Film Or Coating Patents (Class 362/627)
  • Patent number: 7969741
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a substrate structure ensuring a shielding property and a heat discharge property of a resin part that collectively covers a plurality of electronic components and capable of downsizing, thinning, and a reduction in number of components. The substrate structure 20 of the first embodiment is provided with a substrate 21, a plurality of electronic components 22 mounted along the substrate 21, and a resin part 25 that covers the electronic components 22 and is in close contact with the substrate 21. In the substrate structure 20, the resin part 25 is provided with a reinforcing heat discharge layer 26 covering the electronic components 22 and having a heat conductivity and a reinforcing property and a shield layer 27 covering the reinforcing heat discharge layer 26, and a surface o28 of the shield layer 27 is formed into a predetermined shape corresponding to a surface structure of the display device 30 adjacent to the resin part 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Hayakawa, Masahiro Ono, Seiji Yamaguchi, Yoshihiro Uda, Kazuhiro Shinchi, Satoru Tomekawa, Kiyoshi Nakanishi, Kosuke Kubota, Atsushi Katagiri, Motohisa Kotani, Kazuhiro Konishi, Eiji Nishimura, Takeo Matsuki
  • Patent number: 7967492
    Abstract: To provide a light diffusion film that contributes lightweight with reduction in thickness, a planar light source element utilizing the light diffusion film, and a liquid crystal display device utilizing the light diffusion film and/or the planar light source element. A light diffusion film (25) having a plurality of projections (23) of a specific shape is at least partly formed from a composition containing a mixture of a photocurable compound and a particulate material. A light guide plate (22), provided with one or more light sources (21) at one side face thereof, is bonded to vertexes of the projections (23) to provide a planar light source element, which is thin and lightweight and capable of emitting non-glaring light uniformly from the entire surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignees: Kuraray Co., Ltd., Toagosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nagasawa, Yasuyuki Sanai
  • Patent number: 7959340
    Abstract: The aim is to provide backlighting in a liquid-crystal display unit for a display and/or operator control unit, in particular on a domestic appliance. To achieve this, a backlighting layer, to which at least one backlighting source can be coupled, is located beneath an LCD layer and at least one supplementary backlighting layer is located beneath the backlighting layer. The supplementary layer can be coupled to at least one additional backlighting source assigned to the layers and permits the respective supplementary backlighting layer to emit light from the additional backlighting source(s) in respective defined masked zones through the backlighting layer and through the LCD layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Georgios Kofidis, Gerhard Mager, Bernhard Siegmar
  • Patent number: 7954967
    Abstract: A stereoscopic display apparatus includes a liquid-crystal display device that has display pixels arranged in a matrix and displays an elemental image array formed from a plurality of field images on the display pixels to render stereoscopic display, a parallax creating unit provided on the front surface or the rear surface of the liquid-crystal display device, and a directional backlight that emits light through the liquid-crystal display device then through the parallax creating unit and switches directions of the thus-emitted light among a plurality of directions according to a display of the field image is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masako Kashiwagi, Tatsuo Saishu, Rieko Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7948581
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display equipped with a side edge backlight device, visualization of “a dot provided to a light guide plate” in the vicinity of the light source while keeping the luminance of the display screen. The shapes and the arrangement of the light diffusing dots (dots) provided to the principal surface of the light guide plate of the backlight device are made different between the area of the principal surface in the vicinity of the light source and the other areas, thereby adjusting the whiteness of the light guide plate in the vicinity of the light source. The plurality of dots formed in the vicinity of the light source are each composed of a first section for diffusing the light propagating the light guide plate, and a second section surrounded by the first section and less capable of diffusing the light, and are disposed in the vicinity of the light source in a zigzag manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Taniguchi, Akitoyo Konno
  • Publication number: 20110103095
    Abstract: A light guide plate that uses a resin film as a material for the light guide plate, that has a reflecting or scattering pattern formed by printing, and that guides a light propagating in the film to exit and emerge from the front surface thereof. The light guide plate is thinner and highly flexible, and has high reliability and durability. A base material of the light guide plate is formed from a thermosetting polyurethane sheet with a thickness of 0.4 mm or less. When a dot pattern is formed by ink-jetting, a white UV curable ink, for which the thermosetting polyurethane exhibits a swellability such that the thermosetting polyurethane increases by 10% or more in weight as a result of being soaked in the ink for one hour at a room temperature, is used as the ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Nippon Mektron, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Ozaki, Yasushi Katsuta, Takashi Iwaki, Hayato Takada
