Type Of Surface Patents (Class 362/619)
  • Patent number: 8870400
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to configure a lighting device to discriminate the front and back sides of a substrate at low costs. In the lighting device of the present invention, a diffuser plate 30 as an optical member 15 includes: a light-transmissive substrate 32; an optical pattern 33 formed on the substrate 32 and applying an optical action to light; and a discrimination pattern 34 configured to discriminate between a first position (normal position) of the substrate 32 and a second position (non-normal position) of the substrate 32 reversed from the first position, formed on a first plane 30a that is a surface of the substrate 32 on which the optical pattern 33 is formed, and made of the same material as that of the optical pattern 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasumori Kuromizu
  • Patent number: 8858056
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light guide plate and a corresponding backlight module. The light guide plate has a plate body, a light-exiting prism structure and a reflecting prism structure. The reflecting prism structure is mounted on a reflecting area on a light-exiting surface of the plate body. The light guide plate and the corresponding backlight module can reduce light leakage at the junction between the light guide and a fixing plastic frame by the reflecting prism structure mounted at sides of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuangyao Chang
  • Patent number: 8851734
    Abstract: A light-guiding article has a film substrate that has at least one patterned surface having a plurality of discrete surface features and an incident edge that is substantially orthogonal to the at least one patterned surface. Each surface feature in the plurality of discrete surface features extends along a length direction that is substantially parallel to the incident edge. Taken in cross-section along the length direction, each surface feature has a positively sloped portion, a substantially flat portion, and a negatively sloped portion. A first widthwise cross-section taken at a first position through the positively sloped portion has the same shape as a second widthwise cross-section taken at a second position through the negatively sloped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junwon Lee
  • Publication number: 20140293652
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a rough light emitting surface, a bottom surface opposite to the light emitting surface, and a plurality of microstructures formed on the bottom surface. A cross-sectional surface of each of the microstructures is trapezoidal shaped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHEN-HAN LIN
  • Patent number: 8845174
    Abstract: A light-weight and energy-efficient lighting panel is constructed from a light-transmissive and light diffusive extrusion formed to have elongated hollows, which are hollow structures or volumes between two surfaces, at least one of which is transmissive and diffusive. Light projected into the hollow flows through the hollow and part of the light is emitted through the light transmissive and diffusive surfaces. Even though the light sources are located at the edges of a panel, the surface of the panel appears to be uniformly light by light sources distribute directly behind the panels rather than along the edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventors: Nicholas Jackson, Brian Retzke
  • Patent number: 8834004
    Abstract: Extended area lighting devices include a light guide and diffractive surface features on a major surface of the light guide, at least some diffractive surface features adapted to couple guided-mode light out of the light guide. The diffractive features include first and second diffractive features disposed on respective first and second portions of the major surface. A patterned light transmissive layer, including a second light transmissive medium, optically contacts the second diffractive features but not the first diffractive features. A first light transmissive medium optically contacts the first but not the second diffractive features. The first and second portions may define indicia, and the first and second diffractive features provide low distortion for viewing objects through the light guide such that the indicia is not readily apparent to users when guided-mode light does not propagate within the light guide. Optical films having such diffractive features are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David S. Thompson, Zhaohui Yang, Matthew S. Stay, Vivian W. Jones
  • Patent number: 8833997
    Abstract: A light guide bar and an optical touch panel utilizing the light guide bar are provided. The light guide bar is applied to an optical touch panel with a sensing area. The light guide bar includes a bar body and a plurality of prisms. The bar body has a first receiving end, a light-exiting surface, and a structure surface. The light-exiting surface is opposite to the structure surface and faces the sensing area while the first receiving end is connected between an end of the light-exiting surface and an end of the structure surface. The prisms are formed on the structure surface. Each prism includes a first surface and a second surface respectively having a first angle and a second angle with respect to the structure surface, wherein the second surface is closer to the first receiving end than the first surface, and the second angle is larger than or equal to the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Briview Corporation
    Inventor: Huang-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 8834001
    Abstract: An edge light backlight device includes a light guide plate having a base portion and microstructures, LEDs, and a reflective plate. The base portion has a light emitting side, a rear side, and a light incident side. The microstructures are formed on one of the light emitting side and the rear side and each of which extends from the light incident side in a longitudinal direction. Each of the microstructures includes a curved surface with a radius of curvature (R). The light guide plate has a thickness (T). R/T ratio ranges from 0.04 to 0.15 and each of the microstructures has a height ranging from 20 ?m to 300 ?m so that the light guide plate has a performance of local lighting ranging from 1% to 40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Chi-Mei Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Feng Lin, Chun-Liang Kuo, Hsin-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 8827528
