Light collimating device
First Claim
1. A collimating device for use in a system having a backlight, the collimating device comprising:
- an immersing layer;
a reflecting layer; and
an optical element layer formed from a plurality of three-dimensional, optical elements, each optical element having a light input end and a light output end, each optical element being tapered towards the backlight such that the light input end has a horizontal plane cross-sectional area that is less than that of the light output end, and wherein the reflecting layer has apertures therein which correspond to the position and shape of the light input ends of the optical elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collimating device and a transflector for use in a system having a backlight is disclosed herein. In one embodiment of the application, the collimating device and the transflector each include an immersing layer, a reflecting layer, and an optical element layer formed from a plurality of three-dimensional, optical elements. Each optical element is tapered such that a small area end has a horizontal plane cross-sectional area that is less than that of a wide area end. The optical elements of the collimating device are tapered towards the backlight and the optical elements of the transflector are tapered away from the backlight. The reflecting layer has apertures which correspond to the position and shape of the light input ends of the optical elements.
97 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A collimating device for use in a system having a backlight, the collimating device comprising:
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an immersing layer;
a reflecting layer; and
an optical element layer formed from a plurality of three-dimensional, optical elements, each optical element having a light input end and a light output end, each optical element being tapered towards the backlight such that the light input end has a horizontal plane cross-sectional area that is less than that of the light output end, and wherein the reflecting layer has apertures therein which correspond to the position and shape of the light input ends of the optical elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An optical layer having a light input side and a light output side, the optical layer comprising:
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a plurality of three-dimensional, light collimating elements, wherein each optical element has a polygonal horizontal plane cross-section, and wherein each optical element is tapered, such that a vertical plane cross-section of the optical element is an approximation of a compound parabolic concentrator. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A transflector configured to reflect light arriving from a first direction and to transmit light arriving from a second direction opposite the first direction, the transflector comprising:
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at least one immersing layer, including a first immersing layer having a first and second side, wherein the first side faces a backlight that projects light in the first direction and the second side faces light arriving from the second direction;
at least one reflective layer, including a first reflective layer having a first and second side, wherein the first side faces the backlight and the second side faces light arriving from the second direction;
at least one optical element layer, including a first optical element layer having a first set of optical elements, wherein each of the first set of optical elements are tapered towards the light arriving from the second direction, such each optical element has a small area end and a large area end, wherein the large area end of each of the first set of optical elements contacts the large area end of another of the first set of optical elements, and wherein the first reflective layer has apertures therein which correspond to the positioning and shape of the small area ends of each of the first set of optical elements. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A light collimating device for use in a system having a backlight, the light collimating device comprising:
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at least one optical element layer, including a first optical element layer having three-dimensional optical elements with horizontal plane rectangular bases that extend across the optical element layer, wherein the optical elements are tapered along a curved path towards the backlight. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A light containing region in an optical element layer for transmitting light, the light containing region comprising:
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a light input end having a polygonal shape;
a light output end having a polygonal shape;
a plurality of sides, tapered from the light output end to the light input end. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A collimating device for use in a system having a backlight, the collimating device comprising:
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a reflecting layer; and
an optical element layer formed from a plurality of three-dimensional, optical elements, each optical element having a light input end and a light output end, each optical element being tapered towards the backlight such that the light input end has a horizontal plane cross-sectional area that is less than that of the light output end, and wherein the reflecting layer has apertures therein which correspond to the position and shape of the light input ends of the optical elements. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A device comprising:
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transflective pixels having a reflective surface; and
an optical element layer having a plurality of light containing regions, wherein each light containing region is tapered along a curved path towards the transflective pixels, such that each light containing region has a small area end and a wide are end, wherein the small area ends are aligned with the transflective pixels. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method of manufacturing a device having an optical element layer and a reflective layer, the method comprising the steps of:
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exposing a side of a photosensitive polymer to laser light with a lens/masking system to form light containing regions in the polymer;
guiding a printing system according to light output through the light containing regions created by a change in index of refraction; and
printing a reflective layer on areas where no light is output. - View Dependent Claims (60)
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Specification