Reflective Face Patents (Class 362/623)
  • Patent number: 7410286
    Abstract: A video display for two or three dimensions has a flat liquid-crystal screen which ejects light from the plane at a selectable line. One or, in the case of a 3-D display, several video projectors project a linear image into the plane from an edge. A complete image is written on the screen by addressing the line with appropriate images as it is scanned down the screen. To screen a three-dimensional image, the video projectors, each projecting an image as seen at a slightly different angle, combine to constitute a three-dimensional display which produces a three-dimensional image that is one line high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Adrian Robert Leigh Travis
  • Patent number: 7404662
    Abstract: A light guide plate (10) includes a pair of opposite incidence surfaces (101, 103), an emission surface (108) and a bottom surface (109) opposite to the emission surface. A plurality of dots (11) is distributed on the bottom surface, and each dot is shaped as a rectangle or a square with one corner thereof cut away. Thus, a clearance between adjacent dots is relatively small. That is, a distribution of the dots is relatively compact, and this ensures that the light guide plate can provide emission of light beams with good uniformity. Furthermore, adjacent rows of dots are offset, and this offset can avoid bright lines. Thus, the light guide plate can provide improved display quality. Therefore, the light guide plate can be advantageously applied in back light systems of liquid crystal display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Yi Liao
  • Patent number: 7404661
    Abstract: Light emitting panel assemblies include a light guide having a pattern of individual deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in at least one side of the light guide. At least some of the deformities are quite small in relation to the width and length of the light guide and have two or more surfaces that come together to form ridges. At least some of the ridges are nonlinear over a majority of their length and have opposite end points that intersect the light guide or other deformities where the ridges end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Parker, Gregory A. Coghlan, Robert M. Ezell
  • Patent number: 7401966
    Abstract: A light guide plate (10) includes a pair of opposite incidence surfaces (101, 103), an emission surface (108) and a bottom surface (109) opposite to the emission surface. A plurality of dots (11) is distributed on the bottom surface, and each dot is shaped as a rectangle or a square. In a pitch of every two adjacent dots, at least one side of one dot has at least one cutout (111), and at least one side of the other dot has at least one corresponding protrusion (119). This ensures that a clearance between adjacent dots is relatively small, thus, the light guide plate can provide emission of light beams with good uniformity. Furthermore, clearances between adjacent columns of dots are discontinuous, and this can avoid bright lines. Thus, the light guide plate can provide improved display quality. Therefore, the light guide plate can be advantageously applied in back light systems of liquid crystal display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Yi Liao
  • Patent number: 7400805
    Abstract: A light collection system includes at least one light source, a light tunnel having reflective walls and a collimating plate at the light output end of the tunnel. The collimating plate includes an optical element array. The element array receives the light emitted from the light source and outputs part of the light at a desired cone angle and reflects the remainder back into the tunnel toward the light source. The light is “recycled” in the tunnel until the light either exits the collection system through the collimating plate or gets absorbed within the collection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Nayef M. Abu-Ageel
  • Publication number: 20080158908
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a light guide plate, a plurality of reflectors and a plurality of point light sources is provided. The light guide plate has a light emitting surface, a bottom surface and a light incident surface connecting the light emitting surface and the bottom surface. The plurality of reflectors is disposed beside the light incident surface, and the point light sources are disposed on the inner walls of the reflectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: CHUNGHWA PICTURE TUBES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ke-Ming Yeh, Chih-Chun Hsiao
  • Publication number: 20080158911
    Abstract: A light-guide board includes a light guide plate made out of an optically transmissive material and having a transparent layer and a back reflecting layer formed integral with the back side of the transparent layer, and a plurality of reflecting baffles respectively extending from the back reflecting layer and embedded in the transparent layer for reflecting light to enhance the intensity of light and the uniformity in light intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Cheng Sheng Lee
  • Patent number: 7393132
