the back surface to the light output surface is positive, a normal line of the curved surface intersects with the axis at the positive side of the axis, and an angle formed by a normal line vector at the second position in a direction toward the light output s
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: HIROSHI OHNO, YUICHIRO YAMAMOTO, MITSUAKI KATO, TOMONAO TAKAMATSU, MASATAKA SHIRATSUCHI, HIROMICHI HAYASHIHARA, HIDEO TAMURA, MASAHIKO YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8845170
    Abstract: In a light guide plate and a backlight unit, a light guide plate includes a light incident surface, an opposite surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of optical path changing units. The optical path changing units are aligned on at least the bottom surface of the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined interval while protruding in parallel to a reference line perpendicular to the light incident surface. Accordingly, power consumption used to generate the light may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Soo Kim, Jin-Sung Choi, Tae-Seok Jang, Sang-Hoon Lee
  • Publication number: 20140286048
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a switchable see-through luminescent system, e.g. for luminous signage, characterized by its mode to exist in two different states, transparent (‘off-state’) and luminescent (‘on-state’), due to the presence of a luminescent material (20), coated on to the transparent surface (10), capable of being excited on command by means of lighting sources (30) (e.g. LEDs) characterized by suitable emission spectra. In the off-state of the luminescent material (20), the surface appears transparent and it is not evident any significant modifications of the optical properties (transparency, color, etc.) of the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Pietro Riello, Francesco Enrichi, Luca Bellotto, Isidora Freris, Simone Bellan
  • Patent number: 8840294
    Abstract: The present invention provides a side-light backlight module with assisting solar light source and which comprises a side-light source; a waveguide having an incident surface facing the side-light source and an emitting surface; an optical film set arranged on top of the waveguide and facing the emitting surface; and an assisting light source directing collected solar light into the incident surface of the waveguide. With the provision of the assisting light source, the solar light can be used as an assisting light source making the backlight module and the liquid crystal display device made therefrom become more environmental friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Che-Chang Hu, Hu He
  • Patent number: 8840296
    Abstract: A light guide plate and manufacture methods thereof are provided. The light guide plate includes a plate body, an optical adhesive layer, and a light entrance structure layer. The plate body has a light exit surface and a light entrance surface. The light entrance surface is connected to a side of the light exit surface and intersects the light exit surface with an angle. The optical adhesive layer is attached on the light entrance surface while the light entrance structure layer is attached to the optical adhesive layer. The light entrance structure layer includes a substrate and a light-cured or thermal-cured structure. The light-cured or thermal-cured structure is made of light or thermal curable material and firmly formed on a structured surface of the substrate through a light or thermal curing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: BriView Corporation
    Inventors: Kun-Chih Pan, Jen-Shun Lin, Bai-Chen Chang
  • Publication number: 20140268872
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatuses for low-profile lighting systems. In one aspect, a lighting apparatus can include a lighting apparatus having a light emitter and an electronics substrate including an electrical circuit. An unrolled capacitive film can be attached to the lighting apparatus and electrically coupled to the electrical circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Robert L. Holman, Jeffrey B. Sampsell, Matthew B. Sampsell, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140268873
    Abstract: The present invention introduces a new class of thin doubly collimating light distributing engines for use in a variety of general lighting applications. Output illumination from these slim-profile illumination systems whether square, rectangular or circular in physical aperture shape is directional, square, rectangular or circular in beam cross-section, and spatially uniform and sharply cutoff outside the system's adjustable far-field angular cone. Some embodiments provided include thin light distributing engines which provide input light collimated in one meridian and a light distributing element that maintains input collimation while collimating output light in the un-collimated orthogonal meridian, in such a manner that the system's far-field output light is collimated in both its orthogonal output meridians.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Louis Holman, Matthew Brian Sampsell
  • Patent number: 8833999
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a base having two opposite sidewalls, two carriers connected pivotally and respectively to the sidewalls, and two light guide plates respectively disposed on the carriers. The carriers are rotatable relative to the base between a first position, where the carriers cooperatively define a carrier surface, and a second position, where the carriers are parallel to each other. A flexible screen is superposed on the light guide plates, is expanded to a planar state when move along with the carriers to the first position, and is folded when move along with the carriers to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Kai Wang, Tarng-Shiang Hu, Yu-Jung Peng, Chih-Hao Chang
  • Publication number: 20140254194
    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: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Hsin Chin LEE, Antanas Matthew Broga
  • Publication number: 20140254195
