Light guiding plate, liquid crystal display device using the same, and method for displaying pictures thereof

• US 20030090606A1
• Filed: 09/16/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Ik-Soo, Kim, Jin-Baek
• Application Number:
  US10/244,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090606A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/65
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0071 with elongated shape, e.g. tube
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133616 Front illuminating devices

Abstract

Disclosed are a light guiding plate, a liquid crystal display device using the same, and a method for displaying an image thereof. The light reflection path is varied in the guiding plate, such that a portion of the light supplied to a bright region of an effective display area is shifted into a dark region, thereby obtaining a uniform brightness distribution over the entire effective display area. The liquid crystal display device can display information with improved brightness, so that the display quality is improved.

Claims

1. A light guiding plate comprising:

a light incident side portion into which a light is incident;

a first surface for reflecting the light incident through the light incident side portion, the first surface having a light reflection pattern including a plurality of alternately disposed light reflection planes and non-reflection planes, the light reflection planes facing the light incident side portion so as to reflect the light inputted through the light incident side portion; and

a second surface opposite the first surface, the light reflection plane having an inclined angle with respect to the second surface, the angle being proportional to a distance between the light incident side portion and the light reflection plane.

2. The light guiding plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inclined angle is from about 32 degrees to about 46 degrees.

3. The light guiding plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light reflection pattern is inclined about 22.5 degrees or less with respect to a boundary line between the light incident side portion and the first surface.

4. The light guiding plate as claimed in claim 3, wherein the light reflection pattern is inclined about 22.5 degrees with respect to the boundary line between the light incident side portion and the first surface.

5. The light guiding plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second surface reflects or transmit the light reflected by the first surface depending on the inclined angle of the light reflection plane.

6. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a lamp assembly generating a light to supply the light in one direction;

a light guiding plate including a light incident side portion into which the light is incident, a first surface for reflecting the light incident through the light incident side portion, the first surface having a light reflection pattern including a plurality of alternately disposed light reflection planes and non-reflection planes, the light reflection planes facing the light incident side portion, and a second surface opposite the first surface, the light reflection plane having an inclined angle with respect to the second surface, the angle being proportional to a distance between the light incident side section and the light reflection plane; and

a liquid crystal display panel assembly for forming an image light including display information by optically modulating the light outputted from the second surface of the light guiding plate.

7. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inclined angle is from about 32 degrees to about 46 degrees.

8. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the light reflection pattern is inclined about 22.5 degrees or less with respect to a boundary line between the light incident side portion and the first surface.

9. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the light reflection pattern is inclined about 22.5 degrees with respect to the boundary line between the light incident side portion and the first surface.

10. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second surface reflects or transmit the light reflected by the first surface depending on the inclined angle of the light reflection plane.

11. A method for displaying an image in a liquid crystal display device, comprising:

inputting a first light having a first optical distribution;

forming a second light having a second optical distribution by continuously reflecting the first light to have a continuously varied reflection angle;

forming a third light having a third optical distribution by transmitting a portion of the second light and reflecting again at least one time a remaining portion of the second light and transmitting the re-reflected second light, depending on the reflection angle; and

forming a fourth light including an information by optically modulating the third light through a liquid crystal.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the varied reflection angle of a vertically reflected second light gradually decreases as a distance between a position at which the first light is incident and a position at which the first light is generated increases, the vertically reflected second light being a second light which is incident vertically onto a LCD panel.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first light is reflected by a first surface to form the second light, and the second light is directed toward a second surface, and the first surface has an inclined angle with respect to the second surface, the angle being from about 32 degrees to about 46 degrees.