Emission Face Patents (Class 362/617)
  • Patent number: 7428027
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an optical sheet including a lens sheet having a plurality of microlenses arranged on a front surface thereof and a plurality of projections located at a back side thereof, a projection being located between light transmission parts, and a part corresponding to the microlens being the light transmission part; and a plurality of light reflection layers provided on top of the plurality of projections. A light refracted by the side surface of the projection exits in an oblique direction towards a plane of the optical sheet. Thereby, the view angle can be broadened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Takayama
  • Patent number: 7425089
    Abstract: An illumination device according to the present invention includes a light source; and a lightguide element including an incidence surface for receiving light emitted from the light source and an outgoing surface from which the light incident from the incidence surface goes out. The lightguide element includes a polarization selection layer for causing light of a specific polarization direction (first polarized light), among the light incident from the incidence surface, to selectively go out from the outgoing surface, and a polarization conversion layer for converting second polarized light, polarized in a different direction from that of the first polarized light, into the first polarized light. The polarization selection layer reflects the first polarized light substantially only toward the outgoing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Masuda
  • Publication number: 20080205078
    Abstract: Illumination assemblies, components, and related methods are described. A plurality of illumination tiles may be arranged in a two-dimensional array. In one embodiment, an illumination tile comprises at least one solid state light-emitting device and a light guide including an edge constructed and arranged to receive light from the solid state light-emitting device, and a top emission surface constructed and arranged to emit light received by the edge, wherein the solid state light-emitting device is disposed under the top emission surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Luminus Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Karlicek, Christian Hoepfner, David Doyle, Gianni Taraschi, Michael A. Joffe, Alexei A. Erchak
  • Publication number: 20080198625
    Abstract: The disclosed relates to a light-guide-sheet used in operation panel of a various electronic equipment, and a movable-contact-unit and a switch using the same, which have a simplified structure free from uneven illumination and a cheap cost price. Therefore, the light-guide-sheet is provided with the light-guide-member including an inlet, a generally strip-shaped guide-path coupled with the inlet, and generally circularly and irregularly shaped light-emitters coupled with the guide-path, each formed from a polymer having an index of refraction different from that of base-film and formed in grooves provided on a base-film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventor: Takefumi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7413334
    Abstract: A plurality of LEDs are arrayed in a single row between the opposing end faces of a pair of first and second light guide plates that are disposed so that the end faces thereof face each other. A reflective sheet is disposed on the lower surfaces of the pair of first and second light guide plates, and a separation plate is disposed so as to cover the upper surfaces of the first and second light guide plates and the gap therebetween. A reflecting body for guiding light emitted upward from the LEDs to the first and second light guide plates is disposed in the area immediately above the LEDs on the lower surface of the separation plate. A diffusion plate is disposed with a fixed gap above the separation plate, and a hollow area is formed between the diffusion plate and the separation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatake Baba
  • Publication number: 20080186737
    Abstract: An edge-illuminated panel with a shaped edge diffuser is provided. The panel includes a panel frame having at least one illuminated frame member coupled to the shaped edged diffuser. The diffuser includes a diffusion layer having a shaped illuminated edge. The panel frame includes at least one wide-angled light source located substantially within the at least one illuminated frame member. The wide-angled light source, e.g., a light emitting diode, illuminates the shaped illuminated edge of the diffusion layer with a substantially wide-angled beam of light. The shaped illuminated edge then transforms the substantially wide-angled beam of light into a substantially narrow beam of light capable of penetrating the diffusion layer. In some embodiments, the shaped illuminated edge of the diffusion layer includes a curved portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: George K. Awai, Michael D. Ernst, Alain S. Corcos
  • Patent number: 7404661
    Abstract: Light emitting panel assemblies include a light guide having a pattern of individual deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in at least one side of the light guide. At least some of the deformities are quite small in relation to the width and length of the light guide and have two or more surfaces that come together to form ridges. At least some of the ridges are nonlinear over a majority of their length and have opposite end points that intersect the light guide or other deformities where the ridges end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Parker, Gregory A. Coghlan, Robert M. Ezell