  • Patent number: 7932967
    Abstract: The present invention provides a brightness enhancement film-laminated light diffuser plate which can sufficiently prevent scratching, and also can ensure sufficient brightness. The brightness enhancement film-laminated light diffuser plate of the present invention includes a brightness enhancement film 41, and a light diffuser plate 31 comprising a transparent material and a light diffusing agent dispersed in the transparent material, and having a rough surface having a ten-point average roughness (Rz) of more than 40˜m and 100˜m or less on at least one surface, wherein the brightness enhancement film 41 is laminated and integrated on the rough surface 31a of the light diffuser plate via an adhesive layer 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroko Kanaya, Akiyoshi Kanemitsu
  • Patent number: 7922357
    Abstract: Disclosed are an external light-shielding layer for a display filter preventing occurrence of ghosting using a difference between refractive indexes of a base substrate and an external light-shielding part, and a display filter and display apparatus including the external light-shielding layer. The external light-shielding layer for the display filter comprises a base substrate made of a transparent resin; and at least one external light-shielding part arranged on a surface of the base substrate and filled with an external light-absorption material, wherein ny of a refractive index of the base substrate is less than or equal to nx of a refractive index of the external light-shielding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Nim Jo, Sang Cheol Jung, Eun Young Cho
  • Patent number: 7914196
    Abstract: Light redirecting film systems comprise a backlight having deformities that cause a majority of the light entering the input edge of the backlight to be emitted from a light output surface of the backlight. In close proximity to the light output surface is a light redirecting film that has a pattern of individual optical elements of well-defined shape to redistribute the light emitted by the light output surface toward a direction normal to the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Robert M. Ezell
  • Patent number: 7914197
    Abstract: A light guide member, a flat light source device and a display device using the light guide member. A plurality of luminescent devices that emit light of violet to blue color are arrayed on a substrate, and a light guide member is disposed upward thereof that includes a first area that consists of a transparent resin and composed of the resin independently, a second area in which there is dissolved in the resin a luminescent substance that generates a second color having a radiation peak wavelength at a wavelength different from a radiation peak wavelength of a luminescent device of the first color, and a third area in which there is dissolved in the resin a luminescent substance that generates a third color having a radiation peak wavelength at a wavelength different from the radiation peak wavelengths of luminescent devices of the first and second colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Shuichi Naijo, Koji Tokita
  • Patent number: 7905650
    Abstract: A backlight suitable for use in a display device includes an illumination device having at least one light source and a back reflector stack including a reflective layer and a transparent layer having substantially uniform refractive index and having a plurality of light-directing protrusions disposed in a matrix array. The transparent layer is disposed between the reflective layer and the illumination device with the plurality of light-directing protrusions facing away from the reflective layer. The plurality of light-directing protrusions are configured and disposed in a configuration that is not registered to any light source of the illumination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jiaying Ma, Quinn Sanford, Ming Cheng
  • 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: 7891856
    Abstract: The subject invention provides an optical film comprising a transparent substrate and a structured surface layer, wherein the structured layer is positioned on the upper surface of the substrate and comprises a plurality of non-parallel, adjacent columnar structures. The optical film according to the subject invention can effectively enhance the brightness of a liquid crystal display and reduce the optical interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eternal Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Yi Chuang, Guo-Long Wu
  • Patent number: 7891855
    Abstract: A light guiding structure for connector includes a light-guiding unit having more than one light guiding post, and each of the light guiding posts having a light-input end and a light-output end; and a shielding unit enclosing an outer side of the light guiding posts. When the light guiding structure is mounted on a connector case for guiding light, light beams propagating in different light guiding posts are isolated from one another by the shielding unit. Therefore, light beams can be stably and exactly guided by the light guiding posts without light loss and mutual interference to thereby avoid error determination by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: All Best Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haven Yang
  • Patent number: 7883257
    Abstract: An optical film and a display device having the same are disclosed. The display device comprises a display panel including a plurality of subpixels and an optical film disposed at one side of the display panel, the optical film includes a base film and a plurality of prisms, wherein a bias angle between a long axis direction of the subpixels and a longitudinal direction of the prisms is substantially 2 to 88 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hanbitt Joo, Kwangwon Lee
