Light Guide Patents (Class 362/615)
  • Patent number: 7833593
    Abstract: Optical devices according to the present invention include a multilayer optical film in which at least one of the layers comprises an oriented birefringent polymer. The multilayer optical film exhibits low absorptivity and can reflect light approaching at shallow angles as well as normal to the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, Sanford Cobb, Jr., David L. Wortman
  • Publication number: 20100283805
    Abstract: A back cover for a backlight assembly capable of achieving a more compact a display apparatus includes a cover element, a line portion, and a plurality of point light sources. The cover element includes a metallic layer, and the cross-section of the cover element has an L-shape. The line portion is formed over the cover element. The point light sources are mounted on the surface of the cover element to receive a driving voltage from the line portion. A bottom cover portion of the cover element covers an opening portion. A side cover portion of the cover element faces the side wall. The point light sources mounted on the cover element emit light on a side surface of a light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Young-Joo Nam, Sang-Hoon Park, Dong-Gyun Ra
  • Patent number: 7828449
    Abstract: An adjusting mechanism for a rod module adapted to an optical engine is provided. The adjusting mechanism utilizes two wedge-shaped blocks moving in perpendicular directions so as to convert the vertical adjustment of horizontal adjusting component into horizontal adjustment of an LIR module. Therefore, operators may adjust the horizontal and vertical position of the rod module from the same side of the projector, thus increasing the convenience in adjusting the position of the rod module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Wen-Ching Ho
  • Publication number: 20100277670
    Abstract: Disclosed is a backlight unit (49) wherein a flexible pressing piece (PP) provided to a top housing unit (25) presses a mounted substrate (11) against a bottom housing unit (21) which also serves as a heat dissipating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Tetsuya Hamada
  • Patent number: 7824092
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a light source and a light guide plate. The light source includes a light-emitting surface and at least two mean points. The light guide plate includes an incident surface, an emitting surface adjacent to the incident surface, a reflecting surface opposite to the emitting surface, and at least two groups of microstructures formed on the reflecting surface. Each group of microstructures is arranged concentric relative to a respective mean point of the light-emitting surface of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Guo-Fan Jin
  • Patent number: 7824094
    Abstract: An exemplary backlight module (1) includes a light source (11) and a light guide plate (12). The light guide plate includes a light incident surface (121) to which the light source is placed adjacent, and a bottom surface (122) adjacent the light incident surface. The bottom surface defines a plurality of recesses (1222). Each recess defines a first slant (101) facing the light source and an arris (103) at a top of the first slant. The arris of the first slant at each recess is aligned substantially perpendicular to a main path of light beams that propagate from the light source to the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventor: Hsiang-Hui Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7819570
    Abstract: An exemplary optical plate includes one or more transparent plate section. The transparent plate section includes a light output surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of spherical depressions, a plurality of protruding structures and one or more lamp-receiving portion. The light output surface is opposite to the bottom surface. The spherical depressions are formed on the bottom surface. The protruding structures are formed on the light output surface. Each protruding structure includes two conical frustums aligned at a center axis and stacked together. The lamp-receiving portion is defined in the bottom surface. A backlight module using the present optical plate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Publication number: 20100265737
    Abstract: A light guiding plate may include a substrate, a waveguide, and a reflective metal. The waveguide and the reflective metal may be formed on the substrate. The waveguide may guide light. The reflective metal may reflect the light guided along the waveguide to change a propagation direction of the light. A light guiding plate may include a substrate, a cladding layer, and a plurality of waveguides. The cladding layer may be formed on the substrate. The cladding layer may include a first insulating layer having a first refractive index. The plurality of waveguides may be formed on the cladding layer. The plurality of waveguides may include a second insulating layer having a second refractive index. The second refractive index may be higher than the first refractive index. The plurality of waveguides may guide light provided by a light emitting element. At least two of the waveguides may have different lengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Yu-Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 7815358
    Abstract: A backlight for a display device, such as a liquid crystal display device, includes a light guiding plate having a front and a rear surface. The front and rear surfaces may be parallel to one another, or may instead be non-parallel. To the extent that such surfaces are non-parallel, one surface may be inclined at a single, or multiple angles with respect to the other surface. The backlight further includes a light source that is coupled to an edge of the light guiding plate by means of an energy conserving coupling section, and which provides light that is conditioned and transmitted through the light guiding plate. Light extractors are disposed on at least one side of the light guiding plate to assist in the transmission and conditioning of the light that is provided to the light guiding plate by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Benzion Alter Inditsky
