DISPLAY SYSTEM

• US 20080121898A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Yin, Victor, Zhong, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,748,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/88
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0083 Details of electrical connections of light sources to drivers, circuit boards, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side

Abstract

A display system provides a first semiconductor light source that is electrically connected in a first plane. A second semiconductor light source is electrically connected in a second plane separate from the first plane. A third semiconductor light source is electrically connected in the first plane at least a distance away from the first semiconductor light source equal to the width of the second semiconductor light source. The first plane and the second plane are merged into a combined plane by positioning the electrically connected second semiconductor light source between the electrically connected first semiconductor light source and the electrically connected third semiconductor light source.

Claims

1. A display system, comprising:

electrically connecting a first semiconductor light source in a first plane;

electrically connecting a second semiconductor light source in a second plane separate from the first plane;

electrically connecting a third semiconductor light source in the first plane at least a distance away from the first semiconductor light source equal to the width of the second semiconductor light source; and

merging the first plane and the second plane into a combined plane by positioning the electrically connected second semiconductor light source between the electrically connected first semiconductor light source and the electrically connected third semiconductor light source.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

mounting the first semiconductor light source on a flex;

mounting the second semiconductor light source on a flex; and

mounting the third semiconductor light source on a flex.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising folding the flex and forming a fold in the flex.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

mounting the first semiconductor light source and the third semiconductor light source on a bottom flex; and

mounting the second semiconductor light source on a top flex.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising merging the top flex and the bottom flex into a combined flex.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein electrically connecting a third semiconductor light source in the first plane at least a distance away from the first semiconductor light source equal to the width of the second semiconductor light source further comprises forming an alignment area.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising positioning the second semiconductor light source in the alignment area.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising electrically connecting the first semiconductor light source, the second semiconductor light source, and the third semiconductor light source to a power feed contact.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising enclosing the first semiconductor light source, the second semiconductor light source, and the third semiconductor light source in an assembly housing.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the first, second, and third semiconductor light sources are respective first, second, and third LEDs.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein merging the first plane and the second plane further comprises forming a removable light strip.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising electrically connecting the removable light strip to a screen.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising illuminating the screen with the removable light strip.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

forming first alignment features on the first, second, and third semiconductor light sources;

forming complementary and matching second alignment features in the first plane and the second plane; and

using the first alignment features and second alignment features to align the first plane and the second plane.

15. A display system, comprising:

electrically connecting a first point light source in a first plane;

electrically connecting a second point light source in a second plane separate from the first plane;

electrically connecting a third point light source in the first plane a distance away from the first point light source equal to the width of the second point light source; and

merging the first plane and the second plane into a combined plane by positioning the electrically connected second point light source between the electrically connected first point light source and the electrically connected third point light source.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first, second, and third point light sources are respective first, second, and third organic light sources.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

mounting the first point light source on a flex;

mounting the second point light source on a flex; and

mounting the third point light source on a flex.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising folding the flex and forming a fold in the flex.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

mounting the first point light source and the third point light source on a bottom flex; and

mounting the second point light source on a top flex.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising merging the top flex and the bottom flex into a combined flex.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein electrically connecting a third point light source in the first plane at least a distance away from the first point light source equal to the width of the second point light source further comprises forming an alignment area.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising positioning the second point light source in the alignment area.

23. The system of claim 15 further comprising electrically connecting the first point light source, the second point light source, and the third point light source to a power feed contact.

24. The system of claim 15 further comprising enclosing the first point light source, the second point light source, and the third point light source in an assembly housing.

25. The system of claim 15 wherein the first, second, and third point light sources are respective first, second, and third LEDs.

26. The system of claim 15 wherein merging the first plane and the second plane further comprises forming a removable light strip.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising electrically connecting the removable light strip to a screen.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising illuminating the screen with the removable light strip.

29. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

forming first alignment features on the first, second, and third point light sources;

forming complementary and matching second alignment features in the first plane and the second plane; and

using the first alignment features and second alignment features to align the first plane and the second plane.

30. A display system, comprising:

providing a top layer printed circuit board;

mounting a first semiconductor light source on the top layer printed circuit board;

mounting a second semiconductor light source on the top layer printed circuit board at a distance less then needed in the top layer printed circuit board to electrically connect the first semiconductor light source to the second semiconductor light source;

attaching the top layer printed circuit board to a bottom layer printed circuit board; and

electrically connecting the first semiconductor light source and the second semiconductor light source in the bottom layer printed circuit board.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the first and second semiconductor light sources are respective first and second point light sources.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the first and second semiconductor light sources are respective first and second LED chips.