  • Publication number: 20110007380
    Abstract: A flat panel display is provided. The flat panel display includes a display panel, a light source module and an optical film. The display panel has a light incident surface. The light source module including a light guide plate which has a light emergent surface is disposed parallel to the display panel. The light emergent surface is opposite to the light incident surface. A light emitted from the light source module is transmitted from the light emergent surface to the light incident surface. The optical film is disposed between the display panel and the light source module. The optical film has a first surface and a second surface which are opposite to each other. A plurality of platform-shaped optical structures are formed on the first surface while each of them has a flat top surface. A first transparent glue layer and a second transparent glue layer are respectively formed on the light incident surface and the light emergent surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chih-Yen Chen
  • Patent number: 7866871
    Abstract: Various embodiments comprise light recycling films comprising an array of parallel ridges and grooves that form prisms that selectively reflect or transmit light. In some embodiments, the light recycling film may be used in displays that include spatial light modulators comprising a plurality of pixels. The light recycling film can limit the field-of-view of the display and enhance the luminance within that field-of-view. Various embodiments comprising multiple arrays of ridges and/or grooves can enhance uniformity of illumination of the pixels in the spatial light modulator and reduce Moiré effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis I. Couzin, William J. Cassarly, Steven R. Chapman
  • Patent number: 7857476
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes an array of optical waveguides that are arranged in rows and columns. The array of optical waveguides has a planar upper surface substantially comprised of light exit facet of optical waveguides and spaced-apart lower surface substantially comprised of light input facet of optical waveguides. Backlight assembly also includes a light reflector panel that is spaced-apart from the lower surface of the array. Disposed between reflector panel and the lower light input facet of the optical waveguides are light sources. Light sources comprise light emitting diodes having 120 degree emission angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventors: Edward Pakhchyan, Haik Mesropian, Syuzi Pakhchyan
  • Patent number: 7850359
    Abstract: An optical film of a display and a method for producing the same are provided. The display includes a light source and an optical film. The light source provides the first light. The optical film includes at least one coating layer. The coating layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The coating layer is adapted to absorb the first light from the first surface to excite a second light to emit through the second surface. The intensity of the second light is larger than that of the first light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yue-Shih Jeng, Pi-Chun Yeh, Chih-Jen Hu, Feng-Yuan Gan
  • Publication number: 20100309687
    Abstract: A front light guide panel including a plurality of embedded surface features is provided. The front light panel is configured to deliver uniform illumination from an artificial light source disposed at one side of the font light panel to an array of display elements located behind the front light guide while allowing for the option of illumination from ambient lighting transmitted through the light guide panel. The surface embedded surface relief features create air pockets within the light guide panel. Light incident on the side surface of the light guide propagates though the light guide until it strikes an air/light material guide interface at one on the air pockets. The light is then turned by total internal reflection through a large angle such that it exits an output face disposed in front of the array of display elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Sampsell, Russell W. Gruhlke, Mark Mienko, Gang Xu, Ion Bita
  • Patent number: 7845841
    Abstract: Light guides of various shapes are configured to adjust the angle of the individual light rays in a bundle of light within the light guide so that the angle of the respective rays are adjusted towards an acceptance angle of a hologram embedded within the light guide. The hologram embedded in the light guide is configured to eject individual rays towards the display elements when the respective rays are within a range of acceptance angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Sampsell
  • Patent number: 7842376
    Abstract: Diffusers including of a plurality of protruded structures with each structure containing multiple rugged facets are disclosed. The diffuser may be fabricated by coating a mixture of materials on a carrier film, the mixture of materials including at least a first material that polymerizes upon irradiation and at least a second material that is incompatible with the first material in polymerized form, then selectively irradiating the mixture of materials to polymerize a portion of the mixture of materials to form polymerized structures, and finally removing that part of the mixture of materials not forming part of the structures. A transparent material may be coated over the structures. The overcoat material may further contain scattering elements such as glass beads or polymeric particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventor: Zhijian Lu
  • Publication number: 20100296025
