Optical Waveguide Patents (Class 362/610)
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Publication number: 20130223098Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a surface light emitting apparatus including: a light source bar including a light source for generating an optical signal; at least one optical distributor for dividing the optical signal generated in the light source into a plurality of optical signals; a light guide plate for confining the plurality of optical signals divided by the optical distributor in an inside thereof and transfer the optical signals; and a scattering pattern formed on a surface of the light guide plate and for emitting a light by the optical signal transferred through the light guide plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventor: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
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Patent number: 8511878Abstract: A light emitting device is provided, comprising a light guide plate (100) and at least one light emitting diode (110). An array of mutually spaced apart reflective surface elements (103, 103?) is arranged between said back surface (102) and said front surface (103). The reflective surface elements (103, 103?) are non-parallel relative to said back surface (101) and front surface (102), and have a front side (104) facing said front surface (102) and a back side (105) facing said back surface (101). The back surface (105) of a reflective surface element (103) faces the front surface (104) of an adjacent reflective surface element (103?). The at least one light emitting diode (110) is arranged to emit light into a region (111) between two adjacent ones of said reflective surface elements (103, 103?). Since the reflective surface elements are located within the light guide, both the back surface and the front surface of the light guide plate may be made flat.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2007Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Michel Cornelis Josephus Marie Vissenberg, Willem Lubertus Ijzerman
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Patent number: 8506106Abstract: A back-light unit including a plurality of substrates, a plurality of light sources respectively disposed on the plurality of substrates and configured to emit light, and N (N?2) light guide panels respectively disposed adjacent to the plurality of light sources, a corresponding light guide panel including a light incidence part having a light incidence surface for receiving light emitted from a corresponding light source, and a light emission part for emitting the received incident light. Further, the corresponding light guide panel includes protruding surface patterns protruding from an upper surface the light emission part.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Yong Suk Kim, Won Do Kee, Chan Sung Jeong, Seung Se Kim
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Patent number: 8506152Abstract: A light guide plate includes at least one incident surface into which light is incident, an exit surface at least one end of which is connected the incident surface and through which the light is output, an opposite surface spaced apart from the exit surface and opposing the exit surface, and a plurality of reflective patterns extending from the exit surface toward the opposite surface. When a direction from the exit surface to the opposite surface is referred to as a first direction, a direction perpendicular to the incident surface is referred to as a second direction, and a direction parallel to the incident surface and perpendicular to the first direction is referred to as a third direction, a length of each reflective pattern in the first direction is smaller than a distance between the exit surface and the opposite surface, and a length of each reflective pattern in the second direction is larger than a length of each reflective pattern in the third direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Youngchan Kim, Moongyu Lee, Jeehong Min, Hyundeok Im
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Patent number: 8491173Abstract: A light source module includes a transparent element, a plurality of light-emitting devices, and a plurality of light diffusion micro-structures. The transparent element includes a transparent substrate having a light exiting surface and a bottom surface opposite to the light exiting surface, a plurality of first notches, and a plurality of second notches. The first notches are sunken at the light exiting surface. There is a reflection surface in each of the first notches. The second notches are respectively opposite to the first notches and sunken at the bottom surface. The second notches respectively have a light incident curve-surface. The light-emitting devices are respectively disposed beside the light incident curve-surfaces. Each of the light-emitting devices has a light exiting surface capable of providing a light beam. The light exiting surface is not conformal to the light incident curve-surface. The light diffusion micro-structures are disposed on the bottom surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Young Lighting Technology Inc.Inventors: Sheng-Hung Lin, Chih-Ming Hu, Jung-Min Hwang
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Patent number: 8480283Abstract: The present invention provides a planar light guide film for a backlight unit having at least one point light source, the light guide film comprising 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 comprises a composite lens structure having a circular tip segment with a first contact angle, and a first and second elliptical base segments with a second contact angle, the second contact angle being less than the first contact angle and the second contact angle being equal to each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2011Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.Inventors: Qi Hong, Karen A. Malburne
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Patent number: 8467644Abstract: A method of fabricating a light guide assembly includes the steps of providing an array of generally frustum-shaped light guides made of a light-transmissive material, providing an optical isolation frame of interconnected slats made of an opaque material, wherein the slats are arranged and profiled to correspondingly match the gaps between the light guides and the outer gap around the periphery of the light guide array, and bonding the light guide array and the optical isolation frame to each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2011Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Chang Kim, David McDaniel, Gary McBroom