    Abstract: A backlight module (10) includes a flat cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) (30) having an output interface, and a light guiding plate (20). The output interface has a nano-material layer coated thereon. The light guiding plate includes an incidence interface (21), an emission interface (23), and a reflection interface (22), wherein the emission interface and the reflection interface respectively have nano-sized V-shaped grooves provided thereat. A pitch of the V-shaped grooves of the emission interface gradually increases from the incidence interface to a side of the light guiding plate distal from the incidence interface, and a pitch of the V-shaped grooves of the reflection interface gradually increases from the incidence interface to the side of the light guiding plate distal from the incidence interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Publication number: 20080151142
    Abstract: A light source unit capable of obtaining white light with reduced color irregularity includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (25R, 25G and 25B) having different emission spectrum peak wavelengths, and a light mixing member (21) that receives lights from the light-emitting diodes through an entrance surface (21a) and that allows lights to mix together before exiting through an exit surface (21b). The light mixing member (21) has anisotropic diffusing elements (22) that diffuse incident lights from the light-emitting diodes in a specific plane to effect light mixing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koya Noba
  • Patent number: 7384177
    Abstract: Light emitting assemblies include a tray that forms a cavity or recess containing one or more light sources. A sheet, film or substrate is positioned over the cavity or recess for controlling the light emitted from the assembly. The tray acts as a back, side or edge reflector, and has one or more secondary reflective or refractive surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventor: Jeffery R. Parker
  • Patent number: 7378686
    Abstract: The invention is an illumination system that incorporates a light emitting diode and a side-emitting light-recycling lens. The side-emitting light-recycling lens recycles part of the light internally generated by a light emitting diode back to the light emitting diode as externally incident light. The light emitting diode reflects a portion of the recycled light, thereby increasing the effective brightness of the light emitting diode. The light reflected by the light emitting diode is directed though the side-emitting light-recycling lens and exits the illumination system, thereby increasing the output brightness and efficiency of the illumination system. The light emitting diode reflects externally incident light with a reflectivity greater than 40 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Goldeneye, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl W. Beeson, Scott M. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20080117650
    Abstract: A backlight module includes at least a light guide board, a reflector film, an optic film, and a light scarce. The light guide board has a light emitting surface on which a plurality of light: converging elements is formed The optic film has a surface on which a plurality of rib-like micro light guides is formed. Each micro light guide includes a plurality of ridges, which are of different heights and show variation of height Either a high ridge or a low ridge of the micro light guide is made a continuous left-and-right wavy configuration and/or a continuous up-and-down height-variation configuration. Thus, light transmitting through, the optic film and converged by the micro light guides leaves the optic film in a form that is not very regular so as to facilitate subsequent use of the light in for example a liquid crystal display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Chien-Chin MAI
  • Patent number: 7371001
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a top surface serving as a light-emitting surface, a bottom surface serving as a reflecting surface, and a periphery having a first side surface serving as an incident surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface. The bottom surface is provided with reflecting prisms successively arranged in a direction from the first to second side surface. Each reflecting prism has a first slant surface and a second slant surface succeeding to the first slant surface. The first slant surface extends toward the top surface in a direction from the first side surface toward the second side surface and the second slant surface extends away from the top surface in the same direction. The second slant surface is formed such that a large part of light reflected back from the second side surface toward the first side surface is emitted from an area of the top surface near the first side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Citizens Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Miyashita
  • Patent number: 7364340
    Abstract: A backlight unit for a flat panel display and a flat panel display apparatus having the same. The backlight unit for a flat panel display displaying a predetermined image includes: a light source which emits light; a light guide panel having an incident surface facing the light source and which totally reflects light incident through the incident surface toward the flat panel display; and a holographic pattern that includes a plurality of diffraction gratings that are continuously repeated on at least one of an exit surface of the light guide panel and the opposing surface and diffracts light incident into the light guide panel. A depth of the diffraction grating progressively increases away from the incident surface along a length direction of the light guide panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoon-sun Choi, Jin-Seung Choi, Jee-hong Min, Jin-hwan Kim, Su-mi Lee
  • Patent number: 7364343