    Abstract: The present invention provides technology that can efficiently guide light to the interior of a key sheet and prevents light from leaking from the circumferences of key tops. A key sheet has a light-shielding dark print layer, on the rear surface of a base sheet, that is a cured body of a coating liquid that is not dissolve to the surface of the base sheet, and also has a smooth surface between the base sheet and the dark print layer. The invention can make light transmitting in the base sheet hard to enter the dark print layer so that the light can be efficiently guided in the base sheet, and also can prevent light from transmitting through the base sheet by blocking the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Polymatech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Takeda, Hiroki Kishiku
  • Patent number: 8827529
    Abstract: The input device with luminous patterns includes an input interface and a backlight module. The backlight module includes a light source and a light guide plate. The input interface has a predetermined light shading rate and at least one pattern formed on the light guide plate. When the light source is turned off, the light passing through the light guide plate is too weak to show the pattern. When the light source is turned on, the luminous pattern is shown. One base plate of the input interface is made from a mixture of transparent plastic particles and light shading particles, and the at least one pattern is formed of the micro light guide structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8814410
    Abstract: A lighting assembly has an edge-lit light guide having a light output surface through which light is extracted by light extracting optical elements. The extracted light has a maximum intensity at low light ray angles relative to the light output surface. A light redirecting member has an arrangement of light redirecting optical elements configured to redirect the extracted light incident thereon to provide a pattern of redirected light. A light focusing member has light focusing optical elements having an angular acceptance range. The redirected light has light ray angles within the angular acceptance range of the light focusing optical elements and is perceived as a pattern of light. The extracted light not redirected by the light redirecting member has light ray angles outside the angular acceptance range of the light focusing optical elements and is not perceived, or is perceived as background light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Fumitomo Hide, Robert M. Ezell
  • Patent number: 8807775
    Abstract: An array-type display apparatus includes display devices each including a display section and a non-display area located around the display section, and transparent plates disposed on the viewer side. Each transparent plate has: a light exit-side deflection portion, provided in a position corresponding to the non-display area, for allowing at least part of light from the display section to exit the transparent plate in the front direction of the display section; and corner deflection portions, provided at the corners of the viewer-side surface, for allowing at least part of light that has passed through the transparent plate to exit it in the front direction. The width of the light exit-side deflection portion is larger than the width of the non-display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sekiguchi, Masahiro Goto, Katsunori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8794812
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides light emitting devices, including light fixtures and luminaires. In some embodiments, a light emitting device comprises at least one light source, a lightguide operable to receive light from the at least one light source at a first location on the lightguide, at least one light extraction region optically coupled to the lightguide and a substantially non-scattering region along a portion of the lightguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: ABL IP Holding LLC, Fusion Optix, Inc.
    Inventors: Zane Coleman, John X Zhang, Peter Yi Yan Ngai
  • Publication number: 20140211127
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a body portion, and a plurality of unit shaped elements defining a light exit surface and arranged on one-side surface of the body portion side by side in an arrangement direction intersecting a light guide direction. Each unit shaped element extends in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction. A light exit surface angle ?a, which is the angle of the contour of each unit shaped element with respect to the one-side surface, is more than 10° and not more than 30° in a zone of the contour of each unit shaped element, the width of the zone along the arrangement direction being not less than 35% and not more than 70% of the full width of the unit shaped element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro GOTO, Hiroshi SEKIGUCHI, Hiroshi YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140211508
    Abstract: An optical waveguide includes a body of optically transmissive material having a width substantially greater than an overall thickness thereof. The body of material has a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a plurality of interior bores extending between the first and second sides each adapted to receive a light emitting diode. Extraction features are disposed on the second side and the extraction features direct light out of at least the first side and at least one extraction feature forms a taper disposed at an outer portion of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: ZONGJIE YUAN, Kurt S. Wilcox, Eric J. Tarsa, Fabian Jean-Daniel Rol, James Ibbetson, Bernd P. Keller, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR.