    Abstract: This invention relates to film layer which is suitable for use in a light guide plate and methods of forming said film layer and light guide plate. The invention also relates to the light guide plate and light guide devices made therefrom. The film and light guide plate are suitable for use in a range of applications, particularly in connection with the backlighting of displays, for example, liquid crystal displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: Alba Innovation Centre, Alba Campus
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Patent number: 7833593
    Abstract: Optical devices according to the present invention include a multilayer optical film in which at least one of the layers comprises an oriented birefringent polymer. The multilayer optical film exhibits low absorptivity and can reflect light approaching at shallow angles as well as normal to the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, Sanford Cobb, Jr., David L. Wortman
  • Publication number: 20100258419
    Abstract: A light guide for an optical keypad is described. The light guide includes a light interface surface, top and bottom surfaces, a surface feature pattern, and a cut line. The light interface surface receives light into the light guide from a light source. The light received through the light interface surface reflects according to total internal reflection (TIR) within the light guide between portions of the top and bottom surfaces. The surface feature pattern disrupts the TIR and scatters at least some of the light outside of at least one surface of the top and bottom surfaces. The cut line redirects at least some of the light from a first direction to a second direction within the light guide. The first direction is a direction other than towards the surface feature pattern, while the second direction is a direction substantially towards the surface feature pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES ECBU IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Muh Fong Chung, Sian Tatt Lee, Choon Guan Ko, Fook Chuin Ng
  • Patent number: 7810982
    Abstract: Optical assembly includes a light source adjacent a light input edge and generally parallel and planar first and second surfaces each comprising respective patterns of well defined optical elements that are quite small in relation to the length and width of the optical assembly. At least some of the optical elements of each pattern include a respective sloped surface for directing at least some light emitted from the light source. The respective slope angle of the sloped surface of at least some of the optical elements of one of the patterns is different from the respective slope angle of the sloped surface of at least some of the optical elements of the other pattern such that more of the light is emitted from one of the surfaces than is emitted from the other surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Robert M. Ezell
  • Patent number: 7806538
    Abstract: An LED light source device can have a simple configuration which can easily create a desired light distribution pattern with a low profile and light weight. An illumination apparatus and a vehicle lighting device can also be configured to use the LED light source device. The light source device can include a light guide plate made of a flat plate-like material that is transparent in the visible range, and which has a front surface serving as a light emission surface. A point light source can be opposed to an end surface of the light guide plate. A rear surface of the light guide plate can include a luminance control element configured to control a luminance distribution on the light emission surface. The luminance control element controls light from the light source, incident through the end surface of the light guide plate, so that a reduced inversion of a light distribution pattern that is to be emitted is formed on the light emission surface as the luminance distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Ajiki, Koichi Masuyama, Naoya Sone, Sadayuki Konishi, Yasuo Toko
  • Patent number: 7789521
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ornamental light and, more particularly, relates to an ornamental light with polychrome effect. The ornamental light includes at least one illuminant, a support frame with special shape and a film covered on the surface of the support frame. The film includes a transparent base plate and two polychrome films. Each of the polychrome film is stuck to each side of the base plate respectively. The venations of the two polychrome films are perpendicular to each other. The invention provides an ornamental light which can present different polychrome display effect, enough imagination and aesthetic feeling when viewed from different angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Xuliang Li
  • Patent number: 7784954
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polarization-sensitive light homogenizer and a backlight and display using the same. The homogenizer improves the spatial luminance and color uniformity, increases the luminance in a direction normal to the homogenizer and provides increased luminance through polarized light recycling within the light homogenizer and backlight. In one embodiment, the homogenizer includes a polarization-sensitive anisotropic light-scattering (PDALS) region, a non-polarization-sensitive anisotropic light-scattering region, and a substantially non-scattering region. In a further embodiment, the non-scattering region is birefringent. The spatially non-uniform incident light flux from a backlight including one or more non-extended light emitting sources is scattered efficiently by the NPDASL region and is incident on the PDALS region which backscatters light orthogonal to the polarization state desired for efficient illumination of a liquid crystal display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Fusion Optix, Inc.