    Abstract: A compact backlight system for illuminating a display device (12) has a light-emitting panel (1) with a front wall (2) and an opposed rear wall (3) and with edge surfaces (4, 5). At least one of the edge surfaces (4) is light-transmitting. The backlight system has a light source (6) comprising a limited number of LEDs. Light from the light source (6) is coupled into the light-emitting panel (1) via the edge surface that is light-transmitting. According to the invention, the light-emitting panel (1) is wedge-shaped, and the surface area Si of the light-transmitting edge surface (4) and the surface area Sr of the opposite edge surface (5) fulfill the relation: 1<(Sr/Si)<10, preferably 1.5<(Sr/Si)<5. Light travelling for the first time from the light-transmitting edge surface through the light-emitting panel (1) towards the opposite edge surface (5) cannot be coupled out of the light emitting panel (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Philips Lumileds Lighting Company LLC
    Inventors: Matthijs Hendrik Keuper, Robert Frans Maria Hendriks
  • Patent number: 7357553
    Abstract: Light emitting assemblies include a light emitting panel assembly having a light transition area for receiving light from at least one light source, and at least one angled or curved reflective or refractive surface at the junction between the transition area and the panel member that causes at least some of the light in the transition area to reflect or refract. A pattern of light extracting deformities on at least one surface of the panel member may vary to cause light to be emitted from the panel member in a desired light output distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventor: Jeffery R. Parker
  • Patent number: 7354185
    Abstract: A back light module (3) includes a light guide plate (31) and a light source (30). The light guide plate includes a light incident surface (311), a light emitting surface (313), and a bottom surface (312) opposite to the light emitting surface. The bottom surface has a plurality of dissymmetric protrusions (314). The dissymmetric protrusions defines an angle ? between a first side (3142) thereof and a reference line of a length of the light guiding plate, and an angle ? between a second side (3144) thereof and the reference line. The light guiding plate has high brightness and uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tai-Cherng Yu, Charles Leu, Ga-Lane Chen
  • Publication number: 20080080211
    Abstract: A backlight module including a first frame, a light guide plate, and a light source is provided. The inner surface of the first frame has at least a first reflection area. In addition, the light guide plate is disposed in the first frame and located beside the first reflection area, and the light guide plate has a light incident surface. Moreover, the light source is disposed in the first frame and between the first reflection area and the light incident surface. The first reflection area is suitable for reflecting a part of the light emitted from the light source to the light incident surface. A liquid crystal display using the backlight module is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yung-Pin Chuang, Szu-Han Li, Ching-Fu Tien, Keng-Ju Lin, Cheng-Hua Tien, Tsung-Hsien Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7352339
    Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein relate to sources of diffuse illumination for providing substantially uniform illumination to a surface. The diffuse illumination arises from varying the diffusion angle of light generated by an LED system. To vary the diffusion angle, a translucent member is placed between the LED system and the surface. Light emitted from the LED system across the translucent member can subsequently can uniformly cover the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions
    Inventors: Frederick Marshall Morgan, Ihor Lys
  • Publication number: 20080068863
    Abstract: An exemplary light guide plate includes a light input surface, a bottom surface, a light output surface opposite to the bottom surface, and a plurality of dots. The dots are arranged on the bottom surface in series of adjacent columns parallel to the light input surface. Each dot column defines a column axis that passes through centers of the dots. A distance between two adjacent column axes increases with increasing distance from the first light input surface. A distance between centers of two adjacent dots in the same column increase with increasing distance from a center of the column to each of two opposite ends of the column. A backlight module using the light guide plate is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: MING-YI LIAO
  • Publication number: 20080049168
    Abstract: A backlight unit includes a light-source substrate having mounted thereon a plurality of light-emitting elements emitting illumination light; a light guide plate having a side surface with the light-source substrate attached thereto so as to receive the illumination light from the light-emitting elements, the light guide plate also having a first surface extending substantially perpendicular to the side surface, and a second surface; a reflective sheet attached to the first surface and reflecting the illumination light towards the second surface; and an optical sheet layer attached to the second surface and including a plurality of stacked optical sheets. The side surface has a reflective portion that reflects at least a part of the illumination light. The at least a part of the illumination light to be reflected at the reflective portion is incident on the reflective portion at an incidence angle equal to or above a critical angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Eigo Kubota