  • Patent number: 8786804
    Abstract: A surface light source device having a local dimming function and an LCD unit using the device can include a light guide having a top surface including a plurality of linear convexes and a bottom surface including a plurality of dots. The device can also include a reflective sheet located adjacent the bottom surface, a prism sheet located adjacent the top surface, a diffusing sheet located adjacent the prism sheet, and a pair of LED light sources located adjacent both light incident surfaces of the light guide and divided into a plurality of groups. Each light emitted from the groups can be configured to be emitted independently from a respective one of local domains on a light-emitting surface of the device. Therefore, the disclosed subject matter can provide a surface light source device having a local dimming function with a simple structure as with a conventional edge light type device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Sakamoto, Atsushi Omori, Tsuneo Sekiguchi, Yoji Oki
  • Patent number: 8783898
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides light emitting devices, including light fixtures and luminaires. In some embodiments, a light emitting device comprises at least one light source, a lightguide operable to receive light from the at least one light source at a first location on the lightguide, at least one light extraction region optically coupled to the lightguide and a substantially non-scattering region along a portion of the lightguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: ABL IP Holding LLC, Fusion Optix, Inc.
    Inventors: Zane Coleman, Peter Yi Yan Ngai, David Morin, Michael Trung Tran, Terence Yeo
  • Patent number: 8780299
    Abstract: Provided are a backlight unit and a display device having the same. The backlight unit includes a light source configured to generate light and a plurality of light guide members stacked so that individual surfaces of each light guide member contact a surface of another one of the light guide members, the plurality of light guide members configured to guide the light. Each of the light guide members includes a light incident for receiving incident light from the light source, an opposite surface facing an adjacent one of the light guide members, and a plurality of light path change patterns disposed on the opposite surface. Thus, brightness of the display device may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hohan Ryu, Taeseok Kim, MyoungGyun An, Seung-Hyung Lee, Woondae Choi
  • Patent number: 8780297
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a backlight module which has a plurality of light-emitting diodes. The light-emitting diodes are divided into a plurality of light groups according to pitches between the adjacent light-emitting diodes. The light-emitting diodes with respect to a display-area center line have a position center, and the light group having the light-emitting diodes with larger pitches therebetween is in a position relatively close to the position center and is in a higher bright bin; the light group having the light-emitting diodes with smaller pitches therebetween is in a position relatively away from the position center and is in a lower bright bin. Therefore, luminous conditions of the overall light-emitting diodes tend to correspondence, and proportion of usage of light-emitting diodes in different bright bins can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qian Cao, Poying Lin
  • Patent number: 8777474
    Abstract: An optical film is formed with a plurality of optical patterns having peak and valley portions and a lighting device may include such an optical film. Pitches of the optical patterns, heights of the peak portions and depths of the valley portions are irregular, and plan and side structures of the optical patterns have a non-linear non-symmetrical arrangement structure in which the peak and valley portions are irregularly bent. According to an optical film and a lighting device including such an optical film, a moiré phenomenon can be prevented in advance, abrasion resistance can be improved, optical defects such as scratches cannot be observed with the naked eye, a wet-out phenomenon can be prevented, and a viewing angle can be broadened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: LMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Shig Shim, Young Il Kim, Jeong Ho Park
  • Patent number: 8770814
    Abstract: An optical assembly comprises light sources and a light emitting panel member having an input edge to which each of the light sources is optically coupled at a different location along the input edge. Different sets of individual optical deformities on or in at least one of the sides of the panel member each have at least one surface that is shaped or oriented to extract light propagating in the same direction through the panel member in different directions for viewing from different angles through one of the sides of the panel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Jeffery R. Parker, Robert M. Ezell
  • Publication number: 20140177276
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a light emitting surface, a bottom surface opposite to the light emitting surface, a light incident surface, and a side surface opposite to the light incident surface. The bottom surface is imaginarily divided into a plurality of rectangular portions along a direction from the light incident surface to the side surface. The shapes of the rectangular portions are the same as each other. Each of the rectangular portions distributes a plurality of microstructures. The rectangular portions are assigned serial numbers along the direction from the light incident surface to the side surface. The microstructure density in each of the rectangular portions between the first rectangular portion and the last rectangular portion satisfies the formula: ai=(ai?1+ai+ai+1)/3, where i represents the serial number of the rectangular portion, N represents the total number of the rectangular portions, 1<i<N, and i and N are natural numbers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: LI-YING WANG HE
  • Publication number: 20140177277
