Type Of Surface Patents (Class 362/619)
  • Patent number: 8215816
    Abstract: A light emitting assembly comprises a light source, a light emitting panel member having an input edge that receives light from the light source, and end edge and side edge reflectors. The panel member is received in a cavity or recess of a tray or housing. An additional component overlies the panel member. Light extracting deformities on or in a surface of the panel member cause light to be emitted from the panel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeffery R. Parker
  • Patent number: 8203668
    Abstract: An optical member 15 is constituted by sticking a lens sheet 28 capable of transmitting light irradiated toward a liquid crystal panel 11 and a diffuser sheet 27 together. The lens sheet 28 is provided with a lens portion 30 having a large number of unit lenses 29 aligned on the front surface, while on the rear surface, provided with a reflecting layer 32 having an opening 31 corresponding to the lens portion 30. The optical member 15 is received on the backside by receiving members 21 and 24 provided respectively in a holder 17 and a lamp holder 16, while being held from the front by a frame 18. A protrusion 33 is provided in the receiving member 24 in the holder 17, which supports the optical member 15 in a posture so that the edge 15a of the optical member 15 and the arrangement of the unit lenses 29 are inclined relatively to the arrangement of the pixel electrodes PE in the liquid crystal panel 11, by abutting an outer circumferential end surface 15b in the optical member 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Kamada
  • Patent number: 8182130
    Abstract: A light guiding structure of a light guide plate is provided. The light guiding structure comprises a plurality of protrusion ridge portions extending along a longitudinal direction. The height or the vertex angle of each protrusion ridge portion periodically or randomly varies along the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chiung-Han Wang, Jing-Huan Liao, Yu-Tsung Huang
  • Patent number: 8177406
    Abstract: A display including a light source for generating light, an optical waveguide for receiving and evenly distributing light in a light propagation direction by total internal reflections and a matrix of electromechanical picture elements for modulating light to produce an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventors: Edward Pakhchyan, Haik Mesropian, Syuzi Pakhchyan
  • Patent number: 8167474
    Abstract: A light guide plate is formed of a light introducing part positioned to face a point light source for confining light and a light guide plate body having a thickness smaller than the thickness of an end of the light introducing part on a point light source side and causing the confined light to be output from a light exit surface to outside. The light introducing part has an inclined surface, and a directivity conversion pattern formed on the inclined surface. The directivity conversion pattern is configured by arranging V grooves in parallel to each other, each having a vertical angle of 120°, and each extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to a light incidence end face of the light guide plate. The length of the inclined surface in a inclination direction where part of light incident to the light introducing part enters the inclined surface at least twice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tanoue, Gouo Kurata, Masayuki Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8162501
    Abstract: A display device including a plurality of light sources spaced apart from one another, a refracting plate disposed over the plurality of light sources, and first and second refracting surfaces formed at both surfaces of the refracting plate to allow light emitted from the light sources to be scattered plural times by passing through the refracting plate, the first and second refracting surfaces having different shapes from each other. With the display device, light emitted from the light sources can be uniformly diffused, whereby high brightness uniformity can be accomplished even at positions relatively close to the light source, resulting in a reduction in a thickness of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Heon Noh, Jong Il Kim, Dong Seob Jang, Seong Ho Youn
  • Publication number: 20120081926
    Abstract: An integrated light guide plate having axial directional luminance distribution has a substrate. The substrate has a light incident plane, a light emission plane and a bottom surface opposite to the light emission surface. The light incident plane has a plurality of V-cuts formed thereon to serve as prisms. The included angle of the V-cuts is between 85° and 105°. A plurality of pyramidal recesses is formed on the bottom surface of the substrate. Given the formation of the V-cuts and the pyramidal recesses, the integrated light guide plate of the present invention provides an enhanced axial luminous intensity without requiring additional diffuser sheets and prism sheets. Accordingly, the integrated light guide plate has a good directional axial luminance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: NATIONAL KAOHSIUNG FIRST UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: JYH-CHENG YU, SHAO-TANG ZHANG JIAN
  • Patent number: 8147111
    Abstract: A light guide plate including a body and a plurality of prism microstructures is provided. The body has a bottom surface, a light emitting surface opposite to the bottom surface, and a plurality of side surfaces. The light emitting surface has a central area and at least one peripheral area outside the central area. The prism microstructures are disposed on the light emitting surface and the bottom surface. The prism microstructure disposed on the light emitting surface includes a plurality of first prism microstructures in the central area and a plurality of second prism microstructures in the peripheral area. A top angle ?2 of the second prism microstructure is greater than a top angle ?1 of the first prism microstructure. A backlight module including the above-mentioned light guide plate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chiung-Han Wang, Jing-Huan Liao, Yu-Tsung Huang