    Inventor: Zane Coleman
  • Publication number: 20100214805
    Abstract: An optical film capable of delivering high level of brightness including a surface of an incident plane of the optical film constructed with multiple light penetration areas segregated by multiple reflection microstructures each provided with a groove; each groove is covered up with a reflective material; and when the optical film is applied in a backlight module, all streams of light entering into the optical film are effectively centered on those light penetration areas constructed on the optical film for further irradiation out of the optical film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Wen-Feng Cheng, Chen-Sheng Lee
  • Patent number: 7780306
    Abstract: A light guide plate is provided. The light guide plate includes a light source hole part configured to accommodate a light source, the light source hole part provided at a back surface on the opposite side of a light emitting surface; and a recessed part provided on the side of said light emitting surface opposed to the light source hole part. The recessed part has, at the bottom portion of the recessed part, a slant surface inclined against the light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsunari Hoshi
  • Publication number: 20100182802
    Abstract: A light guide plate having a V-cut structure and a backlight module are disclosed. The light guide plate comprises straight-striped V-cut structure sets and a base plate having a light-entering side. The straight-striped V-cut structure sets are formed on a surface of the base plate adjacent to the light-entering side, wherein each straight-striped V-cut structure set is composed of at least one V-cut element, each V-cut element having a first base angle and a second base angle formed between its respective two inclined surfaces and a horizontal surface of the base plate. The first base angle is located closer to the light-entering side than the second base angle is, and is smaller than or equal to the second base angle. The straight-striped V-cut structure sets have a plurality of second average angle values which are gradually decreased from the light-entering side to a central position of the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiung-Han Wang, Jing-Huan Liao
  • Patent number: 7751663
    Abstract: The disclosure generally involves an optical (perhaps flat panel) display utilizing backside reflection for time-multiplexed optical shuttering. One display comprises a side-illuminated light guide associated with conditions for total internal reflection. A first surface of the light guide is elastomeric. Disposed against this elastomeric surface is an active layer that selectively deforms the elastomeric surface in locations that can correspond to display pixels. This resulting change in the geometry of the elastomeric surface can be sufficient to defeat the conditions for total internal reflection. When appropriate, light is reflected by the particular deformation and is ejected from another surface of the light guide. In this case, each location that allows light to exit could represent an activated display pixel. In certain situations, color flat panel displays of varying sizes may further implement field sequential color and time-multiplexed optical shuttering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Uni-Pixel Displays, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel K. Van Ostrand
  • Patent number: 7751679
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a brightness enhancement film and a backlight module having the brightness enhancement film. The brightness enhancement film includes first micro-reflectors and second micro-reflectors. The cross-section of each of the first and second micro-reflectors is a triangle having two same or different base angles and a wavy crest line. The widths of the first and second micro-reflectors vary along with the valleys and peaks to broaden or to narrow with respect to two sides thereof such that the neighboring lines between the first and second micro-reflectors are wavy. The backlight module is coupled with the brightness enhancement film. This enhances brightness, illuminates evenly, and avoids a moire effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignees: Univacco Technology Inc., National Applied Research Laboratories
    Inventors: Chi-Feng Lin, Yi-Fan Chen
  • Publication number: 20100165241
    Abstract: A backlight unit for a display device includes a light guide plate; a reflective sheet under the light guide plate; a lamp at least one side of the light guide plate and providing a light into the light guide plate; and an optical sheet disposed on the light guide plate and including a first lenticular sheet, the first lenticular sheet including a base film for diffusing the light through the light guide plate, a first lenticular lens disposed on a front surface of the base film and having a half-cylinder shape and a first printing pattern on at least one edge of a rear surface of the base film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Sung-Hun Kim, Hyeok-Joon Yoon, Byoung-Ku Kim, Jae-Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 7744263
