Light Guide Patents (Class 362/615)
  • Publication number: 20130021559
    Abstract: When first grooves are formed by irradiating a lower surface facing a light outgoing surface of a light guide plate for an illuminating device with laser beams, an outer circumferential region is firstly irradiated with the laser beams to form second grooves. Then, the second grooves are inspected. Next, irradiation conditions of the laser beams are adjusted based on an inspection result of the second grooves, irradiation positions of the laser beams are linearly displaced from formation positions of the second grooves, and formation of the first grooves in the scattering reflection region is then started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi MOMOSE, Nobutaka URANO
  • Publication number: 20130021822
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical waveguide plate having a first flat side (2), a second flat side (4), which is parallel to the first flat side, and an end face (6). The end face (6) is provided for coupling in light, and the second flat side (4) is provided for coupling out the light coupled in via the end face (6). The first flat side (2) has structure elements (8) that serve for coupling out the light and comprise phosphorus. In this way, the phosphorus can be arranged at such a spatial distance from a corresponding light source (10), serving for coupling in the light via the end face (6), that heating of the phosphorus that possibly has an adverse effect, caused by the operation of the light source (10), can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Zumtobel Lighting GmbH
    Inventor: Rebekka Wimmer
  • Patent number: 8358266
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kasra Khazeni, Manish Kothari, Gang Xu, Ion Bita, Kollengode S. Narayanan
  • Publication number: 20130016527
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide for an electronically addressable display (such as an LCD) that mixes optical signals from a plurality of emitters, and mixes these signals to produce, for positions on the display, position-unique signals. A stylus or other receiving device may determine its position relative to the electronically addressable display by analyzing the position-unique signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geahgan
  • Patent number: 8353613
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byoung-Iyong Choi, Hong-seok Lee, Jong-min Kim, Eun-kyung Lee
  • Publication number: 20130010497
    Abstract: A display device includes: a first chassis including a bottom surface, and a side wall which extends from an edge of the bottom surface; a light guide plate in the first chassis; a first fixing member which overlaps the side wall of the first chassis and contacts an upper surface of the light guide plate; and a first fastening member which fastens the first fixing member to the side wall of the first chassis. The first chassis includes a groove which extends through the side wall of the first chassis, the light guide plate includes a first protrusion which protrudes from an edge of the light guide plate and extends into the groove, and the first fixing member contacts an upper surface of the first protrusion of the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Sang Lee, Jin Seo, Hyung Jin Kim, Joong-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8342729
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Liang-Kang Chang
  • Publication number: 20120320631
    Abstract: A cover includes a molded cover body and a light guide board molded so as to be integral with the cover body. The cover body defines a mounting hole for mounting a keypad or keyboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicants: FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED, SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: NAI-LIN YANG, HAI-BO LI, WEI GONG, MIN ZHUO
  • Patent number: 8333496
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 8333484
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing, a display module received in the housing, and a light source device received in the housing. The light source device includes a light guiding unit, a light reflecting unit, and stimulated radiation medium positioned between the light guiding unit and the light reflecting unit. Outside light arrives at the medium through the light guiding unit and stimulates the medium to emit light, and the light emitted by the medium is reflected by the light reflecting unit to emit from the light guiding unit and illuminate the display module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Tao Zhang
  • Patent number: 8334942
    Abstract: A backlight device and a liquid crystal display are provided. A liquid crystal display apparatus including a direct backlight device which has an LED assembled into a light-guiding plate and in which an brightness uniformity is controlled or improved is provided by controlling or improving the brightness uniformity. A backlight device 10 includes a light emitting diode 21 as a light source assembled into a light-guiding plate 30, in which an edge portion 32 on the bottom surface 30B side of a concave portion 31 in a light-guiding plate 30, where the light emitting diode 21 is assembled, is formed at to have the shape of an inclined or curved surface that has an angle except a right angle with respect to the bottom surface 30B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tomio Aoki
  • Patent number: 8334945
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignees: Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 8330385
    Abstract: A light bar system for a vehicle compartment includes a circuit board having a plurality of capacitive-type, user-activated switches, an electrical power source coupled to the circuit board, a light emitting diode (LED) coupled to the circuit board, and a light bar affixed to the circuit board. The user-activated switches are coupled to a vehicle accessory to control the level of operation of the vehicle accessory. The most recently actuated one of the user-actuated switches is detected by the circuit board and the circuit board provides a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal to the LED with a duty cycle of the PWM signal based on the most recently actuated switch. A higher duty cycle PWM signal corresponds to a higher setting of the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Jeffrey Singer, Denis Patrick Igoe