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a light incident surface, a light output surface, a bottom surface opposite to the light output surface, and a plurality of dots formed on the bottom surface. Each dot includes a first curved surface, a second curved surface and two flat surfaces separately interconnecting the first curved surface and the second curved surface. The first curved surface is configured for perpendicularly reflecting light towards the light output surface. The second curved surface is configured for scattering and reflecting light back into the light guide plate. The two flat surfaces are configured for diverging light to lateral sides of an original path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: LI-YING WANG HE
  • Publication number: 20140176868
    Abstract: Electronic devices may include displays. A display may include display layers having an array of display pixels and a backlight unit that provides backlight illumination to the display pixels. The backlight unit may include a light guide plate that distributes light across the display layers and a stack of optical films that may be used to enhance backlight performance. The optical films may be interposed between the light guide plate and the display layers. The light guide plate may be provided with one or more rounded edges formed from curved surfaces and/or one or more beveled edges formed from chamfered surfaces. Providing the light guide plate with rounded or beveled edges may minimize abrasive contact between the light guide plate and the adjacent optical films. An injection molding tool may be used to mold a light guide plate with rounded or beveled edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Xinyu Zhu, Po-Wen Chiu, Jun Qi
  • Publication number: 20140177198
    Abstract: A light source module includes a light guide plate, a reflective plate, and at least one light emitting component. The reflective plate is provided at one side of the light guide plate, and the light emitting component is adjacent to the light guide plate. The light guide plate has at least one surface having an array of plural transparent microstructures. Each of the transparent microstructures has at least one inclined angle on its lateral side. The inclined angles, the sides, and the arrangement density of the transparent microstructures can be the same or changed depending on the positions of the transparent microstructures. The shape of the transparent microstructure can be changed for different requirements. By changing the inclined angles, the sides, and the arrangement density of the transparent microstructures, the light brightness and the light uniformity can be enhanced, and the visual perception of light brightness can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: POWER LENS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Pei-Yuan Hung, Wei-Hung Liao, An-Chi Wei, Jyh-Long Chern
  • Patent number: 8760602
    Abstract: A direct backlight device including a light source arranged on the rear surface of a light-guiding plate and a liquid crystal display apparatus including the backlight device are provided, in which light extracting efficiency from the light-guiding plate is improved and luminance can be prevented from lowering or can be improved. The backlight device includes a light source arranged on the rear surface opposite to a light-emitting surface, and a reflective-angle modified portion, for example, a concave-convex portion formed by sandblast to modify a reflective angle of light emitted from the light source is provided at least on the light-emitting surface and/or the rear surface. A light reflective angle equal to or smaller than the critical angle is modified to improve the light extracting efficiency from the light-emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: Masaru Minami
  • Publication number: 20140160796
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a light guide plate (LGP) capable of bidirectional focusing via a bidirectional micro-transmissive layer, a fabrication method of the LGP, an extrusion equipment, a backlight module and a display device. The LGP comprises a LGP substrate, the LGP substrate comprises at least one incident surface for receiving a light beam and one outgoing surface connected to the at least one incident surface, a bidirectional micro-transmissive layer is provided in the LGP substrate, the bidirectional micro-transmissive layer comprises a plurality of micro-transmissive points having biconvex surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicants: Hefei BOE Display Light Co., Ltd., BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuyong He, Yaling Kang
  • Publication number: 20140153286
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a light guide plate, a backlight module and a display device with the light guide plate comprising a bottom surface containing space for holding light sources, a light emitting surface opposite the bottom surface and a quantum dot layer is arranged in the containing space in the direction of the light emitting surface. Since the bottom surface of the light guide plate is provided with the containing space for holding the light sources, and the light sources are limited within the containing space, light diffusion due to the fact that the light sources are positioned outside the light guide plate is reduced, loss of light is reduced, and quantity of the light sources in the backlight module is reduced. Since the quantum dot layer is arranged in the containing space toward a direction of the light emitting surface, white mixed light is formed according to fluorescent effect of quantum dot materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SHANSHAN ZHOU
  • Patent number: 8740443
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a light guide. A first light input section receives light in a first direction into said light guide. First direction-dependent outcoupling structures selectively couple out light propagating in said first direction in said light guide. A second light input section receives light in a second direction into said light guide. Said second direction is different than said first direction. Second direction-dependent outcoupling structures selectively couple out light propagating in said second direction in said light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Core Wireless Licensing S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Pentti Ahlgren, Pauli Laitinen