  • Patent number: 7400805
    Abstract: A light collection system includes at least one light source, a light tunnel having reflective walls and a collimating plate at the light output end of the tunnel. The collimating plate includes an optical element array. The element array receives the light emitted from the light source and outputs part of the light at a desired cone angle and reflects the remainder back into the tunnel toward the light source. The light is “recycled” in the tunnel until the light either exits the collection system through the collimating plate or gets absorbed within the collection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Nayef M. Abu-Ageel
  • Patent number: 7393130
    Abstract: An optical substrate includes an exit face through which a light entered from an incident face is emitted, a lens forming region provided on the exit face and in which a plurality of microlenses are formed, and a non-lens forming region provided in an area other than the lens forming region on the exit face and surrounded by the microlenses. The microlenses diffuse and emit the light entered through the exit face. The non-lens forming region is used to identify a predetermined direction of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hironori Hasei
  • Patent number: 7393132
    Abstract: A backlight module (10) includes a flat cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) (30) having an output interface, and a light guiding plate (20). The output interface has a nano-material layer coated thereon. The light guiding plate includes an incidence interface (21), an emission interface (23), and a reflection interface (22), wherein the emission interface and the reflection interface respectively have nano-sized V-shaped grooves provided thereat. A pitch of the V-shaped grooves of the emission interface gradually increases from the incidence interface to a side of the light guiding plate distal from the incidence interface, and a pitch of the V-shaped grooves of the reflection interface gradually increases from the incidence interface to the side of the light guiding plate distal from the incidence interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Publication number: 20080151577
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a light incident surface, a light emission surface intersects with the light incident surface, and a bottom surface opposite to the light emission surface. The light incident surface includes at least a first light receiving region and at least a second light receiving region. The first light receiving region has a distinctly different structure in comparison to the second light receiving region. One end of the first light receiving region communicates with the light emission surface, and the other end of the light receiving region communicates with the bottom surface. One end of the second light receiving region communicates with the light emission surface and, the other end of light receiving region communicates with the light emission surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: RUI-YONG LI
  • Publication number: 20080142435
    Abstract: A surface light emitting device utilizes special features of a back light, and emits ultraviolet light. The surface light emitting device also functions as a filter that allows the passage of a fluid. The surface emitting device includes a light source; and a light guide plate with the light source disposed on a side surface thereof, wherein at least one of the front surface and rear surface of the light guide plate is a light emitting surface for emitting light from the light source. Surfaces other than the light emitting surface of the light guide plate and the side surface are formed as light shielding surfaces. The emitted light has a peak wavelength of 388 nm or less. The surface emitting device can be one in which the light guide plate has a plurality of through-holes, and the surface in which the through-holes are formed is a light emitting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chihiro Kawai, Ryuichi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20080137372
    Abstract: The backlight assembly includes a lamp unit, a light guide plate and a receiving container. The light guide plate includes a light exiting surface, a light reflecting surface facing the light exiting surface, and side surfaces. The receiving container includes a frame plate and sidewall protruding from an outer edge of the frame plate to form a receiving space for receiving the lamp unit and the light guide plate. The first distance between an inner surface of the sidewall and an outer surface of the light guide plate at a first region is greater than a second distance between the inner surface of the sidewall and the outer surface of the light guide plate at a second region. The light guide plate is more spaced apart from the sidewall at the corners where much noise was made, in a general backlight assembly, so that the noise is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Seung-Chul JEONG
  • Publication number: 20080137366
    Abstract: An exemplary light guide plate includes a base plate having a bottom surface, an emitting surface opposite to the bottom surface, and a plurality of side surfaces being perpendicular to and connected between the emitting surface and the bottom surface. A reflecting film with an opening covers the side surfaces of the light guide plate, and faces a light source to enable light beams from the light source enter the light guide plate. The light guide plate with the reflecting film increases efficiency in the utilization of light beams. A backlight module including the light guide plate is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHANG-CHUN LIU, XIAO-LIN GAN, YU-KUANG HO