  • Publication number: 20080049164
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a plurality of point light source substrates each including a substrate main body, a power supplying line disposed on the substrate main body, and a pad part disposed on the substrate main body and electrically connected to the power supplying line, a point light source disposed on each of the point light source substrates and supplied with power through the power supplying line, and a connecting film connecting adjacent point light source substrates and including a first film main body and a metal pattern disposed on the first film main body and electrically connected with the pad part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.,
    Inventors: Eun-chae JEON, Si-joon SONG, Eun-jeong KANG, Gi-cherl KIM
  • Publication number: 20080043491
    Abstract: A light guiding element includes a light emitting portion, a reflecting portion and a light mixing portion. The reflecting portion has a reflecting surface, the reflecting portion is connected to one side of the light emitting portion, and the light mixing portion is connected to the reflecting portion and forms an included angle with the light emitting portion. A light emitting unit is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventor: Feng-Li Lin
  • Publication number: 20080037280
    Abstract: A lighting fixture is disclosed to include a light guide bar, a connector holding a LED at a first end of the light guide bar, and a first reflector and a second reflector respectively covered on a part of the periphery and a second end of the light guide bar to reflect light from the LED out of the light guide bar. The connector has a barrel at the first end thereof that accommodates one end of the light guide bar and the LED, an accommodation space at the second end that accommodates electronic components, and a detoured wire path that guides electric wires of the LED out of the connector and prevents disconnection of the electric wires from the LED. A second LED may be attached to the second end of the light guide bar to substitute for the second reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: Chen Keng Sheng
  • Patent number: 7325959
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes an incidence surface, an emission surface, a bottom surface opposite to the emission surface, and a plurality of dots distributed on the bottom surface. The emission surface and the bottom surface are adjoining to the incidence surface. Each of the dots has a substantially fan-shaped cross-section in the direction of the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun-Jung Tsai
  • Patent number: 7322721
    Abstract: A side emitting device, a backlight unit using the same as a light source, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) employing the backlight unit. The side emitting device includes a light-emitting device to emit light, and a side emitter to change the path of at least part of the light emitted from the light-emitting device. The side emitter includes a first reflecting surface reflecting light emitted from the light-emitting device in a first range of angles close to a central axis, a first refracting surface refracting the light reflected by the first reflecting surface obliquely downward from the horizontal axis, and a second refracting surface refracting light emitted from the light-emitting device in a second range of angles complementary to the first range of angles. The backlight unit includes at least an array of side emitting devices, a reflection diffusion plate and a first transmission diffusion plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-whan Noh, Joon-chan Park, Dong-ha Kim, Jong-min Wang, Ju-seong Hwang
  • Patent number: 7318665
    Abstract: A light guiding device to compensate insufficient lighting in a light guide plate's corner areas is provided. The light guiding device is positioned on the inner side of the lamp reflector neighboring to the electrodes at the ends of the lamp. The light guiding device has a reflection surface which reflects and directs lights toward the dim corner areas of the light guide plate, compensating the lighting and thereby reducing these dim areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Radiant Opto-Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Cheng-Fa Chung
  • Publication number: 20080007970
    Abstract: A light guide member for guiding light received from a light source, the light source illuminating light toward the light guide member, the light guide member may include a plurality of first grooves on a first side of the light guide member, the first grooves extending along a first direction crossing a zero-degree radiation angle of the light from the light source, wherein an angle of a reflective face of the first groove increases approaching away from the light source of the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Dong Ho Lee, Won Ki Cho, Wan Soo Han, Ho Seok Ko, Sang Hoon Lee, Hee Chan Eum, Jong Kyo Jeong
  • Publication number: 20080002434
    Abstract: An exemplary backlight module (1) includes a light guide plate (10) and a light source (12) arranged to provide light beams to the light guide plate. The light guide plate includes a light emitting surface (102), a bottom surface (102) opposite to the light emitting surface, and a plurality of reflective structures (104) at the bottom surface. The reflective structures substantially define a plurality of isosceles triangular profiles, and each of the reflective structures maintains a pair of base angles relative to the bottom surface. The base angles of each reflective structure are the same, the base angles of all the reflective structures are the same, and the common base angle is in the range from 45° to 55°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Hsiang-Hui Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7309149
