Liquid crystal display and backlight module thereof

• US 20040105055A1
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Ga-Lane, Yu, Tai-Cheng, Leu, Charls
• Granted Patent: US 7,084,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/113
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13362 providing polarized light, e.g. by converting a polarisation component into another one
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133638 Waveplates, i.e. plates with a retardation value of lambda/n

Abstract

A liquid crystal display (3) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal panel and a backlight module (36). The liquid crystal panel has a reflective polarizing element (342). The backlight module has a light source (361), a light guide plate (362), a reflector (365), and a quarter-wave plate (366). The light source is disposed adjacent to the light guide plate, and the reflector, the light guide plate and the quarter-wave plate are stacked together in order. The liquid crystal panel is located on the backlight module, and the reflective polarizing element of the liquid crystal panel faces toward the quarter-wave plate of the backlight module. The liquid crystal display 3 has a high brightness since light energy is efficiently used.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

a liquid crystal panel having a reflective polarizing element; and

a backlight module having a light source, a light guide plate, a reflector, and a quarter-wave plate, the light source being disposed adjacent to the light guide plate, and the reflector, the light guide plate and the quarter-wave plate being stacked together in order;

wherein, the liquid crystal panel is located on the backlight module, and the reflective polarizing element of the liquid crystal panel faces toward the quarter-wave plate of the backlight module.

2. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the reflector is attached to a bottom surface of the light guide plate.

3. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the quarter-wave plate is attached to an upper surface of the light guide plate.

4. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the quarter-wave plate.

5. The liquid crystal display of claim 4, further comprising a brightness enhancing film disposed between the diffuser and the liquid crystal panel.

6. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the quarter-wave plate is made of mica.

7. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the quarter-wave plate is made of polyvinyl alcohol.

8. A backlight module, comprising:

a light source for emitting light beams;

a light guide plate for receiving and transferring the light beams;

a reflector disposed behind the light guide plate; and

a quarter-wave plate for changing a polarization state of the light beams;

wherein the light source is disposed adjacent to the light guide plate, and the reflector, the light guide plate and the quarter-wave plate are stacked together in order.

9. The backlight module of claim 8, wherein the reflector is attached to a bottom surface of the light guide plate.

10. The backlight module of claim 8, wherein the quarter-wave plate is attached to an upper surface of the light guide plate.

11. The backlight module of claim 8, wherein the quarter-wave plate is made of mica.

12. The backlight module of claim 8, wherein the quarter-wave plate is made of polyvinyl alcohol.

13. A method of making a liquid crystal display system, comprising steps of:

providing a liquid crystal panel;

providing a backlight module located behind the liquid crystal panel and including a light source with a light guide plate beside said light source, a quarter-wave plate and a reflector located in front of and behind said light guide plate, respectively; and

providing one reflective polarizing element on a rear portion of the liquid crystal panel and in front of the quarter-wave plate;

wherein

reflection occurs on said reflector and said reflective polarizing element, respectively.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein in a light a p-polarization component is reflected by said reflective polarizing element, and passes the quarter-wave plate twice and the reflector once, thus resulting in a conversion of “

a p-polarization component→

a clockwise circular polarization component→

a counterclockwise circular polarization component→

an s-polarization component”

before said reflected and reformed p-polarization component hits said reflective polarizing element again.