  • Publication number: 20080137006
    Abstract: A portable electronic device (10) includes a first housing (11), a second housing (13), a display panel (17) and a backlight module (19). The first housing (11) has a heat dissipating device (114) therein. The second housing (13) is pivoted to the first housing (11). The display panel (17) is accommodated in the second housing (13). The backlight module (19) includes a light source (192), a light guide plate (196) and an optical fiber assembly (194). The light source (192) is disposed in the first housing (11). The light guide plate (196) is disposed in the second housing (13). The optical fiber assembly (19) includes a plurality of optical fibers interconnecting the light source (192) and the light guide plate (196).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: JEN-TSORNG CHANG
  • Publication number: 20080130314
    Abstract: A light guiding strip and a backlight module and display using the same are provided. The light guiding strip of the present invention includes a plurality of light reflecting surfaces and a plurality of light emergent surfaces. Each of the light reflecting surfaces has a light diffusion pattern. The light guiding strip of the present invention has the advantages of light weight, wide LED pitch, low cost, thickness and so on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying Liu, Danding Huang, Chen-Jung Tsai
  • Publication number: 20080130312
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a housing, a light source, and a light guide plate. The housing includes a bottom wall, a side wall extending perpendicularly from edges of the bottom wall, and a reflecting film formed on an inner surface of the bottom wall. The housing accommodates the light source and the light guide plate. The light guide plate receives light beams from the light source, and diffuses the light beams to emit from an upper surface of the light guide plate. The reflecting film reflects the light beams, which leak from a bottom surface of the light guide plate, to emit from the upper surface of the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHANG-CHUN LIU, XIAO-LIN GAN, YU-KUANG HO
  • Publication number: 20080130315
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a light guide plate having at least one light entering plane, and a light emitting plane which crosses the light entering plane, at least one light source unit which emits light to the light entering plane, a reflecting member adjacent to an opposite surface with respect to the light emitting plane and which faces the light emitting plane of the light guide plate, and a light source cover having at least one opening, and surrounding the light source unit, wherein an edge of the light guide plate and an edge of the reflecting member is inserted through the opening. The light source cover also includes at least one stopper which protrudes from a surface of the light source cover adjacent to the reflecting member to contact the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Ik-Sun Song
  • Patent number: 7378686
    Abstract: The invention is an illumination system that incorporates a light emitting diode and a side-emitting light-recycling lens. The side-emitting light-recycling lens recycles part of the light internally generated by a light emitting diode back to the light emitting diode as externally incident light. The light emitting diode reflects a portion of the recycled light, thereby increasing the effective brightness of the light emitting diode. The light reflected by the light emitting diode is directed though the side-emitting light-recycling lens and exits the illumination system, thereby increasing the output brightness and efficiency of the illumination system. The light emitting diode reflects externally incident light with a reflectivity greater than 40 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Goldeneye, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl W. Beeson, Scott M. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20080117651
    Abstract: A keystroke module for use with a light guiding plate includes a contacting and controlling layer, a light guiding plate and a light source. The contacting and controlling layer has a pressing side and a contacting and light guiding side. The light guiding plate is arranged under the contacting and light guiding side of the contacting and controlling layer and further includes a light auxiliary layer and a light inducting layer, which is a soft piece body having a reflecting side, on which plural light guiding parts are arranged, while the auxiliary light layer is a hard transparent piece body that is laminated correspondingly above the reflecting side of the light inducting layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Ko-Ju Chen
  • Publication number: 20080112189
    Abstract: The invention provides an electro-optical device that includes: an electro-optical panel; light sources that emit light that enters the electro-optical panel; an optical waveguide board that guides the light emitted from the light sources toward the electro-optical panel; and a flexible printed circuit board on which the light sources are mounted, wherein the flexible printed circuit board is adhered to the optical waveguide board by adhesive members in such a manner that a part of the flexible printed circuit board is opposed to a surface of the optical waveguide board and that the light sources are positioned to be opposed to an edge face of the optical waveguide board, and concave portions are formed in the optical waveguide board at least at positions where the adhesive members are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsumi OKUDA