  • Patent number: 8330595
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a functional and ornamental vehicle accessory are provided. The vehicle accessory includes a housing and a mounting mechanism for coupling the accessory to a vehicle. The vehicle accessory can also include a light source or light conducting member. Wiring for electrically connecting the light source can be included such that the vehicle accessory can illuminate during a variety of vehicle functions. The vehicle accessory can also operate as a communication hub for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Rajiv Lal
    Inventor: Rajiv Lal
  • Publication number: 20120307519
    Abstract: A planar light source apparatus includes a point light source and a light guide plate shaped like a flat plate with a rectangular shape in a plan view. The light guide plate includes an output surface confronting an opening portion, a pair of second side surfaces opposed to each other, and a hole opening in a non-output surface and formed near one of the first side surfaces at a position where the point light source is to be arranged. Each of the pair of second side surfaces is at least partially configured as a prism whose ridge line extends in a direction perpendicular to the output surface and whose cross-section, when sectioned in a direction parallel to the output surface, has a sawtooth-like shape in which concavity and convexity are repeated. A light of the point light source can be efficiently uniformized in the light guide plate, and thus unevenness of brightness can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiji Sakai
  • Publication number: 20120307520
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an input device with luminous patterns including an input interface and a backlight module. The backlight module includes a light source and a light guide plate. The light guide plate has a predetermined shading rate and at least one pattern formed on the bottom surface of the light guide plate. When the light source is turned off, the light passing through the light guide plate is too weak to show the pattern. When the light source is turned on, the luminous pattern is shown. The light guide plate is made from a mixture of transparent plastic particles and light absorption particles, and the pattern is formed of micro structures of light guide. The present invention provides the advantages of increasing the light source utilization rate, reducing costs, simplifying the manufacture process, improving the shading uniformity, reducing the thickness of input device and decreasing abrasion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventor: Chung-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8322904
    Abstract: A backlight unit is provided that may include a plurality of optical assemblies arranged in a matrix form, and a cover to receive the optical assemblies. Each optical assembly may separately include: a light emitting module having a plurality of light emitting devices, a light guide plate, and a cover provided over a portion of the light guide plate. The optical assemblies may include a first optical assembly, a second optical assembly and a third optical assembly. A top surface of the second optical assembly may be spaced from a top surface of the first optical assembly in a first direction by a first interval, and a top surface of the third optical assembly may be spaced from the top surface of the first optical assembly in the second direction by a second interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kum Tae Lee, Min Sang Kim, Moon Jeong Kim, Sung Young Park, Jeong Hwan Kim
  • Publication number: 20120300497
    Abstract: Light guides and backlight systems are disclosed that include one or more groups of geometric light redirectors whose arrangement and/or orientation across the surface of a light guide varies to improve light emission uniformity and to reduce visual artifacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Je Hong Kim, Jignesh Gandhi
  • Publication number: 20120299913
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical valve or light valve for providing large area collimated illumination from localized light sources, and system and method thereof for 2D, 3D, and/or autosteroscopic displays. An optical valve may include a stepped structure, in which the steps include separated extraction features which may be optically hidden to light propagating in a first direction. Light propagating in a second direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the optical valve. Such controlled illumination may provide for efficient, multi-user autostereoscopic displays as well as improved 2D display functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: ReaID Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Robinson, Graham John Woodgate, Jonathan Harrold
  • Patent number: 8314900
    Abstract: A backlight module that includes a light guide plate, a point light source having a light emitting surface, a first brightness enhancement film disposed above the light guide plate, and a second brightness enhancement film disposed between the light guide plate and the first brightness enhancement film is provided. The light guide plate has a rectangular pre-display area. A reference line intersects a margin of the rectangular pre-display area in 45 degrees. A normal of the light emitting surface intersects the reference line in a first included angle with ±18 degrees based on the reference line. The first brightness enhancement film has first prism structures extended in a first extending direction intersecting the normal in a second included angle with ±25 degrees based on the light emitting surface. The second brightness enhancement film is disposed between the light guide plate and the first brightness enhancement film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventors: Zhi-Ting Ye, Chang-Wei Yu, Nien-Ying Yang, Kuo-Jui Huang, Ying-Cheng Shih