    Abstract: Disclosed are structured optical films and optical displays incorporating such films. The film has a structured surface including a plurality of substantially parallel and elongate light-directing elements. Each element has a respective peak and defining at a junction with an adjacent element a respective valley. Each of the peaks and valleys define substantially the same dihedral angle and extend substantially uninterrupted across the structured surface. A first sequence defined by successive lateral distances between adjacent peaks is a first non-periodic sequence. A second sequence defined by successive lateral distances between adjacent valleys is a second non-periodic sequence. The second sequence is configured based on the first sequence, such that the peaks are arranged in a substantially coplanar formation. Alternatively, the first sequence is configured based on the second sequence, such that the valleys are arranged in a substantially coplanar formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Microsharp Corporation Limited
    Inventor: David John Bottomley
  • Publication number: 20100135041
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a plurality of micro dots. The micro dots are provided uniformly on one side of the light guide plate and are integrated with the light guide plate. Each dot is coated by a fluorescent layer, and the fluorescent layer emits light when excited by an ultraviolet light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicants: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventor: YAN-NI NIU
  • Patent number: 7724320
    Abstract: An exemplary liquid crystal display (200) includes a liquid crystal panel (210) and a backlight module (220). The backlight module is positioned for illuminating the liquid crystal panel, and includes a light source (222) and at least one optical member (221). The at least one optical member includes absorbing material for absorbing light beams having wavelength more than 700 nanometers, such that when light beams provided by the light source transmit through the at least one optical member, at least some of the light beams having wavelengths more than 700 nanometers are absorbed by the absorbing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Innolux Display Corp.
    Inventor: Jui-Hua Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7712910
    Abstract: Backlighting methods and apparatuses to backlight a device. The backlighting apparatus includes a flexible light guide, a light source, and a housing. The light source is disposed adjacent to a transmission interface of the flexible light guide to illuminate the flexible light guide. The housing at least partially encloses the flexible light guide and the light source. A surface area of the flexible light guide is visible through the housing. By using a flexible light guide to backlight the device, the size of the device is reduced compared to conventional devices. Alternatively, the device may accommodate additional components. Other advantages also may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Fook Chuin Ng, Choon Guan Ko, Sian Tatt Lee
  • Patent number: 7712932
    Abstract: The light redirecting films have a thin optically transparent substrate having a light entrance surface and an opposite light exit surface, at least one of the surfaces including a pattern of individual optical elements of well defined shape having two differently curved surfaces. The individual optical elements are quite small in size relative to the length and width of the substrate, and redistribute light passing through the substrate in a predetermined angular distribution. The individual optical elements may be distributed on the surface of the substrate such that some intersect each other, or the placement may be randomized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
  • Publication number: 20100110724
    Abstract: A light guide device and method for making the same are disclosed. A light guide includes a thin film of light transmitting material, and a light-emitting device connected to a first edge of the thin film. The light guide further includes a printed pattern abutting a first side of the primary guide and comprised of light reflecting ink and arranged to reflect the light from the light emitting device, and a guide frame framing the remaining edges of the primary guide other than the first edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Scott Moncrieff
  • Patent number: 7708444
    Abstract: A primary object of the present invention is to provide a surface light source device attaining a homogenous luminance distribution on a light emitting surface of a light guiding plate in which a dot light source having a high directivity of emitted light is employed. The device includes: a light guiding plate 5 including a plurality of primary holes in such a manner as to locate each dot light source 3 inside; and dot printing 7a being employed as an auxiliary light source means which diffuses light from the dot light source 3 to the position between dot light sources 3 being adjacent to each other, wherein the dot printing 7 is provided at a base of the light guiding plate 5 and a middle point of the connected dot light sources 3 being adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sakai, Takuya Sakamoto, Toshiyuki Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20100067258
    Abstract: The present invention is a bulk light diffuser material based upon a hydrogenated block copolymer, but including a particulate light diffusing component. The material may be in the form of a film, a sheet or a molded article. When present as a sheet having a thickness of 2 millimeters, the sheet has a percent total transmittance of at least 50% and a haze of at least 70%, measured according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard D 1003.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen F. Hahn, Kenneth W. Williams, Phillip L. Wing, Weijun Zhou
  • Publication number: 20100067117