  • Patent number: 7370999
    Abstract: An exemplary light guide plate (500) includes: a light incident portion (51) for receiving a light; a light reflecting portion (52) for reflecting the light input through the light incident portion; and a light emitting portion (53) opposite to the light reflecting portion, for outputting the reflected light. The light incident portion includes a first diffractive optical element (512) located thereat. The first diffractive optical element includes a plurality of protrusions (512a) each having a curved surface, with the protrusions being arranged symmetrically opposite to each other across a central axis of symmetry of the first diffractive optical element. The light emitting portion may include a second diffractive optical element (532) located thereat. The second diffractive optical element includes a plurality of elongate protrusions, with the protrusions being arranged symmetrically opposite to each other across a central axis of symmetry of the second diffractive optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Di Feng, Xing-Peng Yang, Guo-Fan Jin, Qiao-Feng Tan, Ying-Bai Yan, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 7367705
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light redirecting polymeric film comprising a plurality of polymeric individual optical elements wherein the elements comprise curved wedge shaped features in the plane of the film, having a length in the range of 800 to 4000 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Jeffery R. Parker, Robert Bourdelais, Cheryl Brickey, Chris Brophy, Junwon Lee, Ronald J. Sudol
  • Patent number: 7364340
    Abstract: A backlight unit for a flat panel display and a flat panel display apparatus having the same. The backlight unit for a flat panel display displaying a predetermined image includes: a light source which emits light; a light guide panel having an incident surface facing the light source and which totally reflects light incident through the incident surface toward the flat panel display; and a holographic pattern that includes a plurality of diffraction gratings that are continuously repeated on at least one of an exit surface of the light guide panel and the opposing surface and diffracts light incident into the light guide panel. A depth of the diffraction grating progressively increases away from the incident surface along a length direction of the light guide panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoon-sun Choi, Jin-Seung Choi, Jee-hong Min, Jin-hwan Kim, Su-mi Lee
  • Publication number: 20080062719
    Abstract: An optical multilayer film includes first and second optical layers, and a refracting layer. The first optical layer has a light-exit surface. The second optical layer has a light-incoming surface facing the light-exit surface of the first optical layer, and a light-outgoing surface opposite to the light-incoming surface and formed with a light-converging structure. The refracting layer is disposed between and is in contact with the first and second optical layers, is made from a transparent material, and has a refractive index that is smaller than that of the second optical layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Tzeng-Ke Shiau, Ming-Dah Liu, Der-Woei Hsaio, Wen-Bin Chou, Ching-Shiang Li
  • Publication number: 20080049449
    Abstract: A light guide device and a light guide plate using the same are provided. The light guide device has a first surface, a second surface, and a bottom surface. The first surface, the second surface, and the bottom surface define the internal part of the light guide device. The bottom surface has a cavity. When a light source in the cavity generates light, the light from the internal part of the light guide device is emitted via the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu-Nan Liu, Tzu-Wei Wang
  • Publication number: 20080043170
    Abstract: An illumination system includes: a light source that emits light; and a light guide that introduces the light through a light-incident end face facing the light source and that lets out the light from a light-exiting surface adjacent to the light-incident end face. The light source is disposed adjacent to the light-incident end face and in the position shifted from the center of the width of the light guide intersecting the direction in which the light source emits light. The light-incident end face of the light guide has at least one projection or recess in the direction intersecting the light-exiting direction of the light source. The projection or recess has an asymmetrical shape inclined in the direction intersecting the light-exiting direction of the light source. The projection or recess is inclined in one of directions intersecting the light-exiting direction of the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20080043169
    Abstract: A backlight unit is suitable for emitting uniform surface light. The backlight unit comprises a lamp emitting light to an incident light side of a light guide plate, and a lamp housing enclosing the lamp and including a heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventor: Kyung Il Kim
  • Patent number: 7322733
    Abstract: A light guide plate having micro-reflectors is to increase luminance of the light guide plate by changing light route. The light guide plate includes an incidence plane, an illuminating plane, and a bottom. Each of the micro-reflectors is disposed at the bottom and intersected with the light guide plate in a direction heading for a recess provided at the bottom of the light guide plate, and comprises a light reflection plane located between the incidence plane and the illuminating plane to define an angle ?. The light reflection plane is an arc quadrilateral or a sector when observed from top of the illuminating plane. The arc quadrilateral has two concentric arc sides parallel with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Research Laboratories, National Center for High-Performance Computing