  • Patent number: 8314901
    Abstract: Disclosed are a backlight unit and a display device. The backlight unit includes a bottom cover including first and second longer sides and first and second shorter sides, a light emitting module disposed on at least one of the first and second longer sides and the first and second shorter sides in the bottom cover, a light guide plate having at least a part disposed on the light emitting module in the bottom cover, an optical sheet on the light guide plate, a support member connected to the bottom cover and having at least a part disposed on the optical sheet, and a top cover disposed on the support member and connected to the bottom cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hoon Lee, Young Bae Jang
  • Publication number: 20120287670
    Abstract: A light source module of the present invention is configured such that there is a through hole (23) in one longitudinal end portion of a light guide (21) that constitutes a light guide plate, into which through hole (23) a positioning pin (24) for positioning an LED light source (12) and the light guide (21) fits. Further, a guide (9) is provided to the other end portion of the light guide (21), which guide (9) restrains the light guide (21) in a direction of a short side but does not restrain the light guide (21) in a direction of a long side. This makes it possible to provide a light source module that can reduce warping and cracking caused by expansion of a light guide, and an electronic apparatus including the light source module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Ishizaka, Kazuya Ikuta, Eiji Kurimoto, Sumito Nishioka, Keiji Sakai, Hirotsugu Matoba, Takeshi Takayama
  • Patent number: 8308335
    Abstract: A light emitting module comprising a light-guide plate, a light source, and a light modulating film is provided. The light-guide plate has a light emitting surface and a light receiving surface. The light source is located at a side corresponding to the light receiving surface. The light modulating film is disposed on the light emitting surface. The light modulating film has a plurality of protruding bars located at a side away from the light emitting surface wherein each protruding bar has a vertex angle from 120° to 178°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventors: Zhi-Ting Ye, Kuo-Jui Huang
  • Patent number: 8310620
    Abstract: A surface light source device has a reflector plate, a light guide plate placed on an upper surface of the reflector plate, the light guide plate including a light guide plate main body having a light outgoing area, and a light introducing portion provided continuously from an end of the light guide plate main body, the light introducing portion having an upper surface side projected from an upper surface of the light guide plate main body in such a manner as to have a maximum thickness greater than a thickness of the light guide plate main body, a light source disposed such that light emitted therefrom is introduced into the light guide plate from a light incidence surface of the light introducing portion, a frame-like member having a uniform thickness, the frame-like member being adhesively applied to the upper surface of the reflector plate in such a manner as to enclose the light guide plate and the light source, a wiring substrate mounted at a lower surface thereof with the light source, the wiring subst
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Mamoru Yabe
  • Patent number: 8305515
    Abstract: Provided are a backlight unit and a display device having the same. The backlight unit includes a case having an opening, at least one lamp assembly disposed on a side surface of the case and including a light source, an optical transreflective unit on the case, the optical transreflective unit transmitting a portion of first light passing through the opening and reflecting a portion of second light generated from the light source, and an optical sheet including a first diffusion unit on the optical transreflective unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho Young Jeong, Deuk Su Lee, Jun Hyeok Yu, Jae Jung Han, Mi Young Do, Tae Han Kim
  • Patent number: 8306643
    Abstract: A method for designing a light guide plate includes the following steps. A raw light guide plate having a light input surface and a light output surface is provided. A region of the light input surface is divided into several annuluses according to a luminance distribution E(?,?) of the light output surface. A scattering dots density D(?,?) of each annulus on the light input surface is figured out. A total number N of the scattering dots of each annulus on the light input surface are gained, and the scattering dots is randomly distributed in the each annulus defined on the light input surface, whereby a designed light guide plate is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yan Zhao, Jun Zhu, He Zhang, Guo-Fan Jin
  • Patent number: 8297818
    Abstract: An optical system utilizing a light pipe in which light travels by total internal reflection (TIR) accurately controls the light exiting the pipe. The system achieves accurate control of the reflected light by selectively extracting light from a limited area of the light pipe. The configuration of the reflectors used for the selective extraction of the light determines the nature of the output light. The reflectors are preferably located on an output side of the light pipe. All light output by the system is directed by the reflectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian Edward Richardson
  • Patent number: 8297829
    Abstract: A mobile device is provided comprising a light guide modified at a plurality of locations to let light guided in the light guide at least partially escape. Furthermore, methods and apparatuses for manufacturing such mobile devices are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Petter Ostlund
  • Patent number: 8297765