  • Patent number: 7815359
    Abstract: A transparent resin plate includes a plurality of slits formed intermittently and located along the border line between a housing frame portion and a light conductor plate portion, the slits includes either or both of respective first optical path converting portions and a second optical path converting portion, and flap portions of a reflector are inserted at least in the first optical path converting portions. Also, the second optical path converting portion of the plurality of slits is arranged to meet at least part of optical paths of hypothetical optical paths which are emitted forward from a light source in the forward direction, reach directly the housing frame portion and which do not cross the first optical path converting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Shimura, Motoji Egawa, Akinobu Sano
  • Patent number: 7810983
    Abstract: An exemplary optical plate includes at least one transparent plate unit. The transparent plate unit includes a light output surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of enclosing V-shaped protrusions, a plurality of spherical protrusions, and a lamp-receiving portion. The light output surface is opposite to the bottom surface. The spherical protrusions are formed on the light output surface. The enclosing V-shaped protrusions are formed on the bottom surface. The lamp-receiving portion is defined in the bottom surface. A backlight module using the present optical plate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7810959
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a light guide plate, a light source and a ventilating tube. The light guide plate includes a light exiting surface and a light incident surface adjacent the light exiting surface. The light source includes a plurality of light emitting diodes facing the light incident surface of the light guide plate. The ventilating tube is thermally connected to the light source. The ventilating tube defines an air inlet in one first end, an air outlet in an opposite second end, and an air passage channel interconnecting the air inlet to the air outlet. The air outlet is at a higher altitude than the air inlet along a gravitational force direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Foxsemicon Integrated Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Peng Hsu, Hung-Kuang Hsu
  • Patent number: 7808576
    Abstract: The present invention provides a backlight of a liquid crystal display device having an inclination surface on a light guide plate and preventing a breakage of a liquid crystal panel, wherein light which leaks from the inclination surface is made to return to the light guide plate and the adhesiveness of the light guide plate and a flexible printed circuit board is increased. In a liquid crystal display device having a backlight which radiates light to a liquid crystal panel, LEDs are formed on a light guide plate formed on the backlight as light emitting elements. Between the plurality of light emitting elements, a projecting portion of the light guide plate is formed, and a reflection member is formed on an adhesive sheet which adheres a projection member and a flexible printed circuit board to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignees: Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Hitachi Display Devices, Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Takahashi, Hiroshi Nakamoto, Hidehiro Hanada
  • Publication number: 20100246210
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Yuji Yashiro
  • Patent number: 7800711
    Abstract: A backlight unit comprises a reflecting plate, a light guide plate disposed over the reflecting plate, and a plurality of optic films disposed over the light guide plate. The backlight unit further comprises a lamp horizontally spaced apart from the light guide plate, and a reflecting film corresponding to an upper portion of a space between the light guide plate and the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: LG. Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Kun Kim
  • Patent number: 7800708
    Abstract: A backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light guide formed from a plurality of segments. Each segment has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. The plurality of segments are arranged substantially in parallel with the second surfaces transmitting light in substantially the same direction to provide backlighting for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display. A light source is disposed along only one of the first side or second side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from either the first side or second side. Each segment light source is selectively turned on and off in a particular pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Brott, Dale L. Ehnes, David J. Lundin, Michael A. Meis, John C. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7791683
    Abstract: A backlight system for a liquid crystal display includes a substantially planar, refractive waveguide having a first major face and a second major face opposite the first major face. The waveguide includes a viewable region corresponding to a viewable area of the liquid crystal display. The system further includes a light source positioned proximate to the second major face and within the viewing region for producing light. An injection feature is proximate to one or more of the second major face and the first major face and within the viewing region to optically couple the light into the waveguide such that the light becomes waveguided light. A plurality of extraction features is proximate to one or more of the second major face and the first major face and within the viewing region to optically couple the waveguided light out of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Brent D. Larson, Dennis M. Davey, Elias S. Haim
  • Publication number: 20100220496
