Backlight having all-in-one type light guide plate and method of manufacturing all-in-one type light guide plate

• US 20070230213A1
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Hong-seok, Yoon, Eung-yeoul
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/606
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a backlight having a light source and an all-in-one type light guide plate that has a light exit surface and a plurality of prisms integrally formed on the light exit surface, wherein the prisms totally reflect light to be emitted upwards.

Claims

1. A backlight comprising:

a light source;

a light guide plate internally reflecting light incident thereon from the light source; and

a plurality of prism-shaped structures integrally formed on the light guide plate, prism-shaped structures further internally reflecting the light reflected by the light guide plate and emitting the further-reflected light.

2. The backlight of claim 1, wherein each of the prism-shaped structures comprises an exit surface, from which the further-reflected light is emitted, and an entry region through which the light reflected by the light guide plate passes;

and

wherein a width of the entry region is smaller than a width of the exit surface.

3. The backlight of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of diffusers, integrally formed on the exit surface of each of the prism-shaped structures.

13. The backlight of claim 1, wherein the light guide plate and the prism-shaped structures are made of an elastic material.

14. The backlight of claim 13, wherein the elastic material is polydimethylsiloxane.

15. The backlight of claim 1 wherein each of the prism-shaped structures has an at least partially oval cross-section.

16. The backlight of claim 1, wherein each of the prism-shaped structures has a trapezoidal cross-section.

4. A method of manufacturing a light guiding device, the method comprising:

forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate;

forming a plurality of prism-shaped portions, corresponding in shape to a plurality of prism-shaped structures of the light guiding device, on the sacrificial layer;

forming the light guiding device by coating a material on the sacrificial layer and the prism-shaped portions; and

separating the light guiding device from the sacrificial layer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the forming the plurality of prism-shaped portions comprises regulating a thickness of the sacrificial layer to adjust the shape of each of the prism-shaped portions so that a width of a light exit surface of the prism-shaped portions is wider than a width of a light entry region of the prism-shaped portions.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the forming the plurality of prism-shaped portions comprises:

etching the sacrificial layer; and

partially filling an etched portion of the sacrificial layer with a filler to adjust a thickness of the prism-shaped portions.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the forming the prism-shaped portions comprises:

positioning a mask having a plurality of through-holes patterned in a predetermined pattern on the sacrificial layer, and

irradiating UV light through the through-holes so that the prism-shaped portions formed on the sacrificial layer have an at least partially oval-shaped cross section.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein forming the plurality of prism-shaped portions comprises:

positioning a mask having a plurality of through-holes patterned in a predetermined pattern on the sacrificial layer, and

irradiating UV light inclined and symmetrically through the through-holes so that the prism-shaped portions formed on the sacrificial layer have a trapezoidal shaped cross section.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising forming a plurality of diffusers on the substrate prior to forming the sacrificial layer on the substrate.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the light guiding device is made of an elastic material.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the light guiding device is made of a hardening material.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the sacrificial layer is made of an elastic material.

17. A light guiding device, comprising:

a light guide plate which internally reflects light incident thereon; and

a plurality of prism-shaped structures integrally formed on the light guide plate, the prism-shaped structures further internally reflecting light reflected by the light guide plate and emitting the further-reflected light.

18. The light-guiding device of claim 17, wherein each of the prism-shaped structures comprises an exit surface, from which the further-reflected light is emitted, and an entry region through which the light reflected by the light guide plate passes, and wherein a width of the entry region is smaller than a width of the exit surface.

19. The light-guiding device of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of diffusers, integrally formed on the exit surface of each of the prism-shaped structures.

20. The light-guiding device of claim 17, wherein the light guide plate and the prism-shaped structures are made of an elastic material.

21. The light-guiding device of claim 17, wherein the light guide plate and the prism-shaped structures are made of a hardening material.

22. The light guiding device of claim 20, wherein the elastic material is polydimethylsiloxane.

23. The light-guiding device of claim 17, wherein each of the prism-shaped structures has an at least partially oval cross-section.

24. The light-guiding device of claim 17, wherein each of the prism-shaped structures has a trapezoidal cross-section.