  • Patent number: 8142062
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a waveguide having first and second opposing ends and first and second opposing sides between the first and second ends. The waveguide is configured to totally internally reflect light propagating through the waveguide in a first direction and direct light propagating through the waveguide in a second direction through at least one of the first and second sides. A reflective body is coupled to the second end of the waveguide and configured to reflect light propagating towards the second end of the waveguide such that the light propagates towards the first end of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Saccomanno, Ivan B. Steiner
  • Patent number: 8144287
    Abstract: An optical member 15 is constituted by sticking a lens sheet 28 capable of transmitting light irradiated toward a liquid crystal panel 11 and a diffuser sheet 27 together. The lens sheet 28 is provided with a lens portion 30 having a large number of unit lenses 29 aligned on the front surface, while on the rear surface, provided with a reflecting layer 32 having an opening 31 corresponding to the lens portion 30. The optical member 15 is received on the backside by receiving members 21 and 24 provided respectively in a holder 17 and a lamp holder 16, while being held from the front by a frame 18. An inclined posture supporting member 33 is provided in the receiving member 24 in the holder 17, which supports the optical member 15 in a posture so that the edge 15a of the optical member 15 and the arrangement of the unit lenses 29 are inclined relatively to the arrangement of the pixel electrodes PE in the liquid crystal panel 11, by abutting an outer circumferential end surface 15b in the optical member 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Kamada
  • Patent number: 8136976
    Abstract: A light guiding structure of a light guide plate is provided. The light guiding structure comprises a plurality of protrusion ridge portions extending along a longitudinal direction. The height or the vertex angle of each protrusion ridge portion periodically or randomly varies along the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chiung-Han Wang, Jing-Huan Liao, Yu-Tsung Huang
  • Publication number: 20120051091
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical sheet having a plurality of light guide plates patterns, each light guide plate pattern having a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface. The optical sheet is made in steps comprising: extruding a resin into the nip between a first patterned roller and a second patterned roller at a first patterned roller surface temperature T1, a second patterned roller temperature T2, and a nip pressure P1, to form the optical sheet, the optical sheet having a first patterned surface and a second patterned surface, the first patterned surface having a micro-pattern transferred from the first patterned roller and the second patterned surface having a micro-pattern transferred from the second patterned roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael R. Landry, Herong Lei, Jehuda Greener, Xiang-Dong Mi, Ju-Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 8118467
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a light incident surface, and a plurality of lenticular lenses and microstructure assemblies. The light incident surface is connected with the first surface and the second surface, and light beams enter the light guide plate by the light incident surface. The lenticular lenses are disposed on the first surface. Each of the lenticular lenses is suitable to deflect imaginary light beams that are incident on the first surface in a predetermined direction to form a focus region on the second surface. The microstructure assemblies are disposed on the focus regions for guiding the light beams incident on the focus regions. A plurality of planar regions are formed on the second surface. Each of the planar regions is disposed between two adjacent microstructure assemblies and suitable for totally reflecting the light beams incident thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Tun-Chien Teng, Jyh-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 8118468
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for illuminating a display. In certain embodiments, the illumination apparatus includes a light guide that receives light from a light generator along an edge of the light guide and directs the received light via light extractor features (e.g., grooves) towards a display. The light guide includes at least two sets of light extractor features that are rotated with respect to each other so as to reduce a shadowing effect on the display when the display is viewed from within a specific range of viewing angles. In further embodiments, the spacing or orientation of each or one of the extractor feature sets may also be adjusted so that other visual artifacts, such as a Moiré effect, are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ion Bita, Gang Xu
  • Patent number: 8109666
    Abstract: A light guide member of the present invention is made of a light transmitting material. The light guide includes a light emitting surface 13, which extends in direction x and includes a lens surface 31 for converging light in direction y. The light guide also includes a light incident surface 11 provided at one of the ends spaced from each other in the direction x. The light emitting surface 13 includes a transitional region 13a adjacent to the light incident surface 11, where the transitional region includes the lens surface 31 and a round pillar surface 32. In the transitional region 13a, the lens surface 31 becomes less dominant in area as proceeding in the direction x toward the light incident surface 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Sawada, Norihiro Imamura, Motoari Shoji