    Abstract: A microstructural polarized light-guide device comprises an unpolarized light source module, a subwavelength polarization beam splitter structure and a polarization conversion module, the unpolarized light source module comprises a light-guide plate and a light source at the edge of the light-guide plate, the material of the light-guide plate is PMMA with the characteristic of high transparency, the surface of the light-guide plate has a plurality of extraction patterns, the polarization beam splitter structure is a nano-scale structure and comprises a dielectric nanograting layer and a metallic nanograting layer, and the dielectric nanograting layer and the metallic nanograting layer are vertically stacked with each other, the dielectric nanograting layer is integrated with a surface opposite to the surface with the plurality of extraction patterns, the polarization conversion module is disposed on the surface with the plurality of extraction patterns of the light-guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Cheng-Huan Chen, Cheng-Kuo Sung, Chien-Chuan Chen, Chia-Meng Chen
  • Patent number: 8297828
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light guide panel capable of distributing light beams incident from a light source to an entire surface thereof. The light guide panel has at least two through holes formed in a path of the incident light beams, apart in a predetermined interval from a light incident surface. The through holes are formed perpendicular to the path of the incident light beams, and lined along the light incident surface of the light guide panel. The light guide panel according to the present invention can improve uniformity of incident light without increasing the number or size of the light source, thereby distributing the incident light in a wider angle and decreasing a light mixing region. The light guide panel is produced in a simple manufacturing process, reducing the manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung LED Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Jin Park, In Geol An
  • Patent number: 8292473
    Abstract: A light-emitting panel comprising a plate-like translucent member (1) having a light-emitting front side (3) and, parallel thereto, a rear side (4) which has a plurality of cavities (2). Light can be coupled out by specular reflection from surfaces (8) of the cavities (2). Each cavity (2) has a side wall (7) and a bottom (8), which extends at an angle to said rear side (4). Each cavity (2) comprises a filler element (10) which is in optical contact with a major portion of the side wall (7) of the cavity (2), while there is a distance between the filler element (10) and the bottom (8) of the cavity (2) in order to form a closed space (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Petrus Adrianus Josephus Holten
  • Publication number: 20120262644
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) and a backlight module thereof is disclosed. The backlight module comprises a backplate and a light guide plate. The backplate comprises a bottom wall and a sidewall disposed at a periphery of the bottom wall and extending perpendicular to the bottom wall. The light guide plate is supported on the bottom wall. At least one positioning bent-piece is disposed to be bent from the bottom wall, and the positioning bent-piece abuts against a side edge of the light guiding plate to position the light guide plate. In this way, by using the positioning bent-piece disposed on the bottom wall of the backplate to position the light guide plate, the need of disposing an additional positioning structure on the light guide plate is eliminated, so the product yield of light guide plates can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICC TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Yanxue Zhang, Yi-Cheng Kuo
  • Publication number: 20120262945
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat radiating printed circuit board (PCB) and a chassis assembly having the same, the heat-radiating PCB characterized by: a circuit pattern unit; and one or more mounting units bent from the circuit pattern unit to be fixed at a chassis providing a lightguide path of a backlight unit, where the circuit pattern unit includes a driving unit divided into a plurality of driving regions and at least one or more electrodes for supplying a power to the driving unit, and where, the mounting unit is arranged with an electrode line for connecting the driving unit and electrodes other than the electrode arranged on the circuit pattern unit, such that dimming and scanning functions can be performed whereby illumination can be finely controlled, the width of the circuit pattern unit can be narrowed and damage to the PCB caused by heat can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Inhee Cho, Jaeman Park, Hyungyu Park, Eunjin Kim, Hyuksoo Lee, Haehyung Lee, Jungho Lee
  • Patent number: 8287172
    Abstract: The planar illumination device includes: a light guide plate formed by arranging a plurality of unit light guide plates each having a light emission surface as a front surface and a reflection surface as a back surface so that facing end surfaces of adjacent unit light guide plates of the plurality of unit light guide plates are closely arranged; one or two or more light sources arranged on a first side surface, in a direction where the plurality of unit light guide plates are arranged, of each of the plurality of unit light guide plates; and a recessed-and-projected structure arranged on a second side surface, facing the light sources, of each of the plurality of unit light guide plates and having an edge parallel to a normal to the light emission surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuro Kuwayama
  • Patent number: 8287169
    Abstract: The present invention provides a backlight capable of suppressing loss of light from an invisible light source and a displaying/imaging apparatus using the same. The backlight includes: a light guide plate having a light emitting face and a rear face opposed to the light emitting face; a visible light source disposed on a side face of the light guide plate; an invisible light source disposed on a side face of the light guide plate; a first reflection film disposed on the rear face side of the light guide plate, reflecting light from the visible light source, and transmitting light from the invisible light source; and a second reflection film disposed on the rear face side of the light guide plate and reflecting light from at least the invisible light source out of the visible light source and the invisible light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ying Bao Yang, Takafumi Suzuki, Susumu Kimura, Masaru Higuchi, Masaki Kondoh
