Optical structures that provide directionally enhanced luminance

• US 20070147072A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP BV (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Gautam, Keshav, Tatterson, Robert, Scobbo, James, Jacob, Cherian
• Application Number:
  US11/315,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20070147072A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/607
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0033 Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources

Abstract

An optical structure is described. The optical structure includes a light source emitting light in a first wavelength range. The optical structure also includes a light redirecting element arranged to receive light from the light source and provide redirected light redirected in a preferred direction or orientation. The light redirecting element comprises a material which absorbs light in a second wavelength range within the first wavelength range such that the redirected light is in a third wavelength range.

Claims

1. An optical structure, comprising:

a light source emitting light in a first wavelength range; and

a light redirecting element arranged to receive light from the light source and provide redirected light redirected in a preferred direction or orientation, wherein the light redirecting element comprises a material which absorbs light in a second wavelength range within the first wavelength range such that the redirected light is in a third wavelength range.

2. The optical structure of claim 1, wherein the redirected light is substantially white.

3. The optical structure of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a primary light source, the primary light source being at least one of a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), and a cold cathode fluorescent light (CCFL), the primary light source providing light in a fourth wavelength range.

4. The optical structure of claim 3, wherein the primary light source is at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) and an organic light emitting diode (OLED).

5. The optical structure of claim 3, wherein the primary light source comprises an emission chip.

6. The optical structure of claim 3, wherein the light source further comprises a secondary light source comprising an emission phosphor emitting light in a fifth wavelength range upon absorbing light from the primary light source.

7. The optical structure of claim 6, wherein the light in the fourth wavelength range comprises blue light, and the light in the fifth wavelength range comprises yellow light.

8. The optical structure of claim 1, wherein the light redirecting element comprises a polymer material comprising resorcinol arylate polyester chain members.

9. The optical structure of claim 1, wherein the light redirecting element comprises one of brominated polycarbonate or polyphthalatecarbonate.

10. The optical structure of claim 1, wherein the light redirecting element comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of resorcinol based polyarylates, polycarbonates, polyester carbonates, polyesters, brominated polycarbonates, polyphthalatecarbonates, and polyimides.

11. The optical structure of claim 8, wherein the light redirecting element comprises a lightguide.

12. The optical structure of claim 1, wherein the light redirecting element comprises at least one of a lens, lightguide, brightness enhancement film, waveguide, and an optical fiber.

13. The optical structure of claim 1, wherein the optical structure is one of a television display and a computer display.

14. The optical structure of claim 1, wherein the light redirecting element comprises an optical stack, the optical stack comprising at least one brightness enhancing film, and at least one diffuse film.

15. The optical structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one brightness enhancing film comprises a polymer material comprising resorcinol arylate polyester chain members.

16. An optical display comprising:

a light source emitting light in a first wavelength range; and

a light redirecting element comprising at least one brightness enhancement film arranged to receive light from the light source and provide redirected light redirected in a preferred direction or orientation, wherein the light redirecting element comprises a material which absorbs light in a second wavelength range within the first wavelength range such that the redirected light is in a third wavelength range, wherein the at least one brightness enhancement film comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of resorcinol based polyarylates, polycarbonates, polyester carbonates, polyesters, brominated polycarbonates, polyphthalatecarbonates, and polyimides.

17. The optical display of claim 16, wherein the at least one brightness enhancement film comprises a polymer material comprising resorcinol arylate polyester chain members.

18. The optical display of claim 16, wherein the redirected light is substantially white.

19. The optical display of claim 16, wherein the light source comprises a primary light source, the primary light source being at least one of a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), and a cold cathode fluorescent light (CCFL), the primary light source providing light in a fourth wavelength range.

20. The optical display of claim 19, wherein the primary light source is at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) and an organic light emitting diode (OLED).

21. The optical display of claim 19, wherein the primary light source comprises an emission chip.

22. The optical display of claim 19, wherein the light source further comprises a secondary light source comprising an emission phosphor emitting light in a fifth wavelength range upon absorbing light from the primary light source.

23. The optical display of claim 22, wherein the light in the fourth wavelength range comprises blue light, and the light in the fifth wavelength range comprises yellow light.

24. The optical display of claim 16, wherein the optical display is one of a television display and a computer display.

25. The optical structure of claim 16, wherein the light redirecting element comprises an optical stack, the optical stack comprising the at least one brightness enhancing film, and at least one diffuse film.