  • Patent number: 8109665
    Abstract: A backlight module is provided. The backlight module has a reflective chamber and a light source. The reflective chamber includes a bottom reflector, a top reflector, at least a light entrance, and a plurality of light emitting openings disposed on the top reflector. The light source is disposed corresponding to the light entrance. The number of the light emitting openings per unit area in a region near the light source is less than the number of the light emitting openings per unit area in another region far from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Pin Lin, Tzung-Yang Li, Chien-Lung Tsou, Chi-Neng Mo
  • Patent number: 8104944
    Abstract: Optical assembly comprises a light emitting panel member having opposite sides and an input edge for receiving light from light sources optically coupled to a different location along the input edge. On or in at least one of the sides of the panel member is a pattern of individual optical deformities that are varied throughout the pattern and shaped or oriented throughout the pattern to extract light propagating through the panel member in different directions for viewing from different angles through one of the sides of the panel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Jeffery R. Parker, Robert M. Ezell
  • Patent number: 8096692
    Abstract: A surface light-emitting device includes a transparent plate having two main surfaces and a light source. The light source is arranged adjacent to a side of the transparent plate so that the light source radiates light to the inside of the transparent plate from the side of the transparent plate. One main surface of the transparent plate is formed with a plurality of cone-shaped dimples, which reflect radiated light toward the other main surface of the transparent plate. The surface light-emitting device may further include a black sheet arranged adjacent to one main surface of the transparent plate formed with the plurality of cone-shaped dimples. The surface light-emitting device can be used as a guide device for an input/output interface unit of an automated transaction apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventor: Yutaka Yoneda
  • Patent number: 8092065
    Abstract: The invention discloses a multi-function planar light source illumination lamp having a containing space and comprising a first lighting unit, a second lighting unit, a light guide unit and a control unit. The first lighting unit is used for generating a first light source arranged as a linear element. The second lighting unit is used for generating a second light source arranged as a punctual array. The light guide unit, disposed in the containing space, is used for providing the multi-function planar light source illumination lamp to generate a homogeneous planar light source. The control unit generates a control signal for controlling the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit to generate a luminous flux of the first light source and the second light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology Armaments Bureau, Ministry of National Defense
    Inventors: Mau-Shiun Yeh, Yung-Fang Chou, Fu-Sheng Sung
  • Patent number: 8087811
    Abstract: A display including a light source for generating light, an optical waveguide for receiving and evenly distributing light in a light propagation direction by total internal reflections and a matrix of picture elements constructed on the upper surface of the waveguide, the picture elements including electrically activated micro-mechanical actuators having optical properties for modulating light to produce an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventors: Edward Pakhchyan, Haik Mesropian, Syuzi Pakhchyan
  • Patent number: 8079744
    Abstract: An illuminating brick includes a block and at least one light-emitting element mounted in the brick. The brick has a top face, a bottom face and a plurality of lateral side surfaces interconnecting the top and bottom faces. The at least one light-emitting element is engaged in and optically coupled to at least one of the bottom face and lateral side surfaces. The lateral side surfaces and the bottom face are configured for reflecting and directing light emitted from the at least a light-emitting element to exit through the top face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Foxsemicon Integrated Technology, Inc
    Inventors: Chih-Chung Tsao, Shu-Hui Hsieh, Mei-Jiun Lin, Hung-Chih Yang, Ping-Yu Chen, Tse-An Lee
  • Patent number: 8075174
    Abstract: A light guide plate microstructure is provided. The light guide plate microstructure is located on at least one surface of the light guide plate and has a plurality of groove units. Each groove unit has multiple V-shaped grooves, and each V-shaped groove has an apex angle within a range of about 80°-160°. Furthermore, at least two of the V-shaped grooves of a groove unit have different apex angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shau-Yu Tsai, Super Liao
  • Patent number: 8070345
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a body having a bottom surface and a light output surface opposite to the bottom surface. A reflector is located on the light output surface opposite to the center of the bottom surface. The reflector is a cavity concaved from the light output surface to the inside of the body. A plurality of scattering dots are located on the bottom surface. The scattering dots are arranged in the form of a plurality of concentric circles around the center of the bottom surface. The number of the scattering dots is defined based on a radius of the circle they reside on, and the radius of the circle is greater than or substantially equal to 4 millimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: He Zhang, Jun Zhu, Yan Zhao, Guo-Fan Jin