  • Publication number: 20120257405
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a backlight module and a light guide plate (LGP) fixture thereof, wherein the LGP fixture comprises a LGP, a heat dissipation base and a plurality of clamps. The heat dissipation base is planar and correspondingly disposed below the LGP. The heat dissipation base is installed with the clamps on sides of the LGP. Each of the clamps has a bottom portion, and a retaining plate and at least one upright plate are vertically formed from the bottom portion. The upright plate and the retaining plate are clamped on the heat dissipation base, and the clamps are used to position the LGP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Lifeng Wang, Yajun Yu
  • Publication number: 20120257136
    Abstract: This display includes a display module including a substrate mounted with a light source, a light guide guiding light received from the light source and a platelike member of a metal radiating heat generated by the light source. The platelike member integrally includes a substrate mounting portion, a first heat radiation portion extending from a first end portion of the substrate mounting portion oppositely to the light guide and a second heat radiation portion extending from a second end portion of the substrate mounting portion oppositely to the first heat radiation portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi HORIUCHI
  • Patent number: 8282261
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Apple, Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey, Brandon Dean Slack, Reese T. Cutler
  • Patent number: 8282257
    Abstract: An apparatus for lighting display objects in a gaming machine is described herein. In one embodiment, a gaming machine includes a display object to be viewed and a light source to emit light. The gaming machine also includes a light-guiding panel. The light-guiding panel includes an edge to receive the light from the light source and a surface through which the light is reflected. In one embodiment, the surface includes a window through which the display object can be viewed. In one embodiment, the light is substantially uniformly reflected through all but the window of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8282260
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel, a light source and a plurality of a light guiding plate. The LGP includes light incident, counter, light emitting and rear surfaces. The counter and rear surfaces are respectively opposite to the light incident and light emitting surfaces. The light emitting surface includes an ineffective light emitting area making contact with the light incident surface and an effective light emitting area connecting the ineffective light emitting area with the counter surface. The counter surface of a first light guiding plate is disposed overlapping the light incident surface of a second light guiding plate along a first direction, so that the rear surface partially overlaps with the effective light emitting area of the second light guiding plate, and the light guiding plates collectively form a light guiding plate array along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heu-Gon Kim, Byung-Seo Yoon, Taek-Sun Shin, In-Sun Hwang
  • Publication number: 20120251183
    Abstract: A light irradiation element includes a cavity through which light passes and a translucent light conduit bordering the cavity, allowing light to pass therethrough and transmitting the light passed through the cavity, the light irradiation element being disposed along a longitudinal direction of an image bearing body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and directing the light passed through the light conduit to irradiate the image bearing body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ichirou KAWAHARA, Masaki SUTO, Hiroshi SHOKAKU
  • Patent number: 8279372
    Abstract: A planar light-emitting device comprises a plurality of light-emitting units each including a lightguide plate and arranged adjacent to each other. Each lightguide plate has an upper surface as a light-exiting surface, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and a peripheral side surface extending between the peripheral edges of the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein a light-entrance surface is defined by a part of the peripheral side surface. The light-entrance surface has a first protruding portion extending from and along the light-entrance surface and an opposite surface opposing the light-entrance surface has a second protruding portions extending from and along the opposite surface. In each adjacently disposed pair of light-emitting units, the first protruding portion of the first light-emitting unit abuts against the second protruding portion of the second light-emitting unit. The light source is disposed underneath the abutting first and second protruding portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Shimura, Taku Kumasaka
  • Publication number: 20120243259
    Abstract: A light guide plate for a backlight comprises a light transmissive medium. The light transmissive medium preferably has two pairs of opposing sides and a top surface. Also provided is a plurality of interleaved regions of elongated light extraction features on the top surface of the light transmissive medium. Each light extraction figure is configured to extract light injected into the light guide plate and into a direction away from the top surface of the light guide plate. Each elongated light extraction feature has a long dimension and a short dimension. The light extraction features in a first set of the regions are arranged with their long dimension orthogonal to the long dimension of the light extraction features in a second set of the regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: UNIPIXEL DISPLAYS, INC.