  • Patent number: 8733999
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a display backlight having a substrate and a plurality of light-receiving channels formed in that substrate. At least some of these channels have a depth that varies as a gradient along a longitudinal axis of the channel that is substantially axially aligned with a light-receiving input for the channel. These channels can be formed substantially parallel to one another. The aforementioned light-receiving inputs can, if desired, be formed at either end of each such channel and can be disposed inwardly of an edge of the substrate. Also if desired, at least some of these channels can be disposed other than at an orthogonal angle with respect to such substrate edges. So configured, light rays that orthogonally enter the light-receiving inputs will have an opportunity to contact the edges of the channels and be reflected outwardly of the channel to provide the desired backlighting effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventors: Reuven Rahamim, John Souter
  • Publication number: 20140140099
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a light incident surface, a side surface opposite to the light incident surface, and a light emitting surface connecting to the light incident surface and the side surface. The light emitting surface has a first portion adjacent to the light incident surface and a second portion adjacent to the side surface. The first portion defines a number of first micro recesses. The second portion defines a number of second micro recesses. In a plane perpendicular to the light emitting surface and the side surface, a cross section of each second micro recess is a portion of an ellipse. A major axis of the ellipse is inclined towards the light incident surface. A maximum depth of each second micro recess is greater than a maximum depth of each first micro recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: YUNG-LUN HUANG
  • Patent number: 8714801
    Abstract: An input device with multiple layers of luminous patterns is provided. The input device includes an input interface, a first light-emitting element, a second light-emitting element, and a light guide plate. The light guide plate includes an upper light-guiding layer, a lower light-guiding layer, and a gap. The upper light-guiding layer and the lower light-guiding layer are separated from each other by the gap. The light guide plate has multiple layers of luminous patterns, which are selectively visible. Consequently, the overall thickness of the input device is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8714803
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lighting device using a light guide plate. The lighting device includes a light guide plate, and light source units. The light guide plate is configured such that the front surface thereof, through which light beams are emitted, is divided or blocked into a plurality of portions by forming light transmission preventing grooves. The light source units are configured such that the light guide plate reflects the light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Hyu Wan Park
  • Patent number: 8705915
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing illumination by using a light guide to distribute light and for determining spacing between light turning features in the light guide. In one aspect, a light intensity profile along a first axis is determined and the pitch of light turning features along that first axis is varied based upon this profile, while the pitch along a second crossing axis (for example, an orthogonal axis) and the sizes of the light turning features remain unchanged. In some implementations, an apparatus includes a light guide having an array of light turning features configured to turn light from at least one light emitter. The light turning features can be non-uniformly spaced apart along a first axis such that pitches vary non-monotonically and, along a second axis that crosses the first axis, the light turning features are spaced apart with substantially the same progression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lai Wang, Marek Mienko, Ion Bita
  • Publication number: 20140098566
    Abstract: An article of manufacture includes first and second micro-features of well-defined shape. In some embodiments, the article of manufacture is a light guide or redirecting film and the second micro-features are micro-optical elements configured to disrupt a specular optical path that includes the second micro-optical element. In other embodiments, the article of manufacture is a patterning tool for use in making an optical substrate. Embodiments of the optical substrate are formed by injection molding or embossing using the patterning tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Kurt R. Starkey, Robert M. Ezell, Fumitomo Hide
  • Patent number: 8692464
    Abstract: A light guiding plate and a backlight module and a display device applying the light guiding plate are provided, in which a structure of prisms on a light emergence surface of the light guiding plate is designed by, for example, adopting a mixed structure of prisms in different specifications, regulating the specifications of the prisms, such as a vertex angle and a corresponding reprint ratio, varying the reprint ratio of the prisms with respect to a distance from a light incident surface of the light guiding plate, or combining the aforementioned design solutions, thereby adjusting a light emitting effect of the light guiding plate, increasing uniformity of backlight, and improving display quality of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chiung-Han Wang, Shau-Yu Tsai
  • Patent number: 8678635
