Optical member, backlight assembly and display device having the same

• US 20050195588A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Chang, Woong-Jae, Park, Jong-Dae, Won, Yong-Gwang, Kang, Sung-Yong
• Application Number:
  US11/074,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20050195588A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/19
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0226 having particles on the surface
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0231 the surface having microprismatic or micropyramidal shape macroscopic prism arrays G02B5/045
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0242 by means of dispersed particles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0294 adapted to provide an additional optical effect, e.g. anti-reflection or filter
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3033 in the form of a thin sheet or foil, e.g. Polaroid
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133604 with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133606 including a specially adapted diffusing, scattering or light controlling members
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13362 providing polarized light, e.g. by converting a polarisation component into another one

Abstract

An optical member is disposed between a light generating section that generates light and a display section that displays images by using the light generated by the light generating section. The optical member includes a light polarizing part and a light diffusing part. The light polarizing part polarizes the light generated by the light generating section. The light diffusing part is integrally formed with the light polarizing part to diffuse the light to enhance uniformity of luminance of the light. Therefore, weight, volume, etc. of the optical member may be reduced.

Claims

1. An optical member disposed between a light generating section that generates light and a display section that displays images by using the light generated by the light generating section, comprising:

a light polarizing part configured to polarize the light generated by the light generating section; and

a light diffusing part integrally formed with the light polarizing part, the light diffusing part diffusing the light generated by the light generating section to enhance uniformity of luminance of the light.

2. The optical member of claim 1, wherein the light diffusing part comprises polycarbonate.

3. The optical member of claim 1, wherein the light diffusing part comprises polymethylmetacrylate.

4. The optical member of claim 1, wherein the light diffusing part comprises beads that diffuse the light.

5. The optical member of claim 4, wherein the beads are disposed at one of:

selected portions within the light diffusing part; and

a surface of the light diffusing part.

6. The optical member of claim 1, wherein the light diffusing part has a thickness of about 0.8 mm to about 1.0 mm.

7. The optical member of claim 1, wherein the light diffusing part has patterns formed on a surface of the light diffusing part to condense the light.

8. The optical member of claim 7, wherein a cross-section of the patterns has a saw-tooth shape and a vertical angle between opposing faces defining the patterns is in a range of about 90 degrees to about 120 degrees.

9. The optical member of claim 1, wherein the light diffusing part comprises:

a first light diffusing layer disposed at a bottom face of the light polarizing part to face the light generating section; and

a second light diffusing layer disposed at a top face of the light polarizing part to face the display section, the first and second diffusing layers have first patterns and second patterns, respectively, a cross-section of which each has a saw-tooth shape.

10. The optical member of claim 9, wherein a longitudinal direction of the first patterns is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the second patterns.

11. The optical member of claim 1, further comprising a pattern layer disposed on the light diffusing part and having a plurality of triangular prisms arranged substantially parallel to each other.

12. An optical member disposed between a light generating section that generates light and a display section that displays images by using the light generated by the light generating section, comprising:

a light polarizing part configured to polarize the light generated by the light generating section;

a first light diffusing layer disposed at a bottom face of the light polarizing part to face the light generating section; and

a second light diffusing layer disposed at a top face of the light polarizing part to face the display section.

13. The optical member of claim 12, wherein the first light diffusing layer has a first haze value, and the second light diffusing layer has a second haze value that is smaller than the first haze value.

14. The optical member of claim 12, wherein the first light diffusing layer has a first thickness, the second light diffusing layer has a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness.

15. The optical member of claim 14, wherein each of the first thickness and the second thickness is in a range of about 0.8 mm to about 1.0 mm.

16. The optical member of claim 12, wherein the first light diffusing layer comprises a first amount of beads, and the second light diffusing layer comprises a second amount of beads that is less than the first amount.

17. A backlight assembly comprising:

a plurality of lamps that generate light; and

an optical member disposed over the plurality of lamps, the optical member comprising;

a light polarizing part that polarizes the light generated by the plurality of lamps; and

a light diffusing part integrally formed with the light polarizing part, the light diffusing part diffusing the light to enhance uniformity of luminance of the light.

18. The backlight assembly of claim 17, wherein the light diffusing part comprises a first light polarizing layer disposed on a bottom face of the light polarizing part to face the plurality of lamps, and a second light polarizing layer disposed on a top face of the light polarizing part to face a display section.

19. The backlight assembly of claim 17, wherein the light diffusing part has patterns formed on a surface of the light diffusing part to condense the light.

20. The backlight assembly of claim 17, wherein the light diffusing part comprises:

a first light diffusing layer disposed on a bottom face of the light polarizing part to face the plurality of lamps; and

a second light diffusing layer disposed on a top face of the light polarizing part, the first and second diffusing layers have first patterns and second patterns, respectively, a cross-section of which each has a saw-tooth shape.

21. The backlight assembly of claim 20, wherein a longitudinal direction of the first patterns is substantially perpendicular to that of the second patterns.

22. The backlight assembly of claim 17, wherein the light diffusing part comprises polycarbonate.

23. The backlight assembly of claim 17, wherein the light diffusing part comprises polymethylmetacrylate.

24. The backlight assembly of claim 17, wherein the light diffusing part comprises beads that diffuse the light.

25. A display apparatus comprising:

a plurality of lamps that generate light;

a display panel that displays images using the light generated by the plurality of lamps; and

an optical member disposed between the plurality of lamps and the display panel, the optical member comprising;

a light polarizing part configured to polarize the light generated by the plurality of lamps; and

a light diffusing part integrally formed with the light polarizing part, the light diffusing part diffusing the light to enhance uniformity of luminance of the light.

26. The display apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light diffusing part comprises:

a first light diffusing layer disposed at a bottom face of the light polarizing part to face the plurality of lamps; and

a second light diffusing layer disposed on a top face of the light polarizing part, the first and second diffusing layers have first patterns and second patterns, respectively, a cross-section of which each has a saw-tooth shape.

27. The backlight assembly of claim 26, wherein a longitudinal direction of the first patterns is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the second patterns.