Backlight Assembly With Thin Film Light Pipe

• US 20080080205A1
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminit LLC
• Original Assignee: Luminit LLC
• Inventors: Forrester, Thomas, Arik, Engin, Poliakov, Evgeni
• Granted Patent: US 7,926,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/558
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/003 Lens or lenticular sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide

Abstract

A backlight assembly is provided. The backlight assembly includes a light pipe assembly having a thickness of about 90 microns, a light source and a coupler that receives light from the light source and diffuses the received light from the light source into the first end of the light pipe assembly.

Claims

1. A backlight assembly comprising:

a light pipe assembly having a thickness of about 90 microns;

a light source; and

a coupler that receives light from the light source and diffuses the received light from the light source into the first end of the light pipe assembly.

2. The backlight system as in claim 1 wherein the coupler further comprises a corrective lens.

3. The backlight system as in claim 2 wherein the coupling lens further comprises a concave surface between the corrective lens and light source.

4. The backlight system as in claim 3 wherein the corrective lens further comprises an air gap between the coupling lens and light source.

5. The backlight system as in claim 4 wherein the air gap further comprises a variable distance beginning with a relatively small distance at a periphery of the concave lens and a maximum air gap proximate a center of the concave lens.

6. The backlight system as in claim 2 wherein the corrective lens further comprises a concave surface between the corrective lens and light pipe assembly.

7. The backlight system as in claim 6 wherein the coupling lens further comprises an air gap between the coupling lens and light source.

8. The backlight system as in claim 7 wherein the air gap further comprises a variable distance beginning with a relatively small distance at a periphery of the concave lens and a maximum air gap proximate a center of the concave lens.

9. The backlight system as in claim 1 wherein the coupler further comprises planar top and bottom surfaces with parallel microgrooves disposed perpendicular to an axis of transmission of the light source.

10. The backlight system as in claim 1 wherein the coupler further comprises a stepped structure perpendicular to an axis of transmission of the light source with a first portion that engages the light pipe of a thickness substantially equal to a thickness of the light pipe assembly and a second portion that engages the light source stepped down to a smaller relative thickness than the first portion.

11. The backlight system as in claim 10 wherein the step further comprises a reflector.

13. The backlight assembly as in claim 11 wherein the lens further comprises a concave lens.

14. The backlight assembly as in claim 11 wherein the coupler further comprising a an air gap between the light source and lens of the coupler.

16. The backlight assembly as in claim 11 wherein the air gaps further comprise a progressively increase in a relative size of the air gap from an edge to a center of the lens.

19. The backlight assembly as in claim 11 wherein the coupler further comprising a an air gap between the coupler and light source.

12. A backlight assembly comprising:

a light pipe assembly;

a light source; and

a coupler with a lens disposed between the light source and light pipe assembly that diffuses light from the light source into the light pipe assembly.

15. The backlight assembly as in claim 12 wherein the coupler further comprising a an air gap between the lens and light pipe assembly.

17. A backlight assembly comprising:

a light pipe assembly;

a light source; and

a coupler with a light receiving portion dimensioned for an angular emission characteristic of the light source.

18. The backlight assembly as in claim 17 wherein the angular emission characteristic further comprises full width half maximum.

20. The backlight assembly as in claim 18 further comprising a second portion of the coupler disposed between the first portion and light pipe assembly dimensioned to provide a continuous reflection surface between the second portion and the light pipe assembly.

21. The backlight assembly as in claim 18 wherein the light source further comprises an array of optical tapers.

22. The backlight assembly as in claim 18 wherein each optical taper of the array of optical tapers further comprises a square cross-section on one end and a hexagonal cross-section on a second, opposing end.

23. A backlight assembly comprising:

a light pipe assembly;

an LED array; and

a coupler with a light receiving portion dimensioned to compensate for insufficient LED assembly length of the LED array.

24. The backlight assembly as in claim 23 wherein the light receiving portion further comprises a first portion dimensioned for an angular emission characteristic of the light source.

25. An optical converter comprising:

a plurality of optical tapers with a first end of each of the optical tapers having a square cross-section and a second end of each of the optical tapers having a hexagonal cross-section and the square ends of the plurality of optical tapers are joined in a linear array and the hexagonal ends of the optical tapers are joined in a close-packed structure.