    Abstract: A surface light source device has a light emitting surface and includes a light guide plate having a light exit surface and a pair of light entrance surfaces. When the angular distribution of luminance in a plane parallel to a first direction is measured on the light emitting surface at varying positions along the first direction, the peak angle ?c in the angular distribution of luminance at a center position Pc in the first direction lies between the peak angle ?a in the angular distribution of luminance at an end position on one side in the first direction and the peak angle ?b in the angular distribution of luminance at an end position on the other side in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Goto, Hiroshi Sekiguchi, Hiroshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140063854
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for manufacturing a light guiding plate. The apparatus for manufacturing a light guiding plate includes an unwinding unit unwinding a film formed of a flexible material and wound in a roll shape, a winding unit winding the film provided from the unwinding unit in a roll shape, a surface treatment unit disposed between the unwinding unit and the winding unit to treat a surface of the film transferred into the winding part into a hydrophobic surface, a pattern formation unit disposed between the surface treatment unit and the winding unit to form a micro lens pattern on the surface of the film of which the surface is treated, and a pattern curing unit disposed between the pattern formation unit and the winding unit to cure the pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Kyoung Soo Park, Sung Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 8657477
    Abstract: An illumination unit includes LEDs and a tabular light guide plate having a light emitting surface for emitting light from the LEDs as planar light, wherein a recessed portion is formed in the opposite surface of the light emitting surface of the light guide plate, and the LED is provided in the recessed portion so that the optical axis of the LED becomes parallel to the light emitting surface of the light guide plate. Here, a dimming pattern is provided at a location corresponding to the LED of the light emitting surface of the light guide plate, and furthermore a first light guide pattern is provided on the light emitting surface of the light guide plate and a second light guide pattern is provided on a rear surface that is a reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Shiraishi, Masayuki Tanabe, Mika Tanimura, Shoji Yamamoto, Kenji Takano, Yoshifumi Shimane, Yasuaki Ohara, Reiji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140049726
    Abstract: An electronic device display may have display layers that provide images for a user. Backlight structures may provide backlight for the display layers. The backlight structures may include a light source such as an array of light-emitting diodes. A light guide plate in the backlight structures may be used to distribute the light from the light-emitting diodes throughout the display. The light guide plate may have a main rectangular area that overlaps the display. The main rectangular area may have refractive light scattering structures such as a layer containing clear beads. The refractive light scattering structures may scatter light from the light guide plate for use as backlight. A strip of light diffracting structures such as holographic structures or grating structures may be used to mix light from the light-emitting diodes along the border of the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Jun Qi, Victor H. Yin, Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8651722
    Abstract: A backlight module comprises a backplate having a baseplate and side plates, a direct-lit LED array, edge-lit LED arrays and a light guide panel. The light guide panel is located above the baseplate. The direct-lit LED array is disposed between the baseplate and the light guide panel. The edge-lit LED arrays are disposed at two sides of the light guide panel and facing light incident surfaces thereof respectively. Light scattering structures for scattering light rays are disposed on a light exiting surface or on a bottom surface of the light guide panel. With the LED arrays and the light scattering structures, the light guide panel is divided into three backlight regions. Displaying of the backlight module is controlled region by region by the light scattering structures and the LED drive circuit to improve the brightness of the backlight module and reduce the power consumption of the liquid crystal module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ruilian Yang
  • Publication number: 20140043856
    Abstract: Extended area lighting devices, which are useful e.g. as luminaires, include a light guide and diffractive surface features on a major surface of the light guide. The diffractive surface features are tailored to extract guided-mode light from the light guide. The light guides can be combined with other components and features such as light source(s) to inject guided-mode light into the light guide, light source(s) to project light through the light guide as non-guided-mode light, a framework of interconnected support members (attached to multiple such light guides), and/or a patterned low index subsurface layer that selectively blocks some guided mode light from reaching the diffractive surface features, to provide unique and useful lighting devices. Related optical devices, and optical films having diffractive features that can be used to construct such devices and light guides, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: David S. Thompson, Zhaohui Yang, Matthew S. Stay
  • Publication number: 20140029305
    Abstract: A light source module including a light emitting element and a light guiding element is provided. The light guiding element has a light incident surface, a light emitting surface, a first surface, a second surface, a first reflective layer, and a second reflective layer. The light emitting element faces to the light incident surface. The light incident surface is connected to the light emitting surface. The first surface is connected to the light emitting surface and opposite to the light incident surface. The first surface is non-parallel to the light incident surface. The second surface is connected to the first surface and opposite to the light emitting surface. The first reflective layer is disposed on the first surface. The second reflective layer is disposed on the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Zhi-Ting Ye, Ming-Chuan Lin, Kuo-Jui Huang