    Abstract: In a display apparatus and a method of assembling the display apparatus according to one or more embodiments, a printed circuit board is electrically connected to a lower end of a display panel and disposed in a rear surface of a container. A flexible printed circuit board is contained in the container, and light sources are mounted on the flexible printed circuit board. A connection film electrically connecting the printed circuit board and the flexible printed circuit board is disposed on a bottom portion of the container, and one end of the connection film passes through a fixing hole formed through the bottom portion. The one end of the connection film is electrically connected to the printed circuit board disposed in the rear surface. Thus, movement of the connection film may be limited by an inner wall defining the fixing hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Kwan-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 7787076
    Abstract: As a shape on a cross-section vertical to a longitudinal direction (L) of the hot cathode fluorescent lamp (20a (20b)), a light source rear side reflecting plane (62) of a reflector (60) includes a mound portion (623). The mound portion (623) is defined by two recessed inclining planes and protrudes toward a hot cathode fluorescent lamp (20a (20b)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Tohoku University
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Yasuyuki Shirai, Kiwamu Takehisa
  • Patent number: 7780306
    Abstract: A light guide plate is provided. The light guide plate includes a light source hole part configured to accommodate a light source, the light source hole part provided at a back surface on the opposite side of a light emitting surface; and a recessed part provided on the side of said light emitting surface opposed to the light source hole part. The recessed part has, at the bottom portion of the recessed part, a slant surface inclined against the light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsunari Hoshi
  • Patent number: 7782223
    Abstract: A light emitting diode warning device is provided capable of acting as a roadway warning flare or as a flashing warning marker the device being portable and rechargeable and presenting warning lights in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction with the horizontal illumination being observable over 360 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventors: Steve Lang, Barry Siskind
  • Publication number: 20100208493
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a plurality of quantum dots on at least one of a surface of the light guide plate and inside the light guide plate, wherein the plurality of quantum dots emit light having a different wavelength than a light incident thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byoung-lyong CHOI, Hong-seok LEE, Jong-min KIM, Eun-kyung LEE
  • Patent number: 7777833
    Abstract: A double-side illumination apparatus includes a light source, an isotropic light guide plate including an incident plane on which light emitted from the light source is incident, an opposite plane facing the incident plane, and upper and lower surfaces through which the light is out-coupled. Isotropic micro-structures are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the isotropic light guide plate, respectively, and first and second anisotropic layers are respectively formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the isotropic light guide plate so as to completely cover the isotropic micro-structures. Herein, the first and second anisotropic layers have different refractive indices with respect to light having first and second polarization components that are perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-mo Hwang, Dong-ho Wee, Seung-ho Nam
  • Patent number: 7771099
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing having a half-mirror region molded into the housing, and a light source disposed within the electronic device and configured to transmit light through the half-mirror region to an exterior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Massaro, William Adam Gralewski, Brittany Davis
  • Patent number: 7771100
    Abstract: A surface light source apparatus including a point light source, a light guide plate which spreads light introduced from the point light source into a planar shape to output the light from a light outgoing plane, and a light blocking member which covers parts of the point light source and the light outgoing plane of the light guide plate. A gap shielding member is projected toward the light outgoing plane from a surface on a side facing the light outgoing plane of the light blocking member. At least a portion facing the light outgoing plane in the gap shielding member is made of a material having a light blocking property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Takako Yamamoto, Masafumi Danno, Mamoru Yabe, Gen Sakai, Yoshihiro Ueno
  • Patent number: 7771102
    Abstract: A thinner and larger planar lighting device is achieved without increasing the number of light sources and holding the power consumption to a minimum. The LED chips on the light sources are arrayed at an array density varying according to the position of each of the light entrance planes of the light guide plate such that the illuminance distribution as measured on along the middle of the light guide plate in a direction parallel to longitudinal direction of the light entrance planes represents a high-in-the-middle, bell-curve distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7766531
    Abstract: A display system includes a display panel and a backlight disposed behind the display panel. The backlight has a light guide and at least one light source that directs light into an edge of the light guide. The light guide comprises a front layer facing the display panel, a back layer facing away from the display panel, and a plurality of connecting members connecting the front and back layers. The spaces formed between the connecting members and the upper and the first and second layers are referred to as flutes. Light from the light source may propagate along the flutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Susan E. Anderson, Mark D. Gehlsen, James T. Richard
