Light panel

• US 20040226202A1
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marketing Displays Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Marketing Displays Incorporated
• Inventors: Hillstrom, Brian J., Krohn, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,895,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/546
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0033 Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide

Abstract

A display device is provided comprising a transparent panel having a light receiving edge and a face. A plurality of laser etched grooves are formed in the face of the panel such that the grooves increase in depth as the grooves extend away from the light receiving edge of the panel. The grooves include a bottom surface having a contour that matches a contour of the face of the panel. The grooves also include a plurality of diffusive sections and a plurality of internally reflective sections.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a transparent panel having a light receiving edge and a face; and

a plurality of laser etched grooves formed in the face of said panel, said grooves increasing in depth as said grooves extend away from the light receiving edge of said panel.

2. The display device of claim 1 wherein said grooves include a bottom surface, said bottom surface matching a contour of the face of said panel.

3. The display device of claim 1 wherein said grooves include a plurality of diffusive sections.

4. The display device of claim 3 wherein said grooves include a plurality of internally reflective sections interspaced with said plurality of diffusive sections.

5. The display device of claim 1 further comprising a light source disposed adjacent said light receiving edge of said panel.

6. The display device of claim 5 wherein said light source further comprises at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

7. The display device of claim 5 further comprising a frame enclosing said light source relative to said panel.

8. A display device comprising:

a transparent panel having a light receiving edge and a face; and

a plurality of grooves formed in the face of said panel, said grooves increasing in depth as said grooves extend away from the light receiving edge of said panel;

wherein said grooves include a bottom surface, said bottom surface matching a contour of the face of said panel.

9. The display device of claim 8 wherein said grooves further comprise laser etched grooves.

10. The display device of claim 8 wherein said grooves include a plurality of diffusive sections.

11. The display device of claim 10 wherein said grooves include a plurality of internally reflective sections interspaced with said plurality of diffusive sections.

12. The display device of claim 8 further comprising a light source disposed adjacent said light receiving edge of said panel.

13. The display device of claim 12 wherein said light source further comprises at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

14. The display device of claim 12 further comprising a frame enclosing said light source relative to said panel.

15. A display device comprising:

a transparent panel having a light receiving edge and a face; and

a plurality of grooves formed in the face of said panel, said grooves increasing in depth as said grooves extend away from the light receiving edge of said panel;

wherein said grooves include a plurality of diffusive sections.

16. The display device of claim 15 wherein said grooves further comprise laser etched grooves.

17. The display device of claim 15 wherein said grooves include a bottom surface, said bottom surface matching a contour of the face of said panel.

18. The display device of claim 15 wherein said grooves include a plurality of internally reflective sections interspaced with said plurality of diffusive sections.

19. The display device of claim 15 further comprising a light source disposed adjacent said light receiving edge of said panel.

20. The display device of claim 19 wherein said light source further comprises at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

21. The display device of claim 19 further comprising a frame enclosing said light source relative to said panel.

22. A method of making a display device comprising:

laser etching a plurality of spaced apart grooves in a face of a transparent panel; and

controlling said laser during said etching step to increase a depth of said grooves as said grooves extend away from an edge of said panel.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said controlling step further comprises changing at least one of a speed and a power of said laser as a focus of said laser moves across said panel along a path of said grooves.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising pulsing said laser during said etching step.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising controlling said pulsing step to form a plurality of diffusive sections within said groove.