    Abstract: A prism sheet, a backlight assembly having the prism sheet, and an LCD device having the prism sheet, the prism sheet includes a first surface, a second surface and a reflecting member. A light is incident upon the first surface. The second surface includes a prism pattern. The incident light exits through the second surface. The reflecting member is provided on the first surface to partially reflect irradiated light that is received on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Hwan Lee, Jin-Mi Jung
  • Publication number: 20070279941
    Abstract: A pressing protrusion is provided to a light source. An area of a reflector in the proximity of a color-mixing light guide plate is pressed by the pressing protrusion so as to cause the reflector to securely touch the color-mixing light guide plate. Moreover, the reflector is provided with guides at both ends thereof. Furthermore, the chassis is provided with a reflector support which touches the guide of the reflector on the liquid crystal display panel side. The reflector support of the chassis receives the guides of the reflector to enable the reflector to slide in substantially parallel to the liquid crystal display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshitugu Koshio
  • Patent number: 7295263
    Abstract: A display device suitable for a game machine has dot printed films which are printed on a light guide plate which constitutes a backlight for illuminating a liquid crystal display panel. The dots of the dot printed films are arranged more densely in a window-frame portion corresponding region, which faces a display region of the liquid crystal display panel, and in the vicinity of an inner periphery of a transmission portion corresponding to a region which faces a transmission region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignees: Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Hitachi Displays Devices, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Shiraishi, Hisao Hirayama, Akio Tezuka, Makoto Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7287894
    Abstract: A light guide plate (20) includes a light incident surface (21) having a meso-nano pore structure (210) formed thereat, a bottom surface (22) adjacent to the incident surface. The meso-nano pore structure includes a plurality of meso-nano pores (211) which are less than 50 nm in size, a plurality of first meso-nano particles (212) disposed in the meso-nano pores, and a plurality of second meso-nano particles (213) disposed generally between the meso-nano pores. The meso-nano pores are considerably less than a wavelength (400˜700 nm) of visible light in size, so that a nano-coupling effect occurs between photons of the lightbeams. Therefore, light loss caused by scattering is reduced, and a rate of utilization of light is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 7281837
    Abstract: A backlight module (1) includes a light source (92), a light guide plate (80), and a frame (60). The frame contains the light source and the light guide plate. The frame includes a base plate (65) defining a transflective region (651) and a plurality of holes (652) defined in the transflective region. A portion of light beams from the light source is reflected by the transflective region out one main face of the backlight module, and a remainder of the light beams passes through the transflective region to emit from another main face of the backlight module. The backlight module and frame provide a double-sided emitting structure for a double-sided LCD. This avoids the need for an expensive transflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry ( Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guo-Han Yue, Tung-Ming Hsu
  • Patent number: 7278773
    Abstract: A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device includes a lamp, a lamp housing surrounding the lamp with an opening, a prism light guide plate having a first side corresponding to the opening and having prisms at a lower surface thereof, the prism light guide plate including a first portion of an even surface at the lower surface adjacent to the lamp, and a reflector opposite the lower surface of the prism light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: LG Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hoon-Soo Ha
  • Patent number: 7278775
    Abstract: A light guide containing substantially aligned non-spherical particles provides more efficient control of light scattering. One or more regions containing ellipsoidal particles may be used and the particle sizes may vary between 2 and 100 microns in the smaller dimension. The light scattering regions may be substantially orthogonal in their axis of alignment. Alternatively, one or more asymmetrically scattering films can be used in combination with a backlight light guide and a reflector to produce an efficient backlight system. The light guides may be manufactured by embossing, stamping, or compression molding a light guide in a suitable light guide material containing asymmetric particles substantially aligned in one direction. The light scattering light guide or non-scattering light guide may be used with one or more light sources, collimating films or symmetric or asymmetric scattering films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Fusion Optix Inc.