  • Patent number: 8052319
    Abstract: Disclosed are a diffusion plate and a display apparatus having the same. The diffusion plate includes a base and a plurality of convex portions. The base includes a front surface and a rear surface. Each convex portion has a crescent of an ellipse formed on a front surface of the base while extending in one direction. The display apparatus includes a display panel, a light source, and the diffusion plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung-Woon Lee, Jung-Wook Paek
  • Patent number: 8047699
    Abstract: An illuminating device includes a light source module for emitting light and an optical lens configured for adjusting the light emitted from the light source module. The optical lens includes an array of lens units. Each lens unit includes a main body, a light diverging portion and a light converging portion. The main body includes a light incident surface and a light emitting surface opposite to the light incident surface. The light diverging portion is configured for expanding a light field along a first direction, and the light converging portion is configured for compressing a light field along a second direction. The light diverging portion and the light converging portion are formed on at least one of the light incident surface and the light emitting surface. The light diverging portion includes parallel protrusions distributed along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Foxsemicon Integrated Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Kai Cheng, Jyh-Long Chern, Ping-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 8042984
    Abstract: A point light source is converted into a plane light source having a satisfactory uniformity. The point light source is converted into a line light source by means of a linear light guiding plate, and further into the plane light source by means of a plane-like light guiding plate. Light from the point light source is reflected at a lamp reflector to be incident on at least two side surfaces of the plane-like light guiding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kimura, Rumo Satake
  • Publication number: 20110255305
    Abstract: Provided is a multi-layer light guide apparatus. Various optical paths are formed as a light source emits light into the apparatus. Main structure of the apparatus includes a body and a micro-structured layer. The body has a first layer with first refractive index (n1) and a second layer with second refractive index (n2). The first layer has a first critical angle (?C1). An interface critical angle (?C12) is formed between the associated first layer and second layer. The light then outputs as the light propagates through the layers. The micro-structured layer is formed on a side of the body. It features: n1<n2;0<|?C12??C1|?35°; A third layer with a third index of refraction (n3) is further included. A second interface critical angle (?C23) is formed between the second layer and the third layer. It features: n1<n2<n3;?C23>?C12;0<|?C12??C1|?35°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: ENTIRE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YAN ZUO CHEN, CHUNG-HUNG CHIEN, WEN-FENG CHENG, HAO-XIANG LIN
  • Publication number: 20110242848
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide plate having an input surface for receiving light from a light source, a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface, made in steps comprising: extruding a resin into the nip between a pressure roller and a patterned roller to form a layer at a patterned roller surface temperature T1 and a nip pressure P1, the layer having an un-patterned surface and a patterned surface, the patterned surface having a pattern transferred from the patterned roller. Printing a discrete pattern on the un-patterned surface of the layer to form an optical sheet comprising a plurality of light guide plate patterns, and cutting and finishing the said optical sheet into a plurality of double-sided light guide plates having the specified length and width dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SKC Haas Display Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiang-Dong MI, Jehuda Greener, Herong Lei, Michael R. Landry
  • Publication number: 20110242847
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide plate having an input surface for receiving light from a light source, a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface, made in steps comprising: extruding a first resin into the nip between a first pressure roller and a first patterned roller to form a first layer. Extruding a second resin into the nip between a second pressure roller and a second patterned roller to form a second layer. Laminating the first layer and the second layer at their unpatterned surfaces to form an optical sheet comprising a plurality of light guide plate patterns, and cutting and finishing the optical sheet into a plurality of double-sided light guide plates having the specified length and width dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jehuda GREENER, Xiang-Dong Mi, Michael R. Landry, Herong Lei
  • Patent number: 8011821
    Abstract: A planar illumination device includes at least one light source, a housing structure, at least one light guide plate, and at least one light exiting surface. The at least one light source is received in the housing structure. The housing structure includes at least one light emitting surface through which the light emitted from the at least one light source exits the at least one housing. The at least one light guide plate includes at least one light incidence surface through which the light enters into the at least one light guide plate, and contacts with the at least one light emitting surface. The light exits the at least one light guide plate through the at least one light exiting surface. The at least one light exiting surface includes a plurality of continuously connected bulge points formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Foxsemicon Integrated Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Chung Tsao, Mei-Jiun Lin, Hung-Chih Yang, Shu-Hui Hsieh, Chih-Ming Lai, Tse-An Lee