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Patent number: 8430548Abstract: An enhanced light fixture containing a volumetric diffuser to control the spatial luminance uniformity and angular spread of light from the light fixture is disclosed. The volumetric diffuser provides increased spatial luminance uniformity and efficient control over the illuminance such that power reductions, reduced cost or reduced size may be achieved. The volumetric diffuser contains one or more regions of volumetric light scattering particles. The spread of illumination of light from a light emitting source can be efficiently controlled by using a thin, low cost, volumetric, diffuser to direct the light in the desired direction. This allows the reduction in number of light sources, a reduction in power requirements, or a more tailored illumination. When the volumetric diffuser is used in combination with a waveguide to extract light, the light is efficiently coupled out of the waveguide in a thin, planar surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2010Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Fusion Optix, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Kelly, Terence Yeo, Zane Coleman
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Patent number: 8425102Abstract: An ultra thin lighting element including at least one light source. A lightguide element includes one lightguide layer comprising a plurality of discrete fine optic surface relief structures on at least one portion of at least one surface. Each surface relief structure includes basic structural features on the order of about 10 microns or less in height, and on the order of about 10 microns or less in each lateral dimension. The number, arrangement and size of each surface relief structure and height and lateral dimensions of the structural features of the surface relief structures being varied to provide a desired degree of outcoupling modulation of light incoupled into the light guide element.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2005Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Modilis Holdings LLCInventor: Kari Rinko
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Patent number: 8419254Abstract: A flat fluorescent lamp which includes: a long rectangular shaped light guiding panel, a light-emitting module, a light guiding body, a reflective layer, and at least one light-emitting diode. The light guiding body seamlessly connects between an end surface of the light guiding panel and the light-emitting module. The reflective layer is located exterior of the light guiding panel. A Coupling head is installed on the side of the light-emitting module that is away from the light guiding panel, and the coupling head is connected to the light-emitting module. Thereby, an energy efficient fluorescent lamp that can be thinner and installed on general lamp socket is provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2011Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Enlight CorporationInventors: Chih-Ming Liao, Jih-Sheng Huang, Chi-Fu Chuang
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Patent number: 8422840Abstract: A light guide of the tapered-waveguide type includes an input slab for expanding a projected image between an input end and an output end, and an output slab arranged to receive rays from the said output end, and to emit them at a point on its face that corresponds to the angle at which the ray is received. The input slab and output waveguide are matched so that all rays injected into the input end undergo the same number of reflections before leaving the output surface. With the invention, the input slab is itself tapered slightly towards the output waveguide. This means that input and output waveguides can be made the same length, in the direction of ray travel, and can therefore be folded over each other with no wasted space.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Timothy Large
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Patent number: 8422093Abstract: A light projection unit includes a substrate, a plurality of light emitting elements arrayed on the substrate in a main scanning direction and including light emitting surfaces, a light guide facing the light emitting surfaces to direct light projected from the light emitting elements onto an illumination target and including a first positioning portion, and a holder including a second positioning portion that engages the first positioning portion of the light guide to position the light guide on the holder. The first positioning portion of the light guide is positioned between centers of light emission of adjacent light emitting elements in the main scanning direction of the substrate when the first positioning portion engages the second positioning portion of the holder.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Masatoshi Ishida
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Patent number: 8414173Abstract: An illumination device includes a plurality of light source units (20) each having a light guide plate and at least one light source. The light guide plate is provided with an illumination region (4) through which an incident beam of light from the at least one light source is emitted outward and a light guide region (3) through which the incident beam of light from the at least one light source is guided toward the illumination region (4), with the illumination region (4) and the light guide region (3) laid side-by-side. Light source units (20) adjacent to each other along a direction of an optical axis of the at least one light source are disposed so that the illumination region (4) of one of the light source units (20) covers at least a part of the light guide region (3) of the other light source unit (20).Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2008Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takeshi Masuda, Yuhsaku Ajichi, Yukihide Kohtoku