    Inventors: Terence E. Yeo, Zane A. Coleman
  • Patent number: 7270463
    Abstract: An area light source device includes an L-shaped cold-cathode fluorescent lamp, a wedge-shaped light guide having an incidence surface, on which emission light from the cold-cathode fluorescent lamp is incident, and a reflector that surrounds the cold-cathode fluorescent lamp, has an opening facing the incidence surface, and reflects the emission light from the cold-cathode fluorescent lamp toward the light guide, wherein the opening of the reflector has a shape corresponding to shapes of two mutually neighboring incidence surfaces of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Yasuda, Toshihiko Ura
  • Patent number: 7263268
    Abstract: A thin-profile, optically efficient lighting device for use with, among other things, flat information displays, includes a combination of three optically coupled light propagating structures, fabricated of electromagnetic flux transmitting materials. The first structure may be a generally elongated optical pipe adapted to receive light from at least one light source such as a light emitting diode. Radiation from additional sources is coupled into the first structure by a second structure which injects the radiation thereinto. Light injected into the first structure is directed into the third structure where it is redirected so that it propagates out of the third structure uniformly and efficiently and in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the third structure. A device can include multiple bodies of any or all three structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Inventor: Ben-Zion Inditsky
  • Patent number: 7248308
    Abstract: A spread illuminating apparatus includes: at least one light source; a light conductive plate which has the at least one light source disposed at one end surface thereof, and which allows light emitted from the at least one light source and introduced therein to exit out therefrom through both major surfaces thereof toward first and second liquid crystal display elements disposed respectively over the both major surfaces of the light conductive plate, wherein the second liquid crystal display element has a smaller display screen size than the first liquid crystal display element; and a reflecting means which is disposed at the other major surface of the light conductive plate so as to cover at least areas not covered by the second liquid crystal display element, and which reflects light toward the first liquid crystal display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Mizutani, Satoshi Kawashima, Kazutoshi Takayanagi, Katsuji Ishigami, Motoji Egawa
  • Patent number: 7223005
    Abstract: Backlighting systems are disclosed, which include a lightguide with at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the lightguide for supplying light into its interior and a reflective cavity with at least one light source optically connected to the reflective cavity for supplying light into its interior. The reflective cavity may include a first reflector and a second reflector and at least one source may be disposed at an edge of the reflective cavity. Alternatively, the reflective cavity may include a back reflector portion and light sources may be disposed at the back reflector portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Inventors: David J. Lamb, Keith M. Kotchick, Mark E. Gardiner, Mark B. O'Neill, Patrick H. Marushin, Kenneth A. Epstein, Philip E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7220041
    Abstract: Disclosed is a planar light source device comprising a light generation device comprising at least two light-emitting elements; a light-mixing device for mixing a generated light from the light generation device to generate a mixed linear light; and a planar light generation device comprising a light-scattering portion for receiving the mixed light to generate a planar light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Epistar Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Ming Chen, Chou-Chih Yin, Jun-Chung Chen, Chia-Liang Hsu, Chia-Fen Tsai, Min-Hsun Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7220044
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display and backlight module. The backlight module comprises a base plate, first reflectors, light sources, second reflectors, diffuser plate and diffuser film. Each first reflector comprises a wave-shaped structure and is provided with a first reflecting surface facing toward the base plate and a focus. Each light source is disposed at the focus of the first reflector and the light beams from the light source reflected by the first reflector pass through the base plate toward the diffusive film in parallel. Each second reflector is disposed on the base plate and provides with a second reflecting surface faced toward the light source. Thus, mura phenomenon and interferences between the two adjacent light sources can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Hsin-Cheng Hong, Kuo-Tsun Huang
  • Patent number: 7210837
    Abstract: A guiding light plate applied to peripherals includes an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) disposed on a predetermined one of the peripherals, a reflection plate is disposed in the predetermined peripheral, and an image lid is arranged in front of the reflection plate. The reflection plate has a slot type light-guiding face, and the LED is arranged in a side of the light-guiding face. The image lid has at least one transparent image portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Welland Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fu-Tien Lee