    Inventors: Ying ZHOU, Daniel K. VAN OSTRAND
  • Patent number: 8272770
    Abstract: A flat panel display uses pixels that are turned on or off by the enabling or disabling total internal reflection, TIR, of a light guide. A reflective surface directs the switched light towards the viewer. An optional mask can be employed to provide extremely high contrast ratios in low and in high ambient lighting conditions. The elements that enable TIR can be enabled quickly because of their small size and weight, resulting in a very fast switching speed. The fast switching speed allows colors to be generated and displayed in a sequential manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian Edward Richardson
  • Publication number: 20120236390
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing illumination by using a light guide to distribute light and for determining spacing between light turning features in the light guide. In one aspect, a light intensity profile along a first axis is determined and the pitch of light turning features along that first axis is varied based upon this profile, while the pitch along a second crossing axis (for example, an orthogonal axis) and the sizes of the light turning features remain unchanged. In some implementations, an apparatus includes a light guide having an array of light turning features configured to turn light from at least one light emitter. The light turning features can be non-uniformly spaced apart along a first axis such that pitches vary non-monotonically and, along a second axis that crosses the first axis, the light turning features are spaced apart with substantially the same progression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lai Wang, Marek Mienko, Ion Bita
  • Publication number: 20120236530
    Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light guide to propagate light by total internal reflection and having a light output region on a major surface thereof. The lighting assembly also includes an optical adjuster having a major surface juxtaposed with and conforming to the light guide's major surface. The optical adjuster has a first region and a second region, the first region having a light modifying characteristic. The optical adjuster and light output region are variably positionable relative to one another to selectively apportion light emitted from the light output region between the first region and the second region. In this way, light apportioned to the first region is modified by the light modifying characteristic so that light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on relative positioning of the optical adjuster and the light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Fumitomo Hide, Alexey Titov, Ian Hardcastle
  • Patent number: 8268215
    Abstract: A laminated film for a reflecting plate is provided that comprises a layer A and a layer B, the layer A comprising a polyester that comprises substantially no antimony element and preferably comprises 1 to 25 wt % of inert particles having an average particle diameter of 0.3 to 3.0 ?m and the layer B being in contact with the layer A and comprising a polyester which preferably comprises 31 to 80 wt % of inert particles having an average particle diameter of 0.3 to 3.0 ?m. This laminated film has a practically satisfactory capability of reflecting visible light, can be produced stably even if inert particles are added in high concentration, hardly has streak-like defects, and can be suitably used as a substrate for a reflecting plate for a liquid crystal display or an internally illuminating electrical billboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Teijin Dupont Films Japan Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kusume, Atsushi Oyamatsu
  • Patent number: 8267566
    Abstract: A planar lighting device comprises: a light guide plate including a concave rectangular light exit plane, two light entrance planes containing two opposite sides of the light exit plane and disposed opposite each other, two symmetrical inclined planes opposing to the light exit plane such that their distance from the light exit plane increases with the increasing distance from the two light entrance planes toward the center of the light exit plane, a curved portion connecting the two inclined planes; two light sources respectively disposed opposite the two light entrance planes for emitting light to enter the light into the light guide plate through the light entrance planes; and sliding mechanisms allowing the light sources to slide in a direction parallel to the light entrance planes of the light guide plate to absorb the expansion and contraction of the light sources along the length thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 8267567
    Abstract: A bezel assembly, which is applied to a backlight module, includes a first bezel and a second bezel. The first bezel has a first side wall and a second side wall. A first hole structure is formed on a corner between the first and second side walls. The second bezel has a third side wall. A second hole structure and a third hole structure are formed on opposite sides of the third side wall. When the first bezel is disposed in the second bezel, the third side wall can completely cover the first hole structure of the first bezel from the outside of the first bezel, and the second and third hole structures are close to the first hole structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ching-Hung Cheng, Hsin-Chang Chiang
  • Patent number: 8262273
    Abstract: An integrated light guide plate having axial directional luminance distribution has a substrate. The substrate has a light incident plane, a light emission plane and a bottom surface opposite to the light emission surface. The light incident plane has a plurality of V-cuts formed thereon to serve as prisms. The included angle of the V-cuts is between 85° and 105°. A plurality of pyramidal recesses is formed on the bottom surface of the substrate. Given the formation of the V-cuts and the pyramidal recesses, the integrated light guide plate of the present invention provides an enhanced axial luminous intensity without requiring additional diffuser sheets and prism sheets. Accordingly, the integrated light guide plate has a good directional axial luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jyh-Cheng Yu, Shao-Tang Zhang Jian