Plural Or Compound Patents (Class 362/616)
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Patent number: 8419258Abstract: A light guide plat and a backlight device are provided. The backlight device may include a guide plate include a first light guide having a first inclined plane and a second light guide having a second inclined plane facing the first inclined plane. A refractive index of the second light guide may be different from that of the first light guide. An optical device may be provided on the light guide plate. A first light emitting module may be provided at a lateral surface of the first light guide and a second light emitting module may be provided at a lateral surface of the second light guide. A reflective device may be provided below the second light guide.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jun Seok Park
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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: 8419257Abstract: A display apparatus is provided which includes a plurality of transparent plates which are disposed to be superimposed and which allow entered light to pass therethrough and allow the light to exit through an exiting surface, light sources provided for the respective transparent plates to irradiate light onto a side end surface of each of the transparent plates, and a plurality of diffusion portions, each of which is formed on a surface of each of the transparent plates facing the exiting surface, and which diffuse light from the light sources such that a position of maximum luminance of light exiting from each of the transparent plates differs between the transparent plates.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Shinpei Nagatani
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Patent number: 8414162Abstract: A light guide (11; 101; 111) comprising first and second oppositely arranged faces, an in-coupling portion (13a-f) for in-coupling of light from a light-source (12a-f; 95a-f; 102; 106a-c; 112a-f), and an out-coupling portion (15a-f; 103; 113a-f) located adjacent to the in-coupling portion (13a-f). The out-coupling portion (15a-f; 103; 113a-f) is configured to out-couple a primary light beam having a direction of propagation directed from a position in the in-coupling portion (13a-f) with a lower out-coupling efficiency than a secondary light beam having a direction of propagation directed from a position in the light guide (11; 101; 111) outside the in-coupling portion (13a-f). In this manner, a good mixing of light in the light guide can be achieved without imposing any particular requirements on the collimation of the in-coupled light.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2008Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Fetze Pijlman, Willem Lubertus Ijzerman, Hugo Johan Cornelissen, Marcellinus Petrus Carolus Michael Krijn, Ramon Pascal Van Gorkom, Oscar Hendrikus Willemsen, Michel Cornelis Josephus Marie Vissenberg
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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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Publication number: 20130082901Abstract: An interface (303) between adjacent ones of light guide sections (310) is inclined with respect to an incident surface (301) and an emission surface (302) of the light guide element (300A) so that an incident surface (311) of at least a part of the light guide sections (310) overlaps a part of a display region (202) in a liquid crystal panel (200A) and an emission surface (312) of said at least a part of the light guide sections (310) overlaps at least a part of a frame region (203) above which an image on the display region (202) is to be displayed. Furthermore, a relation 5°<?<85° is met, where ? indicates an angle between a direction of a borderline between adjacent light guide sections (310) on a plan view and a direction in which pixels (201) adjacent to the frame region (203) are aligned.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2011Publication date: April 4, 2013Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hisashi Watanabe, Shigeto Yoshida, Kentarou Imamura
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Publication number: 20130083558Abstract: A handheld computing device includes a screen to receive input from and provide graphical output to a user, a housing engaging a peripheral portion of the screen, a light source, at least one light guide to receive incident light from the light source and direct the incident light to the screen to illuminate a portion of the screen, and a light guide bracket to engage the housing and the at least one light guide, the light guide bracket maintaining a position and orientation of the light guide relative to the light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2012Publication date: April 4, 2013Applicant: Z124Inventor: Z124
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Patent number: 8408776Abstract: A backlight module includes a light guide plate, a light source disposed at a side of the light guide plate, a diffuser sheet positioned over the light guide plate but not directly contacting the light guide plate, and a light mixing space positioned between the light guide plate and the diffuser sheet so that light emitted from the light guide plate efficiently mixes in the light mixing space before entering the diffuser sheet and being emitted out of the backlight module.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.Inventor: Pang-Hsuan Liu
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Patent number: 8408777Abstract: A 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; and one or two or more light sources arranged on a 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, in which a projection section is arranged on one of facing surfaces of two adjacent unit light guide plates in the arrangement direction and a recession section in which the projection section is engaged is arranged on the other of the facing surfaces of the two adjacent unit light guide plates.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsuro Kuwayama, Hiromasa Suzuki, Motosuke Ohmi, Masaru Minami, Kanji Yokomizo