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Patent number: 8408779Abstract: An illuminated mouse pad having a light guide having a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter side, a light source for directing emitted light through a first portion of the perimeter of the light guide, and an array of light diffusers located on the bottom side of the light guide, said light diffusers capable of diffusing or spreading out or scattering light emitted by the light source to give a soft back light to the top side.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2011Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Inventor: Limber Jamie
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Patent number: 8408775Abstract: In one embodiment of this invention, an optical element comprises a light recycling directional control element and provides increased spatial color or luminance uniformity, desired angular color uniformity, and customizable light re-direction properties. In one embodiment, the optical element comprises at least one light blocking region and a lenticular lens element. Further embodiments incorporate an anisotropic light backscattering region within a light transmitting layer. The optical element may further comprise a light collimating element or an additional light lenticular lens element and light transmitting region that may be oriented parallel or perpendicular to the first lenticular lens element. Light emitting devices and displays incorporating the light recycling direction control element are further embodiments of this invention.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Fusion Optix, Inc.Inventor: Zane Coleman
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Patent number: 8403549Abstract: An edge-type backlight module and a direct-type backlight module with a optical device are provided. The optical device comprises an array layer and a second refractive layer. The array layer has a first refractive index (n1) and contains pluralities of lenticular lens disposed on a base surface side by side. The lenticular lens contains a curving structure with a peak, a trough, a curvature radius (R), a width (P) and an altitude (H) between the peak and the trough. The trough is disposed on the base1 surface. The array layer has a first critical angle (?1c) relative to the normal of the base surface and satisfies ? 1 ? c = sin - 1 ? ( 1 n 1 ) and H = R 1 + K ? [ 1 - 1 - ( 1 + K ) ? ( P 2 ? R ) 2 ] . The conical constant (K) of the lenticular lens ranges from ?2.1 to ?1.5.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Entire Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hao Xiang Lin, Yan Zuo Chen, Wen Feng Cheng, Jui Hsiang Chang
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Patent number: 8398287Abstract: A multicolor light source including a first light source operably to emit a first light of a first color and a second light source operably to emit a second light of a second color. The multicolor light source also includes a first wave guide optically connected to the first light source and a second wave guide optically coupled to the second light source and to the first wave guide. The combination of the first wave guide and the second wave guide couples the first light to the second light to create an outputted light having at least one aspect, other than hue, different from the first light and the second light.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2012Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey, Michael F. Culbert
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Patent number: 8393777Abstract: Some embodiments provide luminance-preserving non-imaging backlights that comprise a luminous source emitting light, an input port that receives the light, an injector and a beam-expanding ejector. The injector includes the input port and a larger output port with a profile that expands away from the input port acting via total internal reflection to keep x-y angular width of the source image inversely proportional to its luminance. The injector is defined by a surface of revolution with an axis on the source and a swept profile that is a first portion of an upper half of a CPC tilted by its acceptance angle. The beam-expanding ejector comprising a planar waveguide optically coupled to the output port of the injector. The ejector includes a smooth upper surface, and a reflective lower surface comprising microstructured facets that refract upwardly reflected light into a collimated direction common to the facets.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Light Prescriptions Innovators, LLCInventors: Juan Carlos Minano, Pablo Benitez, Julio Cesar Chaves, Waqidi Falicoff, William A. Parkyn
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Patent number: 8376601Abstract: A backlight unit (3) provided with a LED package (light source) (11) and a light guide plate (14) includes a light-emitting portion (12) that is provided on the light guide plate side of the LED package (11) so as to be opposed to an incident surface (14a) of the light guide plate (14) and outputs light from the LED package (11) toward the light guide plate (14). A dimension on the incident surface side of the light-emitting portion (12) in a thickness direction of the light guide plate (14) is not more than a dimension at the incident surface (14a) of the light guide plate (14) in its thickness direction, and the light-emitting portion (12) uses a two-dimensional photonic crystal (12a).Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2008Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuji Yashiro
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Patent number: 8371736Abstract: A light source apparatus includes first and second light direction changing faces that extend in a longitudinal direction, a light guiding member having first and second light emitting faces that are formed to respectively face the first and second light direction changing faces and a light source that is arranged on one end face of the light guiding member. A first vertical plane extending in a longitudinal direction with respect to the first light direction changing face and a second vertical plane extending in a longitudinal direction with respect to the second light direction changing face intersect. A groove which extends in a longitudinal direction of the light guiding member is formed between the first and second light direction changing faces. A surface forming the groove may be parabolic in a cross section.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2010Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaki Inoue, Yutaka Shiozaki, Hiroshige Hata, Kiyoyuki Kabuki
