Display systems including light enhancing structures with arrays of elongate features

• US 20070086207A1
• Filed: 11/08/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation, Optical Research Associates (Synopsys Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cassarly, William, Chapman, Steven
• Application Number:
  US11/594,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20070086207A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/600
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0025 Diffusing sheet or layer; Prismatic sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133607 the light controlling member including light directing or refracting elements, e.g. prisms or lenses

Abstract

Various embodiments comprise light recycling films comprising an array of parallel ridges and grooves that form prisms that selectively reflect or transmit light. In some embodiments, the light recycling film may be used in displays that include spatial light modulators comprising a plurality of pixels. The light recycling film can limit the field-of-view of the display and enhance the luminance within that field-of-view. Various embodiments comprising multiple arrays of ridges and/or grooves can enhance uniformity of illumination of the pixels in the spatial light modulator and reduce Moiré effects.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a light guide;

a spatial light modulator comprising an array of pixels, said pixel array comprising a plurality of rows of pixels; and

an optical member comprising a substantially optically transmissive material having a surface, a first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features in said surface, and a second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features in said surface, said first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features angled with respect to said second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features, each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said first plurality extending across said second plurality of non-intersecting features thereby forming total internal reflection structures,

wherein said first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features and said second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features are oriented at an angle with respect to said rows of pixels.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least two of said non-intersecting elongate features comprise substantially parallel linear features.

3. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features varies in height or depth along its length.

4. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features comprise a non-linear feature.

5. The display apparatus of claim 4, wherein said non-linear feature undulates laterally.

6. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said non-intersecting elongate features comprise grooves.

7. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said non-intersecting elongate features comprise ridgelines.

8. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said total internal reflection structures comprise a prism having planar facets.

9. The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein said prism comprises a pyramid.

10. The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein said planar facets have rounded edges.

11. The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of said facets in said prism has substantially the same projected area.

12. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least two of said total internal reflection structures have different heights.

13. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said total internal reflection structures comprise curved surfaces that totally internally reflect light.

14. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pixel array further comprises a plurality of columns of pixels, said non-intersecting elongate features in said first plurality and said non-intersecting elongate features in said second plurality being oriented at an angle with respect to said columns.

15. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an array of extractors configured to extract light from said light guide, said array of extractors comprising a plurality of rows of extractors, wherein said non-intersecting elongate features in said first plurality and said non-intersecting elongate features in said second plurality are oriented at an angle with respect to said rows of extractors.

16. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein said array of extractors further comprises a plurality of columns of extractors, said non-intersecting elongate features in said first plurality and said non-intersecting elongate features in said second plurality being oriented at an angle with respect to said columns.

17. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser on either side of said surface.

18. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a first pitch, the second plurality of non-intersecting intersecting elongate features has a second pitch, and wherein the first pitch is not equal to the second pitch.

19. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a first pitch, the second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a second pitch, and wherein the pitch of at least one of the first and second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features varies.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features is linear.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said substantially optically transmissive material comprises a film.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said substantially optically transmissive material has a thickness of 0.2 mm or less.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an illumination apparatus that backlights said optical member.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said first plurality intersect each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said second plurality only once.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a first pitch and said first pitch increases and decreases along at least one direction.

26. A display apparatus comprising:

a light guide;

an array of extractors configured to extract light from said light guide, said array of extractors comprising a plurality of rows of extractors; and

an optical member comprising a substantially optically transmissive material having a surface, a first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features in said surface, and a second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features in said surface, said first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features angled with respect to said second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features, each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said first plurality extending across a said second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features thereby forming total internal reflection structures,

wherein said non-intersecting elongate features in said first plurality and said non-intersecting elongate features in said second plurality are oriented at an angle with respect to said rows of extractors.

27. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least two of said non-intersecting elongate features comprise substantially parallel linear features.

28. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features varies in height or depth along its length.

29. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features comprises a non-linear feature.

30. The display apparatus of claim 29, wherein said non-linear feature undulates laterally.

31. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein said non-intersecting elongate features comprise grooves.

32. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein said non-intersecting elongate features comprise ridgelines.

33. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least one of said total internal reflection structures comprises a prism having planar facets.

34. The display apparatus of claim 33, wherein said prism comprises a pyramid.

35. The display apparatus of claim 33, wherein said planar facets have rounded edges.

36. The display apparatus of claim 33, wherein each of said facets in said prism has substantially the same projected area.

37. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least two of said total internal reflection structures have different heights.

38. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least one of said total internal reflection structures comprises curved surfaces that totally internally reflect light.

39. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein said array of extractors further comprise a plurality of columns of extractors, said non-intersecting elongate features in said first plurality and said non-intersecting elongate features in said second plurality being oriented at an angle with respect to said columns.

40. The display apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a third plurality of non-intersecting elongate features in said surface, said non-intersecting elongate features in said third plurality being angled with respect to said first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features and said second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features.

41. The display apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a diffuser on either side of said surface.

42. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a first pitch, the second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a second pitch, and wherein the first pitch is not equal to the second pitch.

43. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a first pitch, the second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a second pitch, and wherein the pitch of at least one of the first and second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features varies.

44. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features is linear.

45. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said substantially optically transmissive material comprises a film.

46. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said substantially optically transmissive material has a thickness of 0.2 mm or less.

47. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising an illumination apparatus that backlights said optical member.

48. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said first plurality intersect each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said second plurality only once.

49. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a first pitch and said first pitch increases and decreases along at least one direction.

50. An optical apparatus comprising:

a first optical member comprising substantially optically transmissive material having a first surface, a first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features in said first surface, said first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features defining a first plurality of total internal reflection structures;

a second optical member comprising substantially optically transmissive material having a second surface, said second member further comprising;

a second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features in said second surface; and

a third plurality of non-intersecting elongate features in said second surface, said second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features being oriented at an angle with respect to said third plurality of non-intersecting elongate features, each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said second plurality extending across said said third plurality of non-intersecting elongate features thereby forming a second plurality of total internal reflection structures,

wherein said first optical member is oriented with respect to said second optical member such that said first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features is at an angle with respect to said second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features and at an angle with respect to said third plurality of non-intersecting elongate features.

51. The optical apparatus of claim 50, wherein at least two of said non-intersecting elongate features comprise substantially parallel linear features.

52. The optical apparatus of claim 50, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features varies in height or depth along its length.

53. The optical apparatus of claim 50, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features comprise a non-linear feature.

54. The optical apparatus of claim 53, wherein said non-linear feature undulates laterally.

55. The optical apparatus of claim 50, wherein said non-intersecting elongate features in said first or second surface comprise grooves.

56. The optical apparatus of claim 50, wherein said non-intersecting elongate features in said first or second surface comprise ridgelines.

57. The optical apparatus of claim 50, wherein at least one of said total internal reflection structures comprises a prism having planar facets.

58. The optical apparatus of claim 50, wherein said prism comprises a pyramid.

59. The optical apparatus of claim 58, wherein said planar facets have rounded edges.

60. The optical apparatus of claim 50, wherein at least one of said total internal reflection structures comprises curved surfaces that totally internally reflect light.

61. The optical apparatus of claim 50, wherein said first optical member further comprises a fourth plurality of non-intersecting elongate features, said fourth plurality of non-intersecting elongate features angled with respect to said first, second, and third plurality of non-intersecting elongate features.

62. The optical apparatus of claim 50, wherein said second optical member further comprises a fifth plurality of non-intersecting elongate features, said fifth plurality of non-intersecting elongate features angled with respect to said first, second, and third plurality of non-intersecting elongate features.

63. The optical apparatus of claim 50, further comprising a spatial light modulator, wherein said spatial light modulator comprises an array of pixels arranged in rows, said non-intersecting elongate features in said first, second, and third non-intersecting elongate features being angled with respect to said rows of pixels.

64. The optical apparatus of claim 50, further comprising an array of extractors, wherein said array of extractors comprises extractors arranged in rows, said non-intersecting elongate features in said first, second, and third non-intersecting elongate features being angled with respect to said rows of extractors.

65. The optical apparatus of claim 50, further comprising a diffuser on at least one of said first and second surfaces, said diffuser on either side of surface.

66. The optical apparatus of claim 50, wherein the first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a first pitch, the second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a second pitch, and the third plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a third pitch, and wherein at least two of the first, second, and third pitches are unequal.

67. The optical apparatus of claim 50, wherein the first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a first pitch, the second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a second pitch, and the third plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a third pitch, and wherein the pitch of at least one of the first, second, and third plurality of non-intersecting elongate features varies.

68. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features is linear.

69. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein said substantially optically transmissive material comprises a film.

70. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein said substantially optically transmissive material has a thickness of 0.2 mm or less.

71. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising an illumination apparatus that backlights said optical member.

72. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said first plurality intersect each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said second plurality only once.

73. An optical apparatus comprising:

a light emitter;

a light guide;

a first optical member comprising a substantially optically transmissive material having a first surface, said first member further comprising;

a first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features in said first surface; and

a second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features in said first surface, said second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features being oriented at an angle with respect to said first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features, each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said first plurality extending across said second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features thereby forming a plurality of total internal reflection structures,

wherein said optical member is disposed in an optical path between said light emitter and said light guide.

74. The optical apparatus of claim 73, wherein at least two of said non-intersecting elongate features comprise substantially parallel linear features.

75. The optical apparatus of claim 73, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features varies in height or depth along their length.

76. The optical apparatus of claim 73, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features comprises a non-linear feature.

77. The optical apparatus of claim 76, wherein said non-linear feature undulates laterally.

78. The optical apparatus of claim 73, wherein said non-intersecting elongate features comprise grooves.

79. The optical apparatus of claim 73, wherein said non-intersecting elongate features comprise ridgelines.

80. The optical apparatus of claim 73, wherein at least one of said total internal reflection structures comprise a prism having planar facets.

81. The optical apparatus of claim 80, wherein said prism comprises a pyramid.

82. The optical apparatus of claim 81, wherein each of said facets in said prisms has substantially the same projected area.

83. The optical apparatus of claim 80, wherein said planar facets have rounded edges.

84. The optical apparatus of claim 73, wherein at least one of said total internal reflection structures comprises curved surfaces that totally internally reflect light.

85. The optical apparatus of claim 73, further comprising a light rod in said optical path between said light emitter and said light guide.

86. The optical apparatus of claim 85, wherein said first optical member is disposed in said optical path between said light emitter and said light rod.

87. The optical apparatus of claim 85, wherein said first optical member is disposed in said optical path between said light rod and said light guide.

88. The optical apparatus of claim 73, further comprising a second optical member comprising a substantially optically transmissive material having a second surface, said second member further comprising:

a third plurality of non-intersecting elongate features in said second surface; and

a fourth plurality of non-intersecting elongate features in said second surface, said fourth plurality of non-intersecting elongate features being oriented at an angle with respect to said fourth plurality of non-intersecting elongate features, each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said third plurality extending across said fourth plurality of non-intersecting elongate features thereby forming a plurality of total internal reflection structures,

wherein said second optical member is disposed in an optical path between said light emitter and said light guide.

89. The optical apparatus of claim 88, wherein at least two of said non-intersecting elongate features in said second optical member comprise substantially parallel linear features.

90. The optical apparatus of claim 88, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features in said second optical member varies in height or depth along its length.

91. The optical apparatus of claim 88, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features in said second optical member comprises a non-linear feature.

92. The optical apparatus of claim 91, wherein said non-linear feature undulates laterally.

93. The optical apparatus of claim 88, wherein said second optical member is disposed in said optical path between said light emitter and a light rod.

94. The optical apparatus of claim 88, wherein said second optical member is disposed in said optical path between a light rod and said light guide.

95. The optical apparatus of claim 73, wherein said substantially optically transmissive material comprises a sheet or film.

96. The optical apparatus of claim 73, wherein said first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features and second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features have different depths or heights.

97. The optical apparatus of claim 73, wherein at least one of said first plurality and second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features have a base angles, φ

, less than about 45°

.

98. The optical apparatus of claim 73, further comprising a diffuser on either side of said first surface.

99. The optical apparatus of claim 73, wherein the first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a first pitch, the second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a second pitch, and wherein the first pitch is not equal to the second pitch.

100. The optical apparatus of claim 73, wherein the first plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a first pitch, the second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features has a second pitch, and wherein the pitch of at least one of the first and second plurality of non-intersecting elongate features varies.

101. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein at least one of said non-intersecting elongate features is linear.

102. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein said substantially optically transmissive material comprises a film.

103. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein said substantially optically transmissive material has a thickness of 0.2 mm or less.

104. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said first plurality intersect each of said non-intersecting elongate features in said second plurality only once.