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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: 8405796Abstract: Each of light guides (2) has: a reflection surface (2e); and a light emitting surface (2c) that is opposite to the reflection surface (2e) and is not covered by a neighboring light guide (2). The light emitting surface (2c) is made up of a first emitting surface (7) and a second emitting surface (8). The first emitting surface (7) is substantially parallel with the reflection surface (2e). The second emitting surface (8) is substantially parallel with an irradiated surface. The each of the light guides (2) is provided with microprisms (9) serving as diffusing means at least in a first emitting surface region (12) in which there is the first emitting surface (7).Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2009Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takeshi Masuda, Yuhsaku Ajichi, Yukihide Kohtoku
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Patent number: 8403553Abstract: The luminous area of a lighting apparatus 10, 110, 210 with a rectangular luminous area is made up in modular fashion from individual rectangular luminous modules 1. The basic set comprises a first luminous module 11 of a first size, a second luminous module 21 of a second size, a third luminous module 31, whose length corresponds to the length of the first luminous module 11 and whose width corresponds to the width of the second luminous module 21, and a fourth luminous module 41, whose length corresponds to the width of the first luminous module 11 and whose width corresponds to the length of the second luminous module 21. By combining the luminous modules it is possible to produce backlighting for a multiplicity of display sizes.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbHInventors: Jürgen Beil, Wolfgang Lex, Andreas Stich
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Patent number: 8402647Abstract: Methods of manufacturing light panels having at least one re-entrant turning feature. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a light panel includes providing a base layer, providing a cover layer, and coupling the cover layer to the base layer to form at least one re-entrant turning feature between the base layer and the cover layer. In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a light panel includes providing a base layer, forming at least one receiving space in the base layer, providing at least one prismatic block, and coupling at least a portion of the prismatic block into the receiving space such that re-entrant turning features are formed between the prismatic block and the base layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies Inc.Inventors: Clarence Chui, Gaurav Sethi, Jonathan Charles Griffiths, Manish Kothari
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Patent number: 8403552Abstract: An apparatus for providing a multicolored illuminator for displays is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first sheet comprising a plurality of columnar illuminators stacked side by side, and a plurality of colored light sources placed along an edge of the first sheet. The plurality of columnar illuminators diffuse light generated by the plurality of colored light sources. Each columnar illuminator has a light diffuser included within it at a concentration that is different at different locations.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: I2iC CorporationInventors: Udayan Kanade, Balaji Ganapathy
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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: 8388211Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel and a light guide unit. The light guide unit includes a body portion and a support portion. The body portion includes a light outputting surface near the display panel, and the support portion is placed on the edge of the light outputting surface to support the display panel. The support portion has an inclined surface, and at least one groove is formed between the inclined surface and the display panel for accommodating glue that combines the display panel and the light guide unit. In addition to being disposed in the groove, glue may be further disposed in a gap between the display panel, a back bezel, and the light guide unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: AU Optronics CorporationInventors: Chih Wei Chen, Hsu Sheng Hsu, Jia Lang Hsu
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Patent number: 8388212Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel, at least one light emitting diode package, and at least one light guide plate. The light emitting diode package includes a frame extending in a first direction, a plurality of branches branched from the frame in a second direction, and at least two light emitting diode chips inserted between and coupled with two adjacent branches.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2011Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seung Hwan Baek, Young-keun Lee, Dongmin Yeo, Eui Jeong Kang, Yong-Hoon Kwon
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Patent number: 8376603Abstract: An input device and display apparatus with multi-light segments has been disclosed. The input device may comprise a rigid light guide layer having alignment structures that define the rigid light guide layer into multiple light segments, a plurality of first layer flexible light guide films and a plurality of second layer flexible light guide films. The alignment structures may be formed together when making the rigid light guide layer in an injection molding process. By coupling multiple light sources into each of the light guides, the display may be configured to display multiple color and multiple symbols, independently. In another embodiment, the light guide may be utilized in a display apparatus without a LCD.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Intellectual Discovery, Ltd.Inventors: Muh Fong Chung, Choon Guan Ko, Sian Tatt Lee, Fook Chuin Ng