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Patent number: 8358266Abstract: A light guide device includes a light guide body and two or more pluralities of spaced-apart slits. The slits are formed by undercuts in the light guide body. Sidewalls of the slits form facets that redirect light impinging on the facets. In some embodiments, the light guide body is attached to a light source. The light source emits light that is injected into the light guide body and the slits redirect the light out of the light guide body and towards a desired target. In some embodiments, the target is a display and a first plurality of slits directs light from the light source across the light guide body and over the face of the display. A second plurality of slits then directs light out of the light guide body and towards the display.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2009Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kasra Khazeni, Manish Kothari, Gang Xu, Ion Bita, Kollengode S. Narayanan
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Patent number: 8353615Abstract: An optically coupled light guide includes a light source having a surface defined by a channel, a light guide and an optical gel coupling the channel of the light source to the light guide.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: David W. Douglas, Jeffrey S. Thelen
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Patent number: 8351744Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2012Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Adrian Travis, Timothy Large, Neil Emerton, Steven Bathiche
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Patent number: 8342729Abstract: A backlight module includes a light guide plate, a reflecting unit, two light emitting units, and two light absorbing units. The light guide plate has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and two light incident surfaces connecting the first surface and the second surface. The two light incident surfaces are respectively located at two adjacent corners of the light guide plate. The reflecting unit is disposed on the second surface. The two light emitting units are respectively disposed beside the two light incident surfaces. Light beams emitted by the two light emitting units are capable of entering the light guide plate respectively through the two light incident surfaces and being transmitted out of the light guide plate through the first surface. The light absorbing units are disposed between the second surface and the reflecting unit and are respectively adjacent to the two light incident surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Coretronic CorporationInventor: Liang-Kang Chang
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Patent number: 8334945Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a back light for irradiating a liquid crystal panel with light. An LED as a light emitting element is provided on a light guide panel provided in the back light, and a reflection member is provided on an optical sheet in the vicinity of an inclined plane of the light guide panel to reflect the light going out of the inclined plane toward the light guide panel. Furthermore, a convex portion of the light guide panel is formed between a plurality of light emitting elements, and an adhesive member is also provided between the convex portion and the optical sheet to ensure tight adhesion between the light guide panel and the optical sheet.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2008Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignees: Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.Inventor: Seiichi Nishiyama
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Patent number: 8333496Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a light source, a light-guiding plate and a diffusion sheet that includes a first bead layer on a lower surface of the diffusion sheet facing the light-guiding plate, and a second bead layer on an upper surface of the diffusion sheet. To improve image display quality, the hardness of the beads of the first bead layer facing the light guide plate are equal to or less than that of the light guide plate to prevent scratching of the light guide plate.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2009Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Byung-Woong Han, Young-Bee Chu, Jong-Whan Cho, Dong-Cheol Kim, Ju-Hyoun Kim, Young-Hee Park, Kyu-Seok Kim, Jong-Nam Lee
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Patent number: 8317385Abstract: An ultra thin lighting element including at least one light source. A lightguide element includes one lightguide layer comprising a plurality of discrete fine optic surface relief structures on at least one portion of at least one surface. Each surface relief structure includes basic structural features on the order of about 10 microns or less in height, and on the order of about 10 microns or less in each lateral dimension. The number, arrangement and size of each surface relief structure and height and lateral dimensions of the structural features of the surface relief structures being varied to provide a desired degree of outcoupling modulation of light incoupled into the light guide element.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2005Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Modilis Holdings LLCInventor: Kari Rinko
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Patent number: 8282262Abstract: A light source receiver 31 is disposed adjacent to an incident end face 11 of a light guiding plate 1 using the light source holder 31 for receiving the LED unit 4 and a light source holder 3 formed in an L-shape in a cross section having a standing plate 34 at one end of the light source holder 31, the standing plate 34 is disposed outside of a reflective plate 2 laminated on the light guiding plate 1, and a bolt 81 via a long hole 35 of the standing plate 34 is screwed into an insert-nut 8 of the light guiding plate 1 via a clearance hole 21 of the reflective plate 2, thereby the standing plate 34 follows the heat expansion or contraction of the light guiding plate 1 except the reflective plate 2. A relative position between the incident end face 11 of the light guiding plate 1 and the light source receiver 31 of the light source holder 3 is always constant, and the LED unit 4 is prevented from being damaged.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Meitaku Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hirokazu Matsui