  • Patent number: 7204634
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a light guide plate which has a first sidewall and two opposite second sidewalls extending transversely of the first sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls interconnect two opposite first and second faces. Alight source is disposed at one of the second sidewalls and projects light rays onto the first sidewall at an oblique angle. A first reflection layer is disposed over the first sidewall, and a second reflection layer is disposed over the second face. Total reflection of light into the light guide plate from the first sidewall and second face increases brightness and enhances evenness of brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Hsiang Chen, Shi-Chi Hou
  • Patent number: 7192174
    Abstract: Disclosed is a light guiding plate formed with fine recesses and a backlight unit utilizing the same. There are formed on a bottom surface of a transparent acryl resin substrate a number of fine recesses, which are unable to be distinguished with the naked eye, in order to reflect on front surface of the plate a source light introduced through at least one side surface. The fine recesses are formed by means of a sandblasting process. The amount of the fine recesses jetted per unit hour is uniformly maintained. The number of sands collided into unit area per unit hour and impact energy of the sands are higher the further away from the side through the source light is introduced. Accordingly, density, average depth and average size of the recesses are gradually higher the further away from the light introduced side. Also, area, average complexity of the contour of the recesses and average complexity of the surface profile of the recesses are increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Hunatech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bum Young Myoung
  • Patent number: 7178964
    Abstract: An illumination device is constructed such that light illuminated by a light emitting element and transmitted through one side surface of a light guiding plate via an intermediate light guide is introduced into the light guiding plate and the light propagating in the light guiding plate is emitted from an output surface of the light guiding plate so as to illuminate a liquid crystal display unit (an illumination object) disposed behind the light guiding plate, such that a part of the light guiding plate, through which the liquid crystal display unit is displayed in a transmissive manner, serves as a display area, and such that the light guiding plate is formed so as to extend beyond the display area of the liquid crystal display unit and towards the light emitting element, along the longitudinal direction of the intermediate light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: ALPS Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuro Sugiura, Mitsuo Ohizumi
  • Patent number: 7172327
    Abstract: A light-guide-plate structure has a light guide plate, an LED module disposed on at least one side of the light guide plate, and a reflection member disposed between the LED module and the light guide plate. The LED module includes a circuit board and a plurality of LEDs arranged on the circuit board. The reflection member covers the side and a bottom surface of the light guide plate. The reflection member has a plurality of openings corresponding to the LEDs of the LED module in order to enable the LEDs to face the side of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Heng-Sheng Kuo
  • Patent number: 7165874
    Abstract: A backlight 10 includes a light source 13, a light guide plate 12 for introducing light emitted from the light source 13 from an incidence surface 12a provided on an end and for emitting the light from one surface, a diffusive reflector 15 provided such that the surface having a minute concavo-convex portion 15d faces the other surface of the light guide plate 12, and a light directivity control sheet 17 provided on the one surface of the light guide plate 12 such that the apexes 17c of pyramid-shaped objects 17b face the opposite side to the light guide plate 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hideaki Nagakubo, Takenobu Kimura
  • Patent number: 7160010
    Abstract: A light manifold for an automotive light module emitting light to the side of a longitudinal axis along which light is to be directed. The light module is structured in a manner that permits the creation of light distribution patterns for particular functions, such as the stop light function for an automobile, that are otherwise difficult to effectively produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeyachandrabose Chinniah, Amir P. Fallahi, Jeffrey Allen Erion, Edwin Mitchell Sayers, Thomas Lee Jones
  • Patent number: 7156548
    Abstract: A light guide plate (10) of a preferred embodiment includes: an incident surface (12) for receiving incident light beams from a corresponding light source; an emitting surface (16); and a bottom surface (11) opposite to the emitting surface. The bottom surface defines a plurality of V-shaped grooves. A side (17) of each V-shaped groove is a curved surface, and at least one part of the curved surface is wave-shaped. The light guide plate can improve the utilization of light beams, reduce wastage of light beams and configure the uniformity of luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Innolux Display Corp.
    Inventors: Ching-Hung Teng, Chiu-Lien Yang, Jia-Pang Pang