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Patent number: 8379166Abstract: A planar light-emitting device having a plurality of light units each including a light source and a lightguide member that guides light received from the light source through an end surface serving as a light-entrance surface disposed to face the light source and that emits the light from an upper surface and two mutually opposing side surfaces after changing the optical path of the light, and further has a reflecting member having a light-reflecting surface on which the light units are disposed. The lightguide member has an elongated shape. The light units are disposed in linear arrays each in which the light units are linearly disposed in series in the elongated direction of the lightguide member. The linear arrays extend in the elongated direction of the respective lightguide members. The linear arrays extend in parallel with each other and are spaced from each other in a width direction perpendicularly intersecting the elongated direction of the lightguide members.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignees: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd., Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takashi Shimura
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Patent number: 8373820Abstract: A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device includes a reflection plate, first and second light guide plates over the reflection plate, the second light guide plate disposed between the first light guide plate and the reflection plate, wherein the first light guide plate includes first and second sections alternating with each other, and the second light guide plate includes third and fourth sections alternating with each other, the first and third sections having patterns at rear surfaces, the second and fourth sections excluding patterns, wherein the first section corresponds to the fourth section, and the second section corresponds to the third section, first and second light-emitting diode (LED) assemblies at opposite sides of the first and second light guide plates, each of the first and second LED assemblies including LEDs arranged in first and second lines, and a plurality of optical sheets over the first light guide plate, wherein the LEDs of the first lines of the first and second LED assembType: GrantFiled: December 21, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: LG Display Co. Ltd.Inventors: Sang-Hyun Lee, Dong-Hyeok Kim
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Patent number: 8371738Abstract: A backlight unit 12 includes LEDs 16, light guide plates 18, an air layer AR and a scattering structures. Each light guide plate 18 has a light entrance surface 34 and a light exit surface 36. The light entrance surface 34 faces the corresponding LED 16 and light from the LED 16 enters through the light entrance surface 34. The light exit surface 36 through which light exits is arranged along an arrangement direction in which the LED 16 and the light entrance surface 34 are arranged. The light guide plates 18 are arranged in a parallel layout so as to be parallel to the light exit surface 36 and perpendicular to the arrangement direction. The air layer AR is provided between the adjacent light guide plates 18 and has a refraction index lower than that of the light guide plates 18. The scattering structures are provided in side-edge surfaces 31a that are interfaces between the light guide plates 18 and the air layer AR. The scattering structures are configured to scatter light inside the light guide plates 18.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takaharu Shimizu
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Patent number: 8368838Abstract: A planar light-emitting device enabling more precise local dimming has a plurality of light-emitting units each including a lightguide plate and a plurality of light sources disposed successively in the lateral width direction of the light-entrance surface and adjacently facing a light-entrance surface of the lightguide plate to emit light into the lightguide plate through the light-entrance surface. The light sources are divided into a plurality of groups successively arranged in the width direction, each group including at least one light source. The lightguide plates of the light-emitting units are mutually adjacently disposed with their light-exiting surfaces being flush with each other. The planar light-emitting device has a light source output control unit that controls the outputs of the light sources for each group.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2009Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Taku Kumasaka, Daisaku Okuwaki
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Publication number: 20130010498Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide plate. The light guide plate comprises at least two daughter light guide plates and a connection member. Each daughter light guide plate disposes two locating posts respectively on two sides thereof, which can be engaged with the connection member to make the two daughter light guide plates be interconnected so that forming one large area light guide plate. The present invention also relates to a backlight display module. The light guide plate and the backlight module of the present invention has a less manufacture difficulty and a low transportation cost and can realize the use of the large area light guide plate, so that avoiding the problems of the large area light guide plate being difficult to be manufactured and having the high transportation cost in the prior art.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: Shenzhen China Star OptoelectronicsInventors: Yajun Yu, Yicheng Kuo, Lifeng Wang