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Patent number: 8282261Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a light source to match a white point of ambient light. In one embodiment, a light control system is provided. The light control system includes a light source and a light sensor. The light sensor is configured to operate in conjunction with the light source to provide a visual effect. A controller is electrically coupled to the light source and the light sensor and configured to determine the intensity and color of light to which the light sensor is exposed and dynamically adjust the output of the light source to match the determined intensity and color of light to which the light sensor is exposed.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2009Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Apple, Inc.Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey, Brandon Dean Slack, Reese T. Cutler
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Patent number: 8272771Abstract: Disclosed herein is a backlight device. The device includes: a light emitting element; a lens having an incident surface on which light emitted by the light emitting element is incident, and an outgoing surface which has an ability to converge the light and from which the light incident on the incident surface goes out; a light guide plate having a light incidence plane and introducing through the incidence plane the light going out from the outgoing surface, so as to perform surface light emission; and a reflective member operative to reflect a portion of the light going out from the outgoing surface of the lens, toward the incidence plane of the light guide plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2007Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Takeo Arai
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Patent number: 8267565Abstract: An LED illumination module for generating uniform stripped light source includes a stripped light-guiding unit, a stripped reflective unit and a light-emitting unit. The stripped light-guiding unit has a light-guiding body and a plurality of first light-guiding microstructures disposed on a top side of the light-guiding body. Each first light-guiding microstructure has a first reflective index. The stripped reflective unit has a reflective body corresponding to the light-guiding body and a reflective layer formed on an inner surface of the reflective body. The stripped reflective unit covers one part of the light-guiding body, the first light-guiding microstructures are disposed between the light-guiding body and the reflective layer, and the reflective layer has a second reflective index that is different from the first reflective index. The light-emitting unit has a first light-emitting module disposed beside one end of the light-guiding body.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2009Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Inventor: Wen-Shin Pan
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Patent number: 8262272Abstract: An optical lens includes an array of lens units. Each lens unit includes a main body, a light diverging portion and a light converging portion. The main body includes a light incident surface and a light emitting surface opposite to the light incident surface. The light diverging portion is configured for expanding a light field along a first direction. The light converging portion is configured for compressing a light field along a second direction. The light diverging portion and the light converging portion are formed on at least one of the light incident surface and the light emitting surface. The light converging portion includes parallel recesses distributed along the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2010Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Foxsemicon Integrated Technology, Inc.Inventors: Yi-Kai Cheng, Jyh-Long Chern, Ping-Yu Chen
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Patent number: 8251561Abstract: A backlight is provided for illuminating an at least partially transmissive display. The backlight includes a light source. A lightguide receives the light from an edge surface and guides the light by total internal reflection. The lightguide also has features that exist on one or more lightguide surfaces in the shape of a triangular wedge that reduces the range of angles in the vertical direction within the lightguide. This arrangement enables improved angular performance from out-coupled light.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: David J. Montgomery, Ioannis Papakonstantinou
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Patent number: 8246232Abstract: Described is an optical waveguide having a main direction of extension, at least one radiation entrance face, and a radiation exit face that extends longitudinally to the main direction of extension, wherein at least one radiation entrance face extends transversely to the main direction of extension, and the at least one radiation entrance face has two convexly curved subregions that are connected to each other by a kink-like or concavely shaped indentation. An optical device formed with such a waveguide is also described, as is a display device.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2007Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbHInventors: Josef Hüttner, Julius Muschaweck, Georg Bogner
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Patent number: 8235573Abstract: A backlight module includes a light guide, a mixing light guide plate, and a plurality of light sources. The first light guide comprises a first side surface. The mixing light guide plate comprises an incident surface with anomalous surface and an emergent surface with fog surface. The mixing light guide plate is set on the first side surface. A plurality of light sources disposed corresponding to the incident surface, with light emitted there from and entering the mixing light guide plate through the incident surface then exits the mixing light guide plate through the emergent surface, finally, entering the light guide through the first side surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2010Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Hannstar Display Corp.Inventor: Chih-Li Chang