  • Publication number: 20110211368
    Abstract: A light guide plate has a substantially flat shape and used as a backlight for an electronic appliance. The light guide plate introduces thereinto illuminating light emitted from a light source through part of a side surface thereof and directs the illuminating light out of the light guide plate through light emitting parts formed in a main surface of the light guide plate, in which a light-receiving surface for the illuminating light on the side surface is inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the main surface. Thus, illuminating light is refracted, enters the light guide plate, and propagates in the light guide plate while undergoing total internal reflection. Light can be effectively directed out of the light guide plate through the light emitting parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventor: Hidehiko Mishima
  • Patent number: 8007160
    Abstract: Disclosed are a light guide which distributes light, transmitted from a light source, uniformly to a light emission surface of the light guide, and a display device and an image forming apparatus using the light guide. The light guide includes a light incidence part having a diffusion structure diffusing light, a reflecting surface reflecting the light diffused by the diffusion structure to reduce a light loss from the light guide, and a light guide part guiding light between the light incidence part and the light emission part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung Rok Kim
  • Publication number: 20110194308
    Abstract: A light guide plate for distributing light from a light source includes a light scattering surface, a light output surface opposite to the light scattering surface, and a number of side surfaces surrounding the light scattering surface and the light output surface. The light scattering surface includes a number of light scattering dots thereon. The light scattering dots are arranged into a number of rows arranged from a first side of the light scattering surface to an opposite side of the light scattering surface. A distance between every two adjacent rows of the light scattering dots gradually decreases from the first side to the second side, such that the light scattering dots at the second side of the light scattering surface have a greater density than the light scattering dots at the first side of the light scattering surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: I-THUN LIN
  • Patent number: 7986451
    Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, an interferometric display device is provided having an external film with a plurality of structures that redirect light from an inactive area of the display to an active area of the display. Light incident on the external film that would normally continue towards an inactive area of the display is either reflected, refracted, or scattered towards an active area of the display comprising moveable and static reflective surfaces that form an optical cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Gally, William J. Cummings
  • Publication number: 20110170036
    Abstract: An area light source device that is capable of more evenly emitting light and capable of enhancing the light emission luminance by exiting light of narrower directional characteristics. A light guide substrate includes a light introducing section and a light guide plate main body for exiting the light from a light exit surface. A number of diffusion patterns are formed at the light exit surface. A low refraction index layer is formed at the lower surface of the light guide plate main body, and a reflection layer is formed at the lower surface of the low refraction index layer. The point light source is arranged at a position facing the end face of the light introducing section. A tapered portion inclined to gradually increase the thickness of the light introducing section the farther away from the light source is arranged on the upper surface of the light introducing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takako Ishikawa, Yasuhiro Tanoue, Masayuki Shinohara, Yoshihiro Ueno
  • Patent number: 7967489
    Abstract: An optical sheet includes a base film, a plurality of prism patterns and a plurality of first embossing patterns. The prism patterns are formed on an upper surface of the base film. Each of the prism patterns has the shape of a trigonal prism and includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface. The first and second inclined surfaces are inclined with respect to the upper surface of the base film and meet each other at a peak portion. First embossing patterns are formed at the peak portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Hoon Kim, Jin-Sung Choi, Jeong-Hwan Lee, Seung-Mo Kim
  • Patent number: 7969531
    Abstract: A backlighting apparatus for a flat panel LCD display includes an elongate light guide having a front wall through which travels polarized light in a direction toward the LCD display. An RGB LED set is positioned adjacent a first end wall of the light guide so that light enters the light guide from the first end wall. A retardation and reflection film covers respective external surfaces of the bottom wall and a second end wall. Microlenses are formed in the front wall along its extent and each microlens is filled with a birefringent material. Light emitted by the LED set travels through a collimated light coupling module and exits the light guide through the birefringent microlenses in polarized form toward the LCD display. The viewing angles and angular light distributions of the LCD display in vertical and horizontal directions are optimized for enhancing the brightness without involving DBEF and BEF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Jabil Circuit, Inc.
