EDGE-LIT OPTICAL DISPLAY WITH FLUTED OPTICAL PLATE

• US 20070236960A1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Anderson, Susan, Richard, James, Gehlsen, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/627
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type

Abstract

A display system includes a display panel and a backlight disposed behind the display panel. The backlight has a light guide and at least one light source that directs light into an edge of the light guide. The light guide comprises a front layer facing the display panel, a back layer facing away from the display panel, and a plurality of connecting members connecting the front and back layers. The spaces formed between the connecting members and the upper and the first and second layers are referred to as flutes. Light from the light source may propagate along the flutes.

Claims

1. A display system, comprising:

a display panel; and

a backlight disposed behind the display panel, the backlight comprising a light guide and at least one light source disposed to direct light into an edge of the light guide, the light guide comprising a front layer facing the display panel, a back layer facing away from the display panel, and a plurality of connecting members connecting the front and back layers.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the front and back layers of the fluted light guide comprises a diffuser layer.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one light management layer attached to the fluted light guide.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one light management layer comprises at least one of a reflecting polarizer layer and a prismatic brightness enhancing layer.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the fluted light guide comprises light extraction features for extracting light out of the light guide towards the display panel.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the front and back layers comprises an integral light management layer.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the integral light management layer comprises one of a prismatic brightness enhancing layer and a reflective polarizer layer.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an arrangement of light management layers disposed between the backlight and the display panel, the arrangement of light management layers comprising at least one of a diffuser layer, a reflective polarizer layer, a prismatic brightness enhancement layer and a turning film.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one of a diffuser layer, reflective polarizer layer and a prismatic brightness enhancement layer is mounted to the fluted light guide.

10. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the arrangement of light management layers further comprises a fluted plate, at least one of the light management layers being attached to the fluted plate.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to control an image displayed by the display panel.

12. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein the controller comprises one of a computer and a television controller.

13. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

14. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one fluorescent lamp or at least one light emitting diode (LED).

15. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second layers are not mutually parallel.

16. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second layers are mutually parallel.

17. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a reflector layer, the fluted light guide being positioned between the reflector layer and the display panel.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the reflector layer is attached to the fluted light guide.

19. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the second layer of the fluted light guide comprises the reflector layer.

20. A backlight unit for an optical display, comprising:

at least one light source capable of emitting illumination light; and

a light guide having a first edge disposed proximate the at least one light source, the light guide being provided with hollow channels having openings at the first edge, and passing through the light guide from the first edge, at least some of the light from the at least one light source entering the channels and reflecting within the channels, the light guide further being provided with light extractors for extracting light from the channels through an upper surface of the light guide.