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Patent number: 8350987Abstract: A backlight unit adapted to enhance brightness and reduce manufacturing time and costs is disclosed. The backlight unit includes a bottom cover with an opened upper surface, a plurality of light emission diodes arranged on an inner edge of the bottom cover, a light guide plate disposed parallel to the plurality of light emission diodes, and a diffusion sheet disposed on the light guide plate. The diffusion sheet is provided to have an overlapped area with a support main which is combined with the bottom cover. Also, a reflection material layer is formed on an upper surface of the diffusion sheet corresponding to the overlapped area.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2009Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: LG Display Co. Ltd.Inventors: Seung Hoon Yang, Yeoun Jei Jung
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Patent number: 8342731Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting device including a plurality of light source units U including at least LEDs 16 and light guide plates 18. The light source units U are arranged in one direction such that gaps S are provided between the adjacent light guide plates 18. Each light guide plate 18 has a first light exit surface 36A. The light guide plate 18 receives light from the LED 16. Light L1 exits from the first light exit surface 36A. A diffuser 15b that receives the light L1 from the first light exit surface 36A is disposed so as to face the first light exit surface 36A. Reflection sheets 24 that reflect light are disposed on an opposite side from the diffuser 15b so as to cover the gaps S. Each light guide plate 18 has a second light exit surface 36B in an edge portion that faces the gap S on the opposite side from the diffuser 15b.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takaharu Shimizu
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Publication number: 20120327307Abstract: Provided are: a light guide plate apparatus including a plurality of light guide plates arranged in parallel in which the middle part in the longitudinal direction of the light guide plates is held by a support body without blocking light diffusion in the inside of each light guide plate; a light source apparatus employing this light guide plate apparatus; a display apparatus in which the luminance distribution is homogenized in the center part of the screen; and a television receiver apparatus employing this display apparatus. A plurality of light guide plates 42 having an approximately rectangular shape and emitting light having entered through the side surface on one shorter side are supported by a support body 41, in plural lines such that the side surfaces on the longer side are facing each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2011Publication date: December 27, 2012Inventors: Shinichi Nakamura, Takaharu Kikuchi, Hideto Takeuchi, Eiji Iwata
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Patent number: 8339539Abstract: A backlight (illumination device) 2 is disclosed including: light sources (5); light guide plates (7) for causing surface emission of light from the light sources (5); and a diffusing plate (8) for diffusing light from the light guide plates (7), the diffusing plate (8) facing a light-emitting surface (7a) of each of the light guide plates (7) at a predetermined distance. The illumination device further includes at least one maintaining section between the light-emitting surface (7a) of the light guide plate (7) and the diffusing plate (8), the maintaining section (10) maintaining the predetermined distance. The maintaining section (10) is provided on either of first and second end sections of the light-emitting surface (7a) of a light guide plate (7), the first end section being closer to a corresponding light source (5), the second end section being farther from the corresponding light source (5).Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2008Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuhsaku Ajichi, Takeshi Masuda
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Patent number: 8333494Abstract: A multicolored linear light source is disclosed. In an embodiment the multicolored linear light source (100) comprises a linear light source (100) emanating light of a first spectrum, and regions of photoluminescent material (102,104,106). The light of the first spectrum interacts with regions of photoluminescent material (102,104,106) to give light of a different spectrum. The composition of different regions of photoluminescent material is different, providing light of different spectra in different regions.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2008Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: I2iC CorporationInventors: Udayan Kanade, Gaurav Kulkarni, Karthikk Sridharan, Manas Alekar, Manohar Joshi, Sanat Ganu, Balaji Ganapathy
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Patent number: 8328406Abstract: An illumination system in accordance with an embodiment hereof includes a first substantially flat waveguide for propagating and emitting light. The first waveguide may include a plurality of optical elements increasing in density from an edge to the center of the first waveguide. Light enters the first waveguide at the edge, and light is emitted from the top surface of the first waveguide. The intensity of the emitted light is substantially uniform over the top surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Oree, Inc.Inventor: Micha Zimmermann
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Patent number: 8328403Abstract: A light-guide illumination device and system comprises a light source, a light redirecting slab and a light guide slab assembly. The light redirecting slab includes a generally planar face having optical redirecting elements, the optical redirecting elements having respective optical coupling surfaces situated distally from the planar face. The light guide slab assembly includes a planar face having an optically transmissive interface layer assembled onto a first planar face of the light guide slab and optically coupled to receive transmitted light directed from the light source. The light guide slab is pressed onto the redirecting slab such that the interface layer is deformed, creating optical bonds at the optical coupling surfaces of the optical redirecting elements, the formed optical bonds providing optical apertures for light transmission therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2012Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Morgan Solar Inc.Inventors: John Paul Morgan, Pascal Dufour