  • Patent number: 7766498
    Abstract: An illuminator for a display is provided that includes a light guide plate to substantially cover a viewable portion of the display, and a thin film light-emitting source. Light from the thin film light-emitting source is directed into an edge of the light guide plate to provide light for the viewable portion of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Sampsell
  • Patent number: 7766532
    Abstract: A light guide (3) for a surface light source used to constitute a surface light source in combination with a primary light source (1) and guiding light emitted from the primary light source (1). The light guide (3) has a light incident end face (31) on which the light emitted from the primary light source (1) impinges, a light exit face (33) from which guided light exits, and a rear surface (34) on the opposite side. A plurality of prism arrays (34a) extending in a direction traversing the light incident end face (31) are formed on at least one of the light exit face (33) and the rear surface (34), and each prism array (34a) has a plurality of divided top portions (34a1, 34a2) where the top is divided in the cross-section profile thereof in at least a partial region in the extending direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Ookawa, Yasushi Watanabe, Yoshihito Nozaki, Yoshiaki Murayama, Hiroki Matsumoto, Atsushi Saiki
  • Patent number: 7762704
    Abstract: An edge-lit panel features extractor patterns that produce uniform illumination. The effective density of extractor pattern pixels is adjusted to achieve uniform illumination. A method of adjusting the effective pixel density of extractor pattern pixels to achieve uniform illumination entails adjusting areas of darkness of a grayscale image, then producing a binary image by dithering the grayscale image, and applying an extractor pattern corresponding to the binary image to a surface of the panel. The extractor pixels correspond to pixels of the binary image derived from a dithered grayscale image, with the darkness of the grayscale image increasing with distance from the light source. Effective pixel density is increased to compensate for attenuated output in dim areas. By adjusting gray shading darkness of a grayscale image, pixel density can be adjusted to achieve uniform light emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Bryter Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Brychell
  • Patent number: 7762703
    Abstract: A heads-up display comprises a monochrome display device for generating an image and an optical device for generating a virtual image from the image of the display device. The monochrome display device comprises a display and a backlight for illuminating the display from its backside. The backlight comprises a first light source emitting light of a first color, a second light source emitting light of a second color, a first light guide coupled to the first light source, and a second light guide coupled to the second light source. The first and second light guides are disposed in such close juxtaposition behind the display so that they illuminate together the entire backside of the display and illuminate a first region of the display associated with the first light guide with the first color and a second region of the display associated with the second light guide with the second color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Aiko Böhme, Peter Brandt, Heiko Charle
  • Patent number: 7758227
    Abstract: An enhanced light fixture containing a volumetric, anisotropic diffuser to control the spatial luminance uniformity and angular spread of light from the light fixture is disclosed. The anisotropic 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 anisotropic diffuser contains one or more regions of asymmetrically shaped 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, asymmetric 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 anisotropic 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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Fusion Optix, Inc.
    Inventor: Zane Coleman
  • Patent number: 7760284
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a liquid crystal panel; light sources; a light guide plate, opposed to the light sources, for guiding light emitted from the light sources to the liquid crystal panel; a flexible printed circuit board electrically connected to the liquid crystal panel; and a housing accommodating the liquid crystal panel and the light guide plate. The flexible printed circuit board is fixed to the rear face of the light guide plate in such a state that the flexible printed circuit board is curved. The liquid crystal panel is fixed to the housing with a light-shielding double-faced tape placed outside a display region including a sub-region containing the light sources. The light sources are spaced from the light-shielding double-faced tape with an adhesion-preventing member disposed therebetween or adhesion-preventing treatment is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuji Murase
  • Patent number: 7760288
    Abstract: An exemplary backlight module (20) includes a frame (21), a light guide plate (25), and a fixing member (22). The frame includes a substantially rectangular bottom plate (210), and a first, a second, and a third side walls (211, 212, 213) upwardly extending from three edges of the bottom plate. The first side wall is opposite and parallel to the third side wall. A first spacing board (214) inwardly extends from the first side wall. The first spacing board, the first side wall, and the bottom plate cooperatively define a first sliding channel. The light guide plate is accommodated in the first sliding channel of the frame. The fixing member is detachably secured to the frame such that the light guide plate is fixedly accommodated in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignees: Innocom Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Innolux Display Corp.