    Abstract: A surface light source device capable of obtaining uniform and high brightness emitted light is disclosed. The surface light source device can include a light source (11) that emits light; a light guiding plate (12) that guides light from the light source that is incident on a rear surface side thereof or a side surface side thereof and emits the light from a front surface side thereof; and a diffusion plate (14) disposed on the front surface side of the light guiding plate that diffuses the incident light from the light guiding plate to a front surface side thereof. The diffusion plate can be made from nonwoven fabric with an areal weight of not less than 0 g/m2 and not more than 40 g/m2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATION PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Toyooka, Masaki Yamamuro, Hiroki Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8827535
    Abstract: This present invention discloses a backlight module including a frame and a light guide plate. The frame includes a base plane and a side wall, wherein the side wall is disposed at the edge of the base plane and encloses a disposition space. The side wall includes a first inner surface and an outer surface, wherein a distance between the first inner surface and the outer surface is decreased as the first inner surface comes closer to a bottom of the side wall. The light guide plate is disposed on the base plane and within the disposition space, wherein the first inner surface sinks toward the outer surface and a recessed space is formed between the first inner surface and a lateral side of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ci-Guang Peng, Te-Hen Lo, Cheng-Yu Wang, Ming-Sheng Lai
  • Patent number: 8827530
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a main body portion and inclined light guide portions having at least one recess. The main body portion has a first light incident surface, a bottom surface that is adjacent to the first light incident surface, and a light emitting surface that is opposite to the bottom surface. The inclined light guide portions disposed on the main body portion have a second light incident surface and at least one inclined surface. The second light incident surface is connected to the first light incident surface of the main body portion. The inclined surface is connected to the light emitting surface of the main body portion. At least one recess is formed between the inclined light guide portions. In addition, a wedge-shaped body can further be formed between the main body portion and the inclined light guide portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Wen Chang, Fu-Cheng Fan
  • Patent number: 8814412
    Abstract: An area light source device has a diffusion plate and a prism sheet stacked on a light guide plate, and a light source disposed opposite an end face of the light guide plate. Light emitted from the light source is introduced to an inside of the light guide plate from the end face. Area light emission is obtained by outputting the light diffused in the light guide plate from the diffusion plate and the prism sheet through a front face disposed opposite the diffusion plate. The light guide plate includes a light guide section that includes the end face disposed opposite the light source, a light emitting section that is disposed opposite the diffusion plate, and a joining section that joins the light guide section and the light emitting section. The front surface in the joining section includes an inclined surface that is gradually retreated toward a rear surface on an opposite side from the light guide section toward the light emitting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Yabe, Koichi Takemura, Kazuhide Hirota, Chih Bun Shiu
  • Patent number: 8814417
    Abstract: Disclosed is a backlight unit and a display device using the same, which includes a first reflector, a second reflector 300 and at least one light source module 100 disposed between the first and second reflectors, wherein a back surface of the first reflector comprises an inclined plane 201 and a flat surface 202, with facing the second reflector, and the inclined plane is adjacent to the light source and the flat surface is extended from an end of the inclined plane, with the inclined plane and the flat surface being collinear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se Jin Ko, Ji In Lee
  • Patent number: 8814413
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a backlight module. The backlight module includes at least one light tube. Each light tube includes a light emitting side for emitting light and a first micro-structure disposed on the light emitting side for breaking total reflections of the light in the light tube. With the first micro-structure disposed on the light emitting side of the light tube, the total reflections of the light in the light tube can be broken to allow the light to be emitted from the light tube evenly. Also, the reflecting structure is disposed on non-light emitting side for improving the using efficiency of the light and reducing the manufacturing cost of the backlight module. Additionally, the fluorescent layer is coated on the light emitting side for improving a color saturation level of a LCD using the backlight module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-chun Hsiao, Ruilian Yang
  • Patent number: 8807817
    Abstract: Extended area lighting devices include a light guide and diffractive surface features on a major surface thereof. The diffractive surface features include diffractive features of different pitches in non-overlapping regions of the major surface tailored to extract guided-mode light of different colors from the light guide in different directions. The diffractive features extract light such that an ordinary user observes substantially different colors in different regions of the light guide, providing a colorful appearance. Notwithstanding this, the diffractive features also extract light such that the lighting device illuminates a reference surface, disposed at an intermediate distance from the light guide, with illumination light that is substantially uniform in color and substantially white. Optical films having diffractive features that can be used to construct such devices and light guides are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Zhaohui Yang, David S. Thompson, Vivian W. Jones