    Inventors: Jee-Gong Chang, Yu-Bin Fang, Chi-Feng Lin
  • Patent number: 7311433
    Abstract: A light guide for an LCD system has a light incident side, and is formed with a plurality of pattern structures. Each of the pattern structures has a pair of diagonally-disposed first points defining a first length therebetween, and a pair of diagonally-disposed second points defining a second length therebetween. The second length extends transverse to and crosses the first length. A ratio of the first length and the second length of one of the pattern structures adjacent to the light incident side is greater than a ratio of the first length and the second length of one of the pattern structures distant from the light incident side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Shih-Hsien Chen, Kuang-Tao Sung
  • Patent number: 7309153
    Abstract: Light guide plate 4 is provided with an emission-directivity-giving-means (such as projection rows on a back face) to modify directivity of emission from emission face 10. L light control member 11 disposed on emission face 10 is provided with a plurality of prismatic projection rows 15 running in a direction inclined anticlockwise (or clockwise). Each of incidence control portions 12 formed on incidence face 5 has an asymmetric configuration providing first and second side face (convex face) 13, 14 different from each other in curvature. Light emitted by LED 6 enters into light guide plate 4 through each incidence control portion 12, generating inner propagation light which spreads like a sector having a center axis inclined clockwise (or anticlockwise). The first and second side faces may have other configurations such as “concave faces different from each other in curvature”, “flat slopes different from each other in inclination” or “flat face and curved face”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Arihara
  • Publication number: 20070230216
    Abstract: A prismatic light-guide plate has a prismatic surface, which is provided with a plurality of prisms that reflect light that is incident from a light-incident end thereof, and an emission surface opposite to the prismatic surface, which completely reflects the light that is incident thereto to propagate the same, and which also emits emitted light that is reflected from the prisms. The prismatic light-guide plate has scattering portions provided in a region of the emission surface that emits the emitted light at a high density, for scattering the emitted light and broadening an angle of view of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ite, Chikara Nishio
  • Publication number: 20070230213
    Abstract: Provided is a backlight having a light source and an all-in-one type light guide plate that has a light exit surface and a plurality of prisms integrally formed on the light exit surface, wherein the prisms totally reflect light to be emitted upwards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hong-seok Lee, Eung-yeoul Yoon
  • Patent number: 7275853
    Abstract: An illuminating device is disclosed., which is high brightness and able to reduce leaking light and preferably made thin. A front light has a light guide plate, a bar light guide body and a light emitting element. A prism shape for reflecting propagating light within the light guide plate and emitting this propagating light to the side of an emitting face of the light guide plate is formed on the emitting face of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Kano, Hiroyasu Miyata, Tatsumaro Yamashita, Mitsuo Ohizumi
  • Publication number: 20070171678
    Abstract: A light guiding unit that is capable of reducing the thickness of a backlight assembly and operating with fewer light sources is presented. The light guiding unit includes a first surface, a second surface and a light incident surface. The first surface includes a light exiting surface and an upper guiding curved surface that is recessed with respect to the light exiting surface. The second surface includes an opposite surface that is substantially parallel to the light exiting surface and a lower guiding curved surface recessed on the opposite surface toward the first surface, the lower guiding curved surface being positioned along the upper guiding curved surface. The light incident surface is formed on an end portion of the lower guiding curved surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Sung-Kyu Shim, In-Sun Hwang, Seong-Yong Hwang, Joo-Woan Cho
  • Patent number: 7234854
    Abstract: An illuminating device is provided for use as a backlight of a liquid crystal display, and has a plurality of light sources and a light guiding plate emitting lights from the light sources outward. At least one of the light sources is configured to be lighted independently from the rest of the light sources. This illuminating device is applied to equipment such as a two surface display type cellular phone and is disposed between a main panel and a sub-panel to illuminate both panels. All light sources may be used to illuminate the main panel when the main panel is used, and some of the light sources may be used to illuminate only an area of the sub-panel when the sub-panel is used so that effective illumination may be implemented. Accordingly, light sources need not to be unnecessarily lighted when the sub-panel is used, which leads to low power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Taketoshi Masamoto
  • Patent number: 7223005
