Direct light type backlight unit and liquid crystal display

• US 20070047221A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Sang-moo
• Granted Patent: US 7,659,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/97.300
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133621 providing coloured light G02F1/133617, G02F1/133533 take precedence

Abstract

A direct light type backlight unit and a liquid crystal panel employing the same. The backlight unit includes a plurality of light emitting devices disposed at a predetermined angle on a substrate; and a grating which diffracts incident light from the light emitting devices at different diffraction angles to separate the incident light into a plurality of colored light beams. The backlight unit and the liquid crystal display include direct light type light sources emitting light at an optimal angle to provide maximum diffraction efficiency of the grating, which allows color image realization without the use of a color filter.

Claims

1. A direct light type backlight unit comprising:

a plurality of light emitting devices slanted at a predetermined angle on a substrate; and

a grating which diffracts incident light from the light emitting devices at different diffraction angles to separate the incident light into a plurality of colored light beams.

2. The backlight unit of claim 1, wherein the light emitting devices comprise light emitting diodes.

3. The backlight unit of claim 1, further comprising installation units that are arranged on the substrate and have mounting surfaces that are inclined at a predetermined angle, wherein the light emitting devices are mounted on the mounting surfaces.

4. The backlight unit of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is equal to the angle of incidence of the incident light at which the diffraction efficiency of the grating is maximum.

5. A liquid crystal display device which realizes a color image without using a color filter, the liquid crystal display comprising:

a liquid crystal panel which forms a color image; and

a direct type backlight unit that is disposed on a lower portion of the liquid crystal panel, comprising;

a plurality of light emitting devices slanted at a predetermined angle on a substrate; and

a grating which diffracts incident light from the light emitting devices at different diffraction angles to separate the incident light into a plurality of colored light beams.

6. The liquid crystal display device of claim 5, wherein the light emitting devices comprise light emitting diodes.

7. The liquid crystal display device of claim 5, further comprising installation units that are arranged on the substrate, and have mounting surfaces that are inclined at a predetermined angle, wherein the light emitting devices are mounted on the mounting surfaces.

8. The liquid crystal display device of claim 5, wherein the predetermined angle is equal to the angle of incidence of the incident light at which the diffraction efficiency of the grating is maximum.

9. The liquid crystal display device of claim 5, further comprising a cylindrical micro lens array interposed between the grating and the liquid crystal panel to focus light from the grating onto the liquid crystal panel.

10. The liquid crystal display device of claim 5, further comprising a diffuser which diffuses a color image formed by the liquid crystal panel.