Illumination System for Illumination Display Devices, and Display Device Provided with Such an Illumination System

• US 20080212315A1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Cornelissen, Hugo Johan, Jacobs, Jean Paul, Sluijterman, Albertus Aemilius Seyno, Brzesowsky, Rolf H.
• Application Number:
  US12/067,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20080212315A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/219
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0071 with elongated shape, e.g. tube

Abstract

The invention relates to an illumination system for illuminating display devices, comprising at least one light source, and a light guide for guiding light generated by the at least one light source in the direction of a display device. The invention also relates to a display device provided with such an illumination system.

Claims

1. Illumination system for illuminating display devices, comprising:

at least one light source, and

a light guide for guiding light generated by the at least one light source in the direction of a display device,

characterized in that

said light source is partially embedded into the light guide.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the light guide comprises at least one receiving space for receiving the at least one light source partially.

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one receiving space is formed by a channel.

4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one channel substantially extends along the length of the light guide.

5. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the receiving space is defined by an upper wall and multiple side walls, said side walls being adapted for incoupling of light generated by the light source into the light guide.

6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the upper wall is provided with an at least partially light-reflective layer.

7. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the receiving space is situated on the side of the light guide opposite to the side of the light guide facing the display device.

8. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the illumination system comprises multiple light sources.

9. System according to claim 1, characterized in that each light source is formed by a fluorescent lamp comprising:

an at least partially light-transmissive elongated discharge vessel filled with an ionisable substance, and

multiple electrodes connected to said vessel, between which electrodes a discharge extends during lamp operation.

10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that an inner surface and/or an outer surface of the discharge vessel is provided with an at least partially light-reflective layer.

11. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one light source is formed by a LED, in particular a side-emitting LED.

12. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the side of the light guide facing a display device is oriented substantially parallel to the opposite side of the light guide.

13. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the side of the light guide facing a display device is oriented substantially non-parallel with respect to the opposite side of the light guide.

14. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the side of the light guide facing a display device is provided with at least one optical foil for extracting light from the light guide in the direction of the display device.

15. Display device provided with an illumination system as claimed in claim 1.