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Patent number: 8322904Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 23, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kum Tae Lee, Min Sang Kim, Moon Jeong Kim, Sung Young Park, Jeong Hwan Kim
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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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Publication number: 20120287670Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2010Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya Ishizaka, Kazuya Ikuta, Eiji Kurimoto, Sumito Nishioka, Keiji Sakai, Hirotsugu Matoba, Takeshi Takayama
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Patent number: 8308336Abstract: A multi-segmented light guide for keypad and display apparatus has been disclosed. The light guide film may comprise a plurality of light segments configured to transmit light independently. The boundaries of the light segments may be defined by a plurality of micro-optic structures. The micro-optic structures may have a height at least half the thickness of the light guide.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sian Tatt Lee, Muh Fong Chung, Choon Guan Ko, Fook Chuin Ng
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Patent number: 8310620Abstract: 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 substType: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventor: Mamoru Yabe
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Patent number: 8303155Abstract: A light guide plate has a main-side microprism array sheet (main-side MPA sheet) 3 adhered to the top face 2a thereof, and a sub-side microprism array sheet (sub-side MPA sheet) 4 adhered to the bottom face 2b thereof. A prism formation region of the sub-side MPA sheet 4 is smaller than that of the main-side MPA sheet 3. Prisms in the prism formation region of the main-side MPA sheet 3 are, in an arrangement where the density of prisms arranged increases with distance from a light source 5, so arranged that the density of prisms arranged increases in a region that faces the prism formation region of the sub-side MPA sheet 4.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroaki Shigeta, Masanobu Okano
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Patent number: 8303153Abstract: A planar light source device (10) of the present invention, includes: a plurality of light guides (21) being provided such that longer sides thereof are arranged in parallel with each other with a gap therebetween; a plurality of light sources each of which causes light to be directed from at least one of opposite end surfaces of the light guide (21) in the longitudinal direction of the light guide (21); a diffusing plate (15) being provided on a light emission side of the light guide (21) to extract light guided inside the light guide (21); and supports (31) for supporting the gap (22) between the light guides (21) at predetermined intervals. The supports (31) are made from a light-transmissive and light-scattering material. This makes it possible to provide a planar light source device that enables reduction in the occurrence of luminance unevenness caused by the support which supports the light guides.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2010Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuya Ikuta, Sumito Nishioka, Kohyuh Sakai
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Patent number: 8292473Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 4, 2008Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: Petrus Adrianus Josephus Holten
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Patent number: 8292487Abstract: A light guide element for a lighting device is elongated in the direction of a main axis and includes a light coupling surface extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and a light emission surface radiating transversely to the longitudinal direction, and two or more light guides stacked on top of one another, wherein a partial region of the wall of the individual light guides extending in the longitudinal direction is structured and/or blackened.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2011Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: AL Systems GmbHInventors: Günther Conzatti, Harald Weingärtner, Paul Swarovski
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Patent number: 8287172Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Tetsuro Kuwayama
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Patent number: 8282260Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 18, 2009Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Heu-Gon Kim, Byung-Seo Yoon, Taek-Sun Shin, In-Sun Hwang
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Patent number: 8277106Abstract: The present invention provides a lighting device, comprising a first light guide adapted to guide light and output the light in a first direction; a second light guide adapted to guide light and output the light in another, second direction; a dividing structure adapted to receive light from a light source and guide the light into the first light guide and into the second light guide, wherein the dividing structure comprises controllable dividing means for guiding a first percentage of the light from the light source into the first light guide, and a second percentage of the light from the light source into the second light guide.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Ramon Pascal Van Gorkom, Lingli Wang, Marcellinus Petrus Carolus Michael Krijn
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Patent number: 8279372Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 4, 2009Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Shimura, Taku Kumasaka