    Inventor: Xue-Mei Yuan
  • Patent number: 7748862
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light guide plate, a bottom chassis, a liquid crystal display panel disposed on the light guide plate to display an image, a flexible printed circuit board connected to the liquid crystal display panel and outwardly bent toward a rear surface of the bottom chassis to be fixed to the rear surface, and at least one point light source disposed at an adjacent position to an incident surface of the light guide plate. The light guide plate includes an inclined portion from a lower side of the light guide plate toward an upper side of the light guide plate. Advantageously, the liquid crystal display apparatus may prevent the occurrence of the step-difference between the point light source and the light guide plate, thereby improving light efficiency and brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hwan-Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20100165251
    Abstract: Provided are a light guiding plate for providing a background light source to a non-emission display device, a back light unit, and a microlens used therein. The microlens having a curved incline formed therein is made of a light transmitting material to reflect and refract light emitted from a light source. Here, the microlens has a polyhedral shape including a bottom face, a top face opposed to the bottom face, and a plurality of side faces formed between the bottom face and the top face, wherein at least one side face crossing a traveling direction of the light emitted from the light source among the plurality of side faces is a curved face inclined about the bottom face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Chul Jin Hwang, Jong Sun kim, Young Bae Ko, Young Moo Heo, Jong Deok Kim
  • Patent number: 7742123
    Abstract: A color-filterless liquid crystal display (LCD) having a large screen. The color-filterless LCD further including a light guide plate uniformly emitting light, which is incident from both lateral sides, through a top surface thereof; first and second light sources disposed on both the lateral sides of the light guide plate; a color separation sheet that is disposed on the top surface of the light guide plate and is adapted to separate incident light into red, green, and blue light beams and emit them at different exit angles; a liquid crystal panel having a liquid crystal layer that is divided into a plurality of pixels; and an optical element sheet that is disposed on a bottom surface of the liquid crystal panel and includes a plurality of optical elements focusing the red, green, and blue light beams separated by the color separation sheet on three different pixels that are continuously arranged, where the first and second light sources are turned on alternately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Il-yong Jung
  • Publication number: 20100149835
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a light guide plate guiding light, one or more light sources disposed on a side of the light guide plate and generating and providing the light to the light guide plate, a housing including a bottom portion and sidewall portions which each extend from the bottom portion, and accommodating the light guide plate and the light sources, and a light source cover. The light source cover includes a flat portion which contacts a top surface of the light guide plate, a height-adjusting portion which extends upward or downward from the flat portion to form a stepped shape and has the light sources installed thereunder, and fixing portions which extend from the height-adjusting portion and are fixed to a corresponding one of the sidewall portions. A centerline of the light sources is aligned with a centerline of the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joo-Woan CHO, Jae-Chang CHOI, Yong-Woo LEE
  • Patent number: 7736045
    Abstract: A plate-shaped light guide for a planar light source device that guides a light emitted from a primary light source includes a light incident end face, a light emitting face and a back surface on the opposite to the light emitting face, wherein a plurality of first elongated lenses having an average slant angle of 0.5 to 60° are continuously or intermittently formed on one of the light emitting face and the back surface, and at least a portion of a surface of each first elongated lens, or at least a portion of the other one of the light emitting face and the back surface, or at least the portion of the surface of each first elongated lens and at least the portion of the other one of the light emitting face and the back surface includes a rough surface having an average slant angle of 0.1 to 8°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyoshi Yamashita, Yasuko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7738053
    Abstract: A backlight unit includes a light-source substrate having mounted thereon a plurality of light-emitting elements emitting illumination light; a light guide plate having a side surface with the light-source substrate attached thereto so as to receive the illumination light from the light-emitting elements, the light guide plate also having a first surface extending substantially perpendicular to the side surface, and a second surface; a reflective sheet attached to the first surface and reflecting the illumination light towards the second surface; and an optical sheet layer attached to the second surface and including a plurality of stacked optical sheets. The side surface has a reflective portion that reflects at least a part of the illumination light. The at least a part of the illumination light to be reflected at the reflective portion is incident on the reflective portion at an incidence angle equal to or above a critical angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Eigo Kubota
  • Publication number: 20100141865
    Abstract: A backlight unit preventing the lift-off of an FPC is disclosed. The backlight unit includes a plurality of light emitting diodes configured to emit light, a flexible printed circuit board on which the plurality of light emitting diodes are mounted, a light guide plate configured to be parallel to the plurality of light emitting diodes, a support main formed of a mold having a rectangular frame shape and configured to accommodate the plurality of light emitting diodes and the light guide plate, and a fixing tape configured to fix the flexible printed circuit board, the support main, and the light guide plate, wherein one side of the fixing tape is attached to the flexible printed circuit board, the other side of the fixing tape is attached to the support main and the light guide plate, and a “T” shape structure is formed between the plurality of light emitting diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Myung Woo JUNG
  • Publication number: 20100142223