    Inventors: Lin Li, Israel J. Morejon, Jinhui Zhai, Evan O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20110149605
    Abstract: There is provided a light guide sheet and a key sheet using said light guide sheet, said light guide provided at the rear surface side of a key top configured with a plurality of key buttons, said light guide sheet guiding light beam from a light source for lighting up said plurality of key buttons from their back surface side, comprising: a light guide portion having a plate-like shape; a periphery portion formed integrally around said light guide portion, said periphery portion whose thickness is thinner than that of said light guide portion, in which a surface facing the rear surface of said key top has a flat surface, and a side surface is a receiving surface of the light beam outputted by said light source, wherein said periphery portion maintains a distance between the rear surface of said key top and the front surface of said light guide portion in a certain distance when said flat surface of said periphery portion contacts the rear surface of said key top.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventor: Ryo Sato
  • Publication number: 20110141764
    Abstract: A backlight module is provided. The backlight module has a reflective chamber and a light source. The reflective chamber includes a bottom reflector, a top reflector, at least a light entrance, and a plurality of light emitting openings disposed on the top reflector. The light source is disposed corresponding to the light entrance. The number of the light emitting openings per unit area in a region near the light source is less than the number of the light emitting openings per unit area in another region far from the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Tzu-Pin Lin, Tzung-Yang Li, Chien-Lung Tsou, Chi-Neng Mo
  • Patent number: 7935916
    Abstract: A system and/or a method reads, measures and/or controls intensity of light emitted from a light-emitting diode (LED). The system and/or the method have a light intensity detector adjacent to the LED for reading and/or measuring the intensity of light emitted from the LED. The system and/or the method have a control circuit that may be electrically connected to both the detector and/or the LED for measuring and/or for controlling an intensity of light emitted from the LED. A housing surrounds the light detector and/or the LED. The housing has a pathway that allows only light emitted from the LED to reach the light detector. The LED has a finish and/or a coating that eliminates and/or retards absorption of light by internal components of the LED. The finish and/or the coating eliminates and/or retards reflection of the light by the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Phaedrus, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley W. Engstrand
  • Publication number: 20110090713
    Abstract: A flexible backlight module includes a light source module and a flexible light guide panel, wherein the flexible light guide panel has a light incident surface, a light reflecting surface, and a light outgoing surface. The light incident surface of the flexible light guide panel is directly connected and thereby optically coupled to the light source module so that the light emitted by the light source module can be completely coupled to the flexible light guide panel. Consequently, the loss of light is reduced while the luminous efficiency of light is increased. Light entering the flexible light guide panel is reflected by the light reflecting surface to the light outgoing surface and then projected outward. The flexible light guide panel can be curved as needed thanks to its flexibility and thus features a wide application range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Helio Optoelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Hung Chen, Jing-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 7918597
    Abstract: A spread illuminating apparatus is provided where: a light introducing prism mechanism is formed at a light entrance surface of a light guide plate wherein the prism mechanism includes a plurality of prism pieces extending in the thickness direction of the light guide plate and including first and second light incidence faces which have respective different inclination angles relative to the light entrance surface such that the first and second light incidence face are inclined relative to the light incidence surface at an angle ranging from 0 degree to 30 degrees and at an angle ranging from 45 degrees to 90 degrees; a light emitting pattern is formed at the bottom surface of the light guide plate such that prisms are continuously disposed in a step-like manner in the direction perpendicular to the light entrance surface; and a light diffusing pattern is formed at the top surface of the light guide plate such that arc prisms are disposed in the direction parallel to the light entrance surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Kunimochi
  • Patent number: 7914192
    Abstract: A light transmitting diffusing sheet can be used in backlighting systems for liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Such displays are typically used in televisions, computer monitors, laptop computers and handheld devices such as mobile phones. Embodiments of the light diffusing sheets are suitable for use with both cold-cathode fluorescent (CCFL) and light emitting diode based backlighting systems. Desired light transmitting properties in the light transmitting diffusing sheet have been achieved by modifying both the volume and surface features of the sheet. Embodiments of this invention when used as part of the backlighting assembly for a LCD system results in improved brightness and controlled viewing angles. In one embodiment, substantially asymmetric particles in the volume of the sheet are combined with a ridged structure on one surface of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Fusion Optix, Inc.