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Patent number: 8231259Abstract: The present invention relates to a luminaire, which comprises a plate-shaped light guide, and first lamps disposed on one or more narrow sides of the light guide and configured to couple light into the plate-shaped light guide, wherein the light coupled into the light guide is emitted via a flat side of the light guide in a first irradiating direction of the luminaire. Said luminaire is characterized in that the first lamps are formed by a plurality of light-emitting diodes and that the luminaire furthermore comprises second lamps and a reflector arrangement associated therewith, by way of which the light of the second lamps is emitted in a second irradiating direction opposite the first irradiation direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Zumtobel Lighting GmbHInventors: Katherina Keller, Manfred Petschulat
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Patent number: 8226288Abstract: A backlight module includes a housing, at least a light-mixing tube, a plurality of light emitting devices, and at least a reflector. The housing includes a bottom sheet and a frame, in which the bottom sheet and the frame define a chamber. The frame is a hollow structure, and inner walls of the frame define the light-mixing tube. The light emitting devices are disposed at a light entrance of the light-mixing tube. Lights generated by the light emitting devices enter the light-mixing tube from the light entrance, mix in the light-mixing tube, and emit from a light exit of the light-mixing tube. Lights emit from the light-mixing tube are reflected at the reflector and therefore are reflected into the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.Inventors: Ke-Ming Yeh, Ju-Yi Hsieh
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Patent number: 8220979Abstract: A light guide plate includes a plate-shaped transparent body and a plurality of stripe-shaped planar structures. The plate-shaped transparent body is bent to form a top portion, a bottom portion, and a curved portion connected between the top portion and the bottom portion, and the top portion and the bottom portion are substantially parallel to each other and define a gap therebetween. The stripe-shaped planar structures are connected with each other on an outer surface of the curved portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Young Lighting Technology Inc.Inventors: Liang-Kang Chang, Yu-Chuan Wen
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Patent number: 8220978Abstract: A brightness enhancement film (BEF) includes a light transmissive substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of lenses disposed on the first surface, and a reflective layer. Each of the lenses has a curved protruding surface facing away from the light transmissive substrate. The radius of curvature of the curved protruding surface in a first direction parallel to the first surface is R1, the radius in a second direction is R2, and R1?R2. The reflective layer is disposed on the second surface and has a plurality of light pass openings respectively located on the optical axes of the lenses. The distance between the apex of the curved protruding surface and the corresponding light pass opening is L, the refractive index of the lenses is n, and the BEF satisfies L<nR1/(n?1) and L<nR2/(n?1). A backing light module using the BEF is provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2010Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Coretronic CorporationInventors: Tzeng-Ke Shiau, Ching-Shiang Li, Wen-Chih Huang, Fu-Ming Chuang, Kuo-Tung Tiao
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Patent number: 8210730Abstract: A light guide plate includes a light introducing portion which is positioned facing a point light source and which confines light, and a light guide plate body which is thinner than a maximum thickness of the light introducing portion and which causes a light exit means to emit the confined light outward. The light introducing portion has an inclined face which is inclined from a portion having the maximum thickness to a surface of the light guide plate body. The inclined face includes a directivity converting pattern for converting a directional characteristic of the light that has entered the light introducing portion. The directivity converting pattern's structure includes a plurality of V-shaped grooves. An inscribed circle of the directivity converting pattern passes through both ends of a light exit window of the point light source.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Gouo Kurata, Kazuhide Hirota
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Patent number: 8206018Abstract: An exemplary water jet guided laser device includes a water-ejecting device and a hollow light guide pipe. The water-ejecting device has a water chamber, a light incident through hole and a water-ejecting through hole defined at opposite sides thereof. The light incident through hole and the water-ejecting through hole are in communication with the water chamber. The water-ejecting device is configured for ejecting water from the water chamber through the water-ejecting through hole. The light incident through hole is configured for introducing a laser beam in the water chamber. The hollow light guide pipe is mounted in the water chamber and aligned with the light incident through hole and the water-ejecting through hole. The light guide pipe is watertight and is configured for receiving and guiding the laser beam from the light incident through hole to the water-ejecting through hole.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2009Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hsiang-Hung Chen
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Patent number: 8189973Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2011Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Adrian Travis, Timothy Large, Neil Emerton, Steven Bathiche