    Abstract: A backlight is provided for illuminating an at least partially transmissive display. The backlight includes a light source. A light guide receives the light from an edge surface and guides the light by total internal reflection. Groove structures which are located on at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide permit redistribution of light around obstacles that may be present within the light guide structure, thereby maintaining brightness uniformity of the backlight or illumination panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: James Rowland SUCKLING, Tong Zhang, David James Montgomery, Ioannis Papakonstantinou
  • Publication number: 20100141922
    Abstract: There is disclosed a illumination optical apparatus for illuminating a second surface optically conjugate with a first surface via a reflection type original plate which can be arranged on the first surface, the illumination optical apparatus comprising: a first partial field stop arranged to define a first outer edge of a illumination region which is to be formed on the second surface, in order to limit a light beam traveling toward the first surface; and a second partial field stop arranged to define a second outer edge of the illumination region, in order to limit a light beam reflecting from the reflection type original plate which can be arranged on the first surface, wherein a first distance between the first partial field stop and the first surface is set to be larger than a second distance between the second partial field stop and the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Hideki KOMATSUDA
  • Publication number: 20100142224
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a light discharge surface, a light diffusing surface, a light incident surface, and a plurality of scattering dots. The light diffusing surface is located opposite to the light discharge surface. The light diffusing surface has a first part and a second part. The first part is adjacent to a light source. The light incident surface intersects with the light discharge surface and the light diffusing surface. The scattering dots within the first part are arranged in the form of a plurality of concentric arcs, and the scattering dots within the second part are arranged in the form of a plurality of lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicants: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: He ZHANG, Jun ZHU, Qiao-Feng TAN, Guo-Fan JIN
  • Publication number: 20100142222
    Abstract: A layer having a refractive index less than that of a light guide can be used as a refractive layer, rather than a reflective layer, for increasing light output. The effect is improved if the refractive layer is patterned to correspond to light extracting features on the surface of the light guide. The refractive layer and the light extracting features are on opposed surfaces of the light guide. The refracting layer can be deposited from ink at relatively low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: World Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Mahyar Vahabzadeh
  • Patent number: 7731409
    Abstract: An illumination device for use in display devices produces a spatial pattern of light at different wavelengths using multiple light sources and waveguides. Each light source emits light at a different wavelength. The waveguides define optical apertures that are spatially arranged in a predetermined pattern, and each waveguide is optically coupled to one of the light sources to produce the spatial pattern of light at wavelengths corresponding to the predetermined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ken A. Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20100134999
    Abstract: A display panel and a light source device used therein are provided. The display panel includes a light-guide thin-film circuit substrate, a light source and a polarizing layer. The light-guide thin-film circuit substrate has a light entrance end and a light exit top surface, and the light source is disposed corresponding to the light entrance end. The polarizing layer is disposed on the light-guide thin-film circuit substrate and parallels the light exit top surface of the light-guide thin-film circuit substrate. The light produced by the light source enters the circuit substrate through the light entrance end, guided and transmitted through the circuit substrate, and then leaves the circuit substrate through the light exit top surface and enters the polarizing layer. The light after passing through the polarizing layer is turned into a polarized light having flat light source effect as a backlight source for the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsin-Tao Huang, Deng-Kuen Shiau, Chun-Chi Hsu, Chun-Chung Hsiao, Mao-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 7728924
    Abstract: An exemplary backlight module (2) includes a light guide plate (21) and a light source (23). The light guide plate includes a main body, a protrusion (217) extending from an end of the main body, a main light emitting surface (211), and a light incident surface (215) at the end of the main body. Wherein one side of the protrusion forms a part of the light emitting surface, another side (2171) of the protrusion is adjacent to the light incident surface. The protrusion and the light incident surface cooperatively form an accommodating space. The light source is substantially received in the accommodating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Innolux Display Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Cheng Cheng
  • Patent number: 7726819
    Abstract: A structure for protecting a rod integrator that is used for a projection display apparatus is provided. The structure has: a protecting tube for the rod integrator, the protecting tube accommodating the rod integrator therein, wherein the protecting tube has openings which are defined at positions that face a light incident surface and a light exiting surface of the rod integrator, respectively; and a light shield plate that is provided between the opening and a light source for emitting light to the rod integrator, the opening facing the light incident surface of the rod integrator, wherein the light shield plate has an opening for allowing light to pass therethrough so that the light is incident on the rod integrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: NEC ViewTechnology, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eisaku Shouji
  • Patent number: RE41566
    Abstract: The liminance within the viewing angle of an LCD device is increased by using an optical film of transparent material. The film has a first surface having a wave structure including a plurality of isosceles triangle prisms arranged side-by-side, and a second surface having an optically rough structure for performing diffuse transmission. The film may also have a first surface having a structure including a plurality of quadrangular prisms arranged side-by-side, and a second surface having an optically rough structure for performing diffuse transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Masaru Suzuki, Fumihisa Hanzawa