    Inventor: Zane Coleman
  • Patent number: 7905651
    Abstract: A diffusively reflective film includes a base film, a light reflection layer and a light diffusion layer. The base film is flexible. The light reflection layer is disposed on the base film. The light reflection film reflects a first light. The light diffusion layer is disposed on the light reflection layer. The light diffusion layer diffuses the first light to form a second light. The diffusively reflective film may be bent to cover the light guide plate without being broken so as to increase the amount of light. Thus, a display quality is enhanced. Further, the diffusively reflective film covers the first side face, the second side face and the first face of light guide plate at once. Thus, productivity is enhanced and its manufacturing cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Woong Han, Kyu-Seok Kim, Jeong-Hwan Lee, Young-Bee Chu
  • Patent number: 7898613
    Abstract: Provided is a backlight unit that increases brightness and increases uniformity of the brightness. The backlight unit includes a plurality of point light sources. A light guide panel includes a first surface that receives incident light from the point light sources. A second surface is where the lights from the point light sources cross. Prism patterns are formed on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Won Jung, Ki Won Kim
  • Patent number: 7891829
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus. The apparatus has a housing including a plurality of key pads, including at least twenty six key pads spatially disposed within the housing. Each of the key pads is depressible upon touch by a user. An optically transparent circuit board is coupled to a backside of each of the key pads. The apparatus has a light guide characterized by a planar optically transparent material having a surface region, a width, a length, and a backside region, and a thickness provided between the surface region and the backside region. The apparatus has a plurality of patterns disposed on the surface region and optically coupled respectively to each of the twenty six key members. In a specific embodiment, the apparatus has a light emitting diode provided within a center region of the surface region to emit electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshisada Takeda, Satoshi Kawashima, Junji Yuasa, Yohei Ishii
  • Patent number: 7887227
    Abstract: The transreflectors may comprise a transparent substrate having reflective surfaces and other light transmissive surfaces for respectively reflecting and transmitting a greater portion of the light striking opposite sides of the substrate. Alternatively, the transreflectors may comprise two or more transparent substrates of different indices of refraction bonded together, with a pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of one of the substrates and an inverse pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of an other substrate in mating engagement with each other. The transreflectors are used in a transreflector system or display to transmit more of the light emitted by a backlight or other light source incident on one side of the transreflectors and reflect more of the light incident on the opposite side of the transreflectors. The transreflectors and backlight may be tuned to each other to enable the transreflectors to better transmit more of the light emitted by the backlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
  • Patent number: 7880826
    Abstract: Disclosed is a light guide plate, comprising a light guide plate body and a plurality of micro mirrors formed on an upper surface of the light guide plate body for controlling a reflection direction of light incident on the light guide plate. The amount of light output from a backlight module using the light guide plate can be controlled by adjusting an angle of each of the micro mirrors with respect to an incident light from a light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Beijing Boe Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian Guo, Kiyong Kim, Weifeng Zhou, Xing Ming
  • Patent number: 7862223
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a thin and flexible light guide element, which comprises a first optical layer composed of a flexible transparent material; a second optical layer formed on the lower side of the first optical layer and having a light-adjusting structure to change the light path; and a third optical layer formed on the upper side of the first optical layer and having a convex-concave structure to homogenize the light emitted from the first optical layer, wherein the first and second optical layers have different refractive indices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Eternal Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lung-Lin Hsu
  • Publication number: 20100315836
    Abstract: A brightness enhancing reflector to accurately control the light exiting the guide achieves accurate control of the reflected light by extracting light from a limited area of the light guide. The configuration of the reflectors used for the selective extraction determines the nature of the output light. The reflectors are preferably located on a side of the light guide opposite to an output side of the light guide and in conjunction with an electronic display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventor: Brian Edward Richardson