  • Patent number: 8622603
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a light source, a light guide plate and at least one optical film. The light source has a plurality of light emitting devices. The light guide plate includes a light entrance portion, a main body portion and at least one positioning structure. The light entrance portion has a top surface and a light entrance surface. The light source is disposed corresponding to the light entrance surface. The top surface is adjacently connected to the light entrance surface. The main body is connected to the light entrance portion and has a first light extraction surface connecting the top surface. The positioning structure is disposed on the top surface and corresponding to an interval between two adjacent light emitting devices, and has an accommodating space. The optical film is disposed above the light guide plate and has at least one protruding portion disposed in the accommodating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Chieh Kuan, Yung-Chih Liu
  • Patent number: 8616875
    Abstract: A stamp includes a metal supporting layer, a pattern forming layer and an adhesive layer. The metal supporting layer has a first thermal conductivity. The pattern forming layer is disposed on the metal supporting layer and has a surface with a molding pattern formed thereon. The adhesive layer is disposed between the metal supporting layer and the pattern forming layer to couple the pattern forming layer to the metal supporting layer, and has a second thermal conductivity lower than the first thermal conductivity. Thus, strength of the stamp may be improved, and deformation of the stamp during the process of manufacturing a light guide plate may be reduced or prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-Han Ryu, Tae-Seok Kim, Seung-Pyo Hong, Seung-Yeop Lee
  • Patent number: 8613542
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide plate comprising an input surface for receiving light from a light source, an output surface for emitting light, and a bottom surface opposing to the output surface, wherein at least one of the output surface and the bottom surface has a micro-pattern, the micro-pattern comprising a plurality of micro-lenses. The light guide plate further comprises micro-lens having a width w, a length l, a depth d, an orientation angle, a first base angle ?1, a second base angle ?2, a first entry angle ?1, and a second entry angle ?2 such that when depth change ?d is 0.1 ?m, area change ratio, defined as ( l + ? ? ? l ) · ( w + ? ? ? w ) - l · w l · w , is less than or equal to 0.95% and the beginning number density of the micro-lenses is greater than or equal to 8 per mm2, ?w being width change and ?l being length change corresponding to depth change ?d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiang-Dong Mi, Xinyu Zhu
  • Patent number: 8611074
    Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the orientation of a user interface of an electronic system component from a rack mounted orientation to a tower orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation
    Inventors: Balasubramani Hari, Shankar Gopalakrishna, Arjun Jayaprakash, Ravichandran Sankaranarayanan, Murtige Prahlada
  • Publication number: 20130329165
    Abstract: A light guide panel (LGP) for use in a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus includes a light-emitting pattern surface on which light-emitting patterns are formed, an opposite surface opposite to the light-emitting pattern surface, and four edge surfaces. Lenticular patterns are formed on one of the light-emitting pattern surface and the opposite surface. The light-emitting pattern surface includes a light-emitting part in which the light-emitting patterns are formed; and an edge part which extends along the four edge surfaces to enclose the light-emitting part and in which at least one fixing groove is formed to fix the LGP. The light-emitting part includes a pattern reducing region which faces the fixing groove and has a lower light-emitting pattern density than an other region of the light-emitting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Myung-ryul JUNG, Do-hyeon BAEK, Kil-hong LEE, Hyeong-sik CHOI
  • Patent number: 8602630
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes: a light guiding member; a plurality of light-emitting elements; and a reflection member. A light reflection/exit surface of the light guiding member has a concave-convex pattern including a plurality of convex portions reflecting light emitted from the light-emitting elements inward. On the assumption that L is a distance between the light-emitting elements, t is a thickness of the light guiding member, an incident angle ? of the light on the light reflection/exit surface is an angle between a line segment obtained by projecting a light path from the light-emitting element to the light reflection/exit surface and a line segment extending from a central point of the light-emitting element to the light reflection/exit surface, and ? is a maximum angle range of reflected light, a value of the angle range ? decreases as a value of the incident angle ? increases in a range of 0<?<tan-1 (L/t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 8602629
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide plate comprising a light guide plate comprising an input surface for receiving light from a plurality of discrete light sources, an output surface for emitting light, and a bottom surface opposing to the output surface. At least one of the output surface and the bottom surface has a micro-pattern, the micro-pattern comprising micro-lenses distributed in a first direction y-axis that is parallel to the length direction and in a second direction x-axis that is parallel to the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiang-Dong Mi