    Abstract: Backlighting systems are disclosed, which include a lightguide with at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the lightguide for supplying light into its interior and a reflective cavity with at least one light source optically connected to the reflective cavity for supplying light into its interior. The reflective cavity may include a first reflector and a second reflector and at least one source may be disposed at an edge of the reflective cavity. Alternatively, the reflective cavity may include a back reflector portion and light sources may be disposed at the back reflector portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Inventors: David J. Lamb, Keith M. Kotchick, Mark E. Gardiner, Mark B. O'Neill, Patrick H. Marushin, Kenneth A. Epstein, Philip E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7223009
    Abstract: The backlighting device (1) enables an information display element of a portable object such as a wristwatch to be illuminated from the back. This device comprises a light guide plate (7) having a front face and a rear face, a light reflector (6) located on the rear face of the light guide plate, a light diffuser film (9) and a rectifier film (11) located on the front face of the light guide plate and a source of visible light (2). This light source, such as a light emitting diode (2), feeds light beams to the edge of the light guide plate, which spread in the light guide plate between its two faces. A layer, such as a diffuser film, has a zone (10?) with opacity decreasing from a limit (25) located close to the boundary area of the light guide plate, which receives the light beams of the light source, in order to attenuate the intensity of the light crossing said zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Fabien Henriet, François Klopfenstein
  • Patent number: 7223008
    Abstract: The backlighting device (1) enables an information display element of a portable object such as a wristwatch to be illuminated from the back. This device comprises a light guide plate (7) having a front face and a rear face, a light reflector (6) located on the rear face of the light guide plate, a light diffuser film (9) and a rectifier film (11) located on the front face of the light guide plate and a source of visible light (2). This light source, such as a light emitting diode (2), feeds light beams to the edge of the light guide plate, which spread in the light guide plate between its two faces. A layer, such as a diffuser film, has a zone (10?) with opacity decreasing from a limit (25) located close to the boundary area of the light guide plate, which receives the light beams of the light source, in order to attenuate the intensity of the light crossing said zone. This zone with decreasing opacity is, for example, a shading white or black dye disposed on the diffuser film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Fabien Henriet, François Klopfenstein
  • Patent number: 7201510
    Abstract: A planar light source device includes a primary light source (1), a light guide (3) which leads the light emitted from the primary light source (1), and having a light incident face (31) to which the light emitted from the primary light source (1) comes in, and a light emitting face from which the led light goes out, a light deflection element (4) arranged adjacent to the light emitting face (33) of the light guide (3), and a polarization separation element (6) disposed on the side of a light outgoing surface (42) of the light deflection element (4), and having a function of transmitting one of polarization components of the incident light and reflecting the other of the polarization components. The full width at half maximum of the luminance distribution of the incident light upon the polarization separation element (6) in an XY plane parallel to the travel direction of the light in the light guide (3) is 25° or less. The reference symbol 7 indicates a liquid crystal display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyoshi Yamashita, Yasuko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7188987
    Abstract: A backlight module has a light guide plate having a transparent plate and a light-mixing structure. The light-mixing structure contains a light-convergence body and a light-dispersing body connected with each other to form an hourglass-shaped structure. With the light-mixing structure, the light guide plate can mix light beams of different colors to produce white light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Jemitek Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chuan-Pei Yu
  • Patent number: 7163332
    Abstract: A front light and a reflective display using the same are provided. A light guide of the front light includes a plurality of patterns on the upper surface, each of the patterns including a first surface inclining relative to the light-emitting surface toward the light-entering surface, a second surface substantially perpendicular to the light-emitting surface or inclining relative to the light-emitting surface opposite to the light-entering surface, and a third surface inclining relative to the light-emitting surface toward the light-entering surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsu Shimizu, Motohiko Matsushita, Akihiro Funamoto, Shigeru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7160016