33. The system of claim 30 further comprising attaching reflector walls to the top layer printed circuit board.

34. A display system, comprising:

a first semiconductor light source electrically connected in a first plane;

a second semiconductor light source having the characteristics of having been electrically connected in a second plane separate from the first plane;

a third semiconductor light source electrically connected in the first plane at least a distance away from the first semiconductor light source equal to the width of the second semiconductor light source; and

the second semiconductor light source being positioned between the first semiconductor light source and the third semiconductor light source to merge the first plane and the second plane into a combined plane.

35. The system of claim 34:

further comprising a flex; and

wherein the first semiconductor light source, the second semiconductor light source, and the third semiconductor light source are mounted on the flex.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising a fold in the flex.

37. The system of claim 34:

further comprising;

a bottom flex; and

a top flex; and

wherein;

the first semiconductor light source and the third semiconductor light source are mounted on the bottom flex; and

the second semiconductor light source is mounted on the top flex.

38. The system of claim 37 further comprising a combined flex formed by merging the top flex and the bottom flex.

39. The system of claim 34 further comprising an alignment area, equal to the width of the second semiconductor light source, in the first plane between the first semiconductor light source and the third semiconductor light source.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the second semiconductor light source is positioned in the alignment area.

41. The system of claim 34 further comprising a power feed contact electrically connected to the first semiconductor light source, the second semiconductor light source, and the third semiconductor light source.

42. The system of claim 34 further comprising an assembly housing enclosing the first semiconductor light source, the second semiconductor light source, and the third semiconductor light source.

43. The system of claim 34 wherein the first, second, and third semiconductor light sources are respective first, second, and third LEDs.

44. The system of claim 34 wherein the combined plane is a removable light strip.

45. The system of claim 44 further comprising a screen electrically connected to the removable light strip.

46. The system of claim 34 further comprising:

first alignment features formed on the first, second, and third semiconductor light sources;

complementary and matching second alignment features formed in the first plane and the second plane; and

the first alignment features and second alignment features aligning the first plane and the second plane.

47. A display system, comprising:

a first point light source electrically connected in a first plane;

a second point light source having the characteristics of having been electrically connected in a second plane separate from the first plane;

a third point light source electrically connected in the first plane a distance away from the first point light source equal to the width of the second point light source; and

the second point light source being positioned between the first point light source and the third point light source to merge the first plane and the second plane into a combined plane.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the first, second, and third point light sources are respective first, second, and third organic light sources.

49. The system of claim 47:

further comprising a flex; and

wherein the first semiconductor light source, the second semiconductor light source, and the third semiconductor light source are mounted on the flex.

50. The system of claim 49 further comprising a fold in the flex.

51. The system of claim 47:

further comprising;

a bottom flex; and

a top flex; and

wherein;

the first semiconductor light source and the third semiconductor light source are mounted on the bottom flex; and

the second semiconductor light source is mounted on the top flex.

52. The system of claim 51 further comprising a combined flex formed by merging the top flex and the bottom flex.

53. The system of claim 47 further comprising an alignment area, equal to the width of the second semiconductor light source, in the first plane between the first semiconductor light source and the third semiconductor light source.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein the second semiconductor light source is positioned in the alignment area.

55. The system of claim 47 further comprising a power feed contact electrically connected to the first semiconductor light source, the second semiconductor light source, and the third semiconductor light source.

56. The system of claim 47 further comprising an assembly housing enclosing the first semiconductor light source, the second semiconductor light source, and the third semiconductor light source.

57. The system of claim 47 wherein the first, second, and third semiconductor light sources are respective first, second, and third LEDs.

58. The system of claim 47 wherein the combined plane is a removable light strip.

59. The system of claim 58 further comprising a screen electrically connected to the removable light strip.

60. The system of claim 47 further comprising:

first alignment features formed on the first, second, and third semiconductor light sources;

complementary and matching second alignment features formed in the first plane and the second plane; and

the first alignment features and second alignment features aligning the first plane and the second plane.

61. A display system, comprising:

a top layer printed circuit board;

a first semiconductor light source mounted on the top layer printed circuit board;

a second semiconductor light source mounted on the top layer printed circuit board at a distance less then needed in the top layer printed circuit board to electrically connect the first semiconductor light source to the second semiconductor light source;

a bottom layer printed circuit board attached to the top layer printed circuit board; and

the first semiconductor light source and the second semiconductor light source being electrically connected in the bottom layer printed circuit board.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the first and second semiconductor light sources are respective first and second point light sources.

63. The system of claim 61 wherein the first and second semiconductor light sources are respective first and second LED chips.

64. The system of claim 61 further comprising reflector walls attached to the top layer printed circuit board.