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Patent number: 8272770Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 2, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.Inventor: Brian Edward Richardson
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Patent number: 8272773Abstract: An illuminating device acceding to the present invention has light sources, a light guide body which emits lights incident from the light sources, and a blurring structure, and, on the surface opposing to the emission surface of the light guide body, the light deflection elements which guide lights incident from the light sources toward the emission surface are formed regularly in two-dimensional direction of the first direction and second direction. The blurring structure has a function of blurring the light deflection elements regularly formed in the two-dimensional direction, and this blurring structure converts incident lights into linear lights inclined in the direction of the angle ? with respect to the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomohiro Nakagome, Luis Manuel Murillo-Mora, Yu Ookubo
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Publication number: 20120236592Abstract: Provided is a display apparatus, which includes a light source unit providing light, a light guide panel guiding the light to a display panel, the display panel receiving the light to display an image, and a bottom chassis accommodating the light guide panel, the light source unit, and the display panel. The light guide panel is adjacent to the light source unit, and includes a light incident surface to which the light is incident, a light output surface from which the light is emitted, and an opposite surface opposed to the light output surface. The display panel faces the light output surface and receives the light to display an image. The bottom chassis has a bottom facing the opposite surface. The light guide panel includes a coupling member protruding from the opposite surface and coupled to the bottom chassis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventors: Eui Jeong KANG, Juhwa Ha, Kwang Jin Jeong, Seki Park, Dongmin Yeo, Chan-Jae Park
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Patent number: 8269918Abstract: A light source device having light guide elements (2a to 2f) and light emitting elements (3a to 3f) for supplying light to each of the light guide elements. The light guide elements each has a wedge-like shape whose thickness is reduced from one end to the other end. The light guide elements are tandem arranged such that the thinner end of a light guide element lies over the thicker end of the other light guide element. Each light guide element has holding sections recessed in the width direction (8a to 8f, 9a to 9f) in its thicker end on which the other light guide element lies. In the light guide device in which the wedge shaped light guide elements are tandem arranged, positional displacement between light guide elements is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2007Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akira Tomiyoshi
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Patent number: 8267564Abstract: There is provided a light emitting assembly for a backlighted sign. The assembly may include first and second light emitting units configured to emit light in corresponding first and second directions into edges of first and second adjacent light guide plates. The assembly may also include a third light emitting unit configured to emit light in a direction substantially transverse to the first and second directions into a backlightable sign panel. Light emitting units are slidably insertable and slidably removable.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2010Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Knowledge Society Integration Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seungho Kim, Kiwon Kang
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Patent number: RE44063Abstract: In a display device equipped with a light source device, a second light-guide member is provided to the back surface of a first light-guide member that has an emitted light control sheet provided to the front surface thereof. The emitted light control sheet is composed of a flat plate portion and protrusions. A first light source mounted to a side surface of the first light-guide member, and a second light source mounted to a side surface of a second light-guide member are switched and turned on. The emitted light control sheet has light-condensing effects when the first light source is on, and has diffusing effects when the second light source is turned on. The angle range of illuminating light can thereby be switched.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Getner Foundation LLCInventors: Shin-ichi Uehara, Masao Imai
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Patent number: RE44118Abstract: An edge-light type backlight unit reduces the color unevenness on the display screen caused by the arrangement of point-shaped light sources (e.g., LEDs) in a point-shaped light source unit comprising a set of point-shaped light sources aligned. The backlight unit includes at least one point-shaped light source unit having point-shaped light sources arranged in a single direction in a predetermined order, the light sources emitting monochromatic light of different colors. The unit further comprises a first optical filter for limiting or controlling transmission of the monochromatic light emitted from one of the light sources disposed at one end of the light source unit, and a second optical filter for limiting or controlling transmission of the monochromatic light emitted from another of the light sources disposed at the other end thereof. The first and second filters are selectively formed on a first or second light guide plate or a diffusing plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2011Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Getner Foundation LLCInventor: Eitaro Nishigaki