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Publication number: 20120120677Abstract: The novel structure of a backlight unit using color-scan backlight drive which structure can relieve the color mixture problem is provided. A backlight unit including: a light guide plate including (j+1) (j is a natural number) reflective walls that are columns having height in a direction perpendicular to a bottom face and being extended in one direction parallel to the bottom face and that are provided in parallel; an r-th columnar transparent layer provided in a region sandwiched between an r-th (r is a natural number, 1?r?j) reflective wall and an (r+1)-th reflective wall of the (j+1) reflective walls; and an r-th light source provided on a side surface of the light guide plate to let light into the r-th transparent layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventors: Hidekazu Miyairi, Kouhei Toyotaka
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Patent number: 8172413Abstract: A keypad assembly having a light guide sheet having a first surface with a layer of graphics printed thereon, a second surface opposite the first surface, and an edge surface; and a flexible sheet having a central portion engaged with the light guide sheet second surface and having a peripheral portion positioned in light blocking relationship with the light guide sheet edge surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Muh Fong Chung, Choon Guan Ko, Sian Tatt Lee, Fook Chuin Ng
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Patent number: 8167475Abstract: Conventional methods using two optical waveguide members are disadvantageous in cost because they require two optical waveguide members and pairs of their associated components. A linear lighting apparatus includes a rod-like optical waveguide member (100) formed by a transparent material, a light source placed near an end face of the optical waveguide member (100) in the longitudinal direction, and a light exit surface (101) formed on at least part of the optical waveguide member (100) in the longitudinal direction. A cross section of the optical waveguide member in the widthwise direction has a plurality of reflecting areas (102, 103) at positions to face a light exit surface (101) and a barrier (106) at a boundary portion between the reflecting areas (102, 103).Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2008Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Canon Components, Inc.Inventors: Masayuki Katsumata, Azusa Shiratori, Shuuichi Shimoda, Masami Tabata
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Patent number: 8160409Abstract: A light guide of the tapered-waveguide type includes an input slab (30) for expanding a projected image between an input end and an output end, and an output slab (10) arranged to receive rays from the said output end, and to emit them at a point on its face that corresponds to the angle at which the ray is received. The input slab and output waveguide are matched so that all rays injected into the input end undergo the same number of reflections before leaving the output surface. With the invention the input slab (30) is itself tapered slightly towards the output waveguide. This means that input and output waveguides can be made the same length, in the direction of ray travel, and can therefore be folded over each other with no wasted space.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2007Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Timothy Large
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Patent number: 8152349Abstract: End reflectors, flat panel lens that may utilize the end reflector, and methods are provided. The end reflector for a flat panel lens may include a first grating having a first set of parallel planes. The first set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a first angle with a central plane of the flat panel lens. The end reflector may also include a second grating having a second set of parallel planes. The second set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a second angle with the central plane. The second angle may be equivalent to the first angle reflected about the central plane.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Adrian Travis, Timothy Andrew Large, Neil Emerton
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Publication number: 20120075556Abstract: A backlight is provided and comprises an optical fiber light-emitting panel comprising an optical fiber light-emitting panel comprising at least one optical fiber light-emitting unit, wherein each optical fiber light-emitting unit comprises a light-emitting portion and a light-guiding portion which are connected together, the light-emitting portion forms a plane emitting area and the light-guiding portion extends to a side edge of the optical fiber light-emitting panel; and at least one illuminating light which is provided at the end surface of the light-guiding portion. Further, a liquid crystal display is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTDInventors: Haikuo GAO, Daekeun YOON, Xiaopan ZHENG, Ji CHEN, Hetao WANG
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Patent number: 8128253Abstract: The invention relates to a light emitting system (1) for surfaces (2) of floor bottoms, walls or similar surfaces (2) of buildings for indoor or outdoor applications, in particular walkable or drivable surfaces (2), whereas the system comprises a laminar and plane base floor material (3) for flooring the surface (2), featuring a top surface (4) characterized in that on said top surface (4) of said base floor material (3) is layered a light guiding structure (5) for propagating light, which is coupled into said structure (5), whereas said structure (5) features an emission surface (6), arranged coplanar to the top surface (4) of said base floor material (3) for emitting the light.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Joachim Opitz, Stefan Peter Grabowski
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Patent number: 8123391Abstract: A surface light emitter comprising a surface-emitting device is notably increased in the front brightness of light outputted from the surface-emitting device. In the surface light emitter comprising the surface-emitting device 20 and a light control sheet 10, a repetitive concavo-convex pattern of trapezoidal from in section is formed at least on one side of the light control sheet and has planar portions 12a at distal ends of projections of the concavo-convex pattern tightly bonded to an output surface 21a of the surface-emitting device. The light control sheet satisfies a condition 0.75>D>4[(sin ??1/n)2+0.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2007Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Manami Kuiseko, Akira Sato