    Abstract: A light guide plate (300) for transmitting light beams from a light source to an LCD (liquid crystal display) includes: an incident surface (301) for introducing light beams into the light guide plate; an emitting surface (303) for uniformly transmitting light beams out from the light guide plate; and a bottom surface (302) opposite to the emitting surface for reflecting the light beams in directions toward the emitting surface. The light guide plate further provides a plurality of concavities (3031) on the emitting surface, for converging the light beams into the LCD. The light guide plate is a relatively simple, single integrated structure, and can obviate the need for a brightness layer in an associated LCD device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tai-Cheng Yu, Charles Leu, Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 7160018
    Abstract: A back light system (2) includes a light guide plate (50). The light guide plate includes an array of prisms (55) formed thereon, and a nano-particle layer (80) formed on the prisms for diffusing light beams propagating therethrough. The nano-particle layer contains a mass of transparent nano-particles with diameters preferably in the range from 30˜100 nm. A material of the particles may be TiO2 (titanium oxide), SiO2 (silicon dioxide), or Al2O3 (aluminum oxide). Each light beam passing through the nano-particle layer is scattered, and most of the scattering occurs over a limited range of angles. The scattered light beams exit the nano-particle layer mostly over the limited range of angles, with a medial direction of propagation in the range of angles being substantially parallel to a viewing direction. The back light system can yield high brightness and uniform luminescence, and is relatively simple in construction and inexpensive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ga-Lane Chen, Charles Leu
  • Patent number: 7144146
    Abstract: A transparent substrate used for an area light emitting device. The transparent substrate comprises a light incidence surface and a light exit surface opposite to the light incidence surface. A plurality of recesses are formed on the light exit surface bulged towards the light incidence surface. Each recess has a shape approximately corresponding to a portion of an oval sphere. Each recess perimeter on the light exit surface is approximately circle. Each recess is separately formed from other recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Norihito Takeuchi, Fumikazu Isogai, Haruyuki Ishikawa, Mikio Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7131763
    Abstract: A display comprises a panel, a light-guide plate, a lamp, and a back-bezel. The light-guide plate has a back-end, a front-end, an upper-surface, and a bottom-surface. The upper-surface faces the panel. The lamp is disposed at the back-end. The light generated from the lamp enters the light-guide plate through the back-end and leaves for the panel through the upper-surface. The back-bezel is used for housing the lamp, the light-guide plate and the panel, wherein an adhesive tape is disposed between the back-bezel and the front-end of the light-guide plate. Also, a cushion is disposed on the light-guide plate and the back-bezel, to carry the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Shue-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 7114820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new light pipe (313) for providing backlighting (312) of a flat-panel display (311) by means of at least one light source so that the light pipe has at least one surface which comprises patterns. The patterns have diffraction properties for conducting the light in the direction of the display, and the patterns comprise uniform, mutually different areas having a certain distribution on the surface of the light pipe. The local outcoupling efficiency of the light pipe depends on the characteristic properties of the patterns, which are dependent on the distance to the light source or its wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones, Ltd.
    Inventors: Marko Parikka, Markku Kuittinen, Jari Turunen
  • Patent number: 7090365
    Abstract: A backlight unit includes front and rear emission surfaces and a plurality of lamps arranged in the central plane of the backlight unit, wherein the front and rear emission surfaces are inclined by +? and ?? degrees with respect to the central plane. The pitch of the lamps increases along the direction in which the distance between the emission surface and the central plane increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihisa Ogawa, Shin-ichirou Ono
  • Patent number: 7085056
    Abstract: A light guide plate (20) has a light incidence surface (221) for receiving light, a light emitting surface (223) for emitting light, and a bottom surface (222). The light emitting surface has a plurality of diffraction grating units. Each diffraction grating unit has a strong diffractive portion and a weak diffractive portion. In each diffraction grating unit, grating directions of the strong and weak diffractive portions are orthogonal to each other. Area ratios of the strong diffractive portions in the diffraction grating units progressively increase with increasing distance away from the light incidence surface. The grating directions of the strong diffractive portions may vary according to the locations of the diffraction grating units relative to a light source. These features improve the overall efficiency of utilization of light, and enable the light emitting surface to output highly uniform light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ga-Lane Chen, Charles Leu, Tai-Cherng Yu
  • Patent number: 7083316
    Abstract: A light guide plate (32) in accordance with the present invention includes a base (23), and an intervening layer (22) formed on the base. The intervening layer includes a light emitting surface (24) defining a plurality of V-shaped grooves (241) thereat. An index of refraction of the intervening layer is less than an index of refraction of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jyh-Chain Lin