    Abstract: An optical packaged body capable of preventing generation of a wrinkle, deflection, and warpage, and capable of being thinned is provided. The optical packaged body includes a support medium and a packaging film that covers the support medium in a state of being applied with shrinkage force. The packaging film has an optical function section that acts on light from a light source in at least one of a first region into which the light from the light source enters and a second region from which the light from the light source is emitted after passing through the optical packaged body when the light source is arranged on one face side of the optical packaged body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Ohta, Toru Abiko, Yasuyuki Kudo, Hirokazu Odagiri, Satoshi Sato, Yu Andrew Chakchung, Shogo Shinkai, Taro Omura, Hiroshi Mizuno, Akihiro Horii, Tatsuya Harima
  • Publication number: 20100061117
    Abstract: A backlight assembly and a display device including the backlight assembly are provided for one or more embodiments, where the display device is slim, lightweight, and requires low manufacturing costs because the device integrates a receiving container and a light generating unit cover member. According to an embodiment, the backlight assembly includes a first light generating unit, a wire electrically connected to the first light generating unit, a first fixing member including a groove to fix the first light generating unit and a wire outlet, and a receiving container comprising a light generating unit cover member. The first fixing member includes a protruding portion extending outwardly from the receiving container and the wire outlet formed on the protruding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Sang-Min KANG, Jun-Hee SON, Kyeong-Min KIM
  • Publication number: 20100061115
    Abstract: A one-way see-through illumination system is constructed from a light guide panel, a front-illuminable image film, and a light injector. The light injector injects light into the light guide panel at a suitable angle for total internal reflection of the injected light at the surfaces of the light guide panel. The image film includes a half-toned front-illuminable image pattern that extracts light from the light guide panel. When active, light from the light guide panel front illuminates the image pattern for viewing by a front-side view, while a back-side viewer can see through the image pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: DONAHUE INVENTIONS LLC
    Inventor: Kevin G. Donahue
  • Patent number: 7674028
    Abstract: Various embodiments comprise light recycling films comprising an array of parallel ridges and grooves that form prisms that selectively reflect or transmit light. In some embodiments, the light recycling film may be used in displays that include spatial light modulators comprising a plurality of pixels. The light recycling film can limit the field-of-view of the display and enhance the luminance within that field-of-view. Various embodiments comprising multiple arrays of ridges and/or grooves can enhance uniformity of illumination of the pixels in the spatial light modulator and reduce Moiré effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Cassarly, Steven R. Chapman
  • Patent number: 7670041
    Abstract: A backlight module (10) includes a light source and a light guide plate (12). The light source defines a number of light units (11) for emitting light beams. The light guide plate includes a light incident surface (121), an emission surface (123) adjacent to the light incident surface, a bottom surface (124) opposite to the emission surface, a plurality of side surfaces (122) between the emission surface and the bottom surface, and a plurality of diffusion units (13) formed on the bottom surface. A dot size of each diffusion unit/dot is inversely proportional to a summation of the sum of reciprocals of squares of distances between the diffusion unit and each of the light units and the sum of reciprocals of squares of distances between the diffusion unit and corresponding images of each of the light units formed, respectively, by the side surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun-Jung Tsai
  • Patent number: 7651244
    Abstract: It is provided an electro-optical device including an electro-optical panel having a display area on which light from a light source is incident and an optical thin film disposed on the electro-optical panel at the side on which the light is incident and covering at least a portion of the display area. The optical thin film transmits at least a light component in a first wavelength range of the light from the light source and reflects at least a light component in a second wavelength range, wavelength in the second wavelength range being longer than wavelength in the first wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomio Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100014319
    Abstract: An image display apparatus (100) comprises: a display device (104) for displaying an image 900 by emission of display light (210) in a first direction; a scattering layer (902) disposed in front of the display device (104), for scattering at least a portion of ambient light (208); a transparent plate-shaped light source (950), arranged parallel to the scattering layer (902) and being optically coupled to the scattering layer (902). The plate-shaped light source (950) may be a passive light source, in which case at least one light source (967) is arranged along an edge of the plate-shaped light source (950). When the display device (104) is ON, the scattering layer (902) and the plate-shaped light source (950) are transparent. When the display device (104) is OFF, the scattering layer (902) is scattering and the plate-shaped light source (950) is ON.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Gerrit Oversluizen, Hendrik De Koning, Ronald Van Rijswijk, Eefje Janet Hornix, Gerrit Oversluizen