DIFFUSING POLARIZER AND BACKLIGHT MODULE USING THE SAME

• US 20080273144A1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Yao, Po-Hung, Pao, Yu-Nan, Sun, Yi-Ting, Lin, Ying-Hsiu
• Application Number:
  US11/858,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20080273144A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0037 characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/001 Axicons, waxicons, reflaxicons
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3016 involving passive liquid crystal elements optical properties of liquid crystals G02F1/0063; polarising elements associated with active liquid crystal devices G02F1/133528
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3025 Polarisers, i.e. arrangements capable of producing a definite output polarisation state from an unpolarised input state G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133606 including a specially adapted diffusing, scattering or light controlling members
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13362 providing polarized light, e.g. by converting a polarisation component into another one

Abstract

A diffusing polarizer including a substrate and a microstructure layer is provided. The micro-structure layer includes a solid phase liquid crystal having a birefringence feature. The diffusing polarizer is capable of both polarizing and diffusing incident light beams. A backlight module using the diffusing polarizer is also provided.

Claims

1. A diffusing polarizer comprising:

a substrate; and

a microstructure layer, disposed on the substrate, wherein the microstructure layer comprises a solid-phase liquid crystal material having a birefringence feature.

2. The diffusing polarizer according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of diffusing particles distributed therein.

3. The diffusing polarizer according to claim 1, wherein the microstructure comprises a plurality of protrusions.

4. The diffusing polarizer according to claim 3, wherein the protrusions are strip shaped and distributed in a grating form.

5. The diffusing polarizer according to claim 4, wherein each of the protrusions has a triangular vertical cross-section.

6. The diffusing polarizer according to claim 4, wherein each of the protrusions has a trapeziform vertical cross-section.

7. The diffusing polarizer according to claim 4, wherein each of the protrusions has a semi-elliptical vertical cross-section.

8. The diffusing polarizer according to claim 3, wherein the protrusions are strip shaped and distributed irregularly in a grating form.

9. The diffusing polarizer according to claim 3, wherein the protrusions are annular shaped and distributed in a form of concentric circles.

10. The diffusing polarizer according to claim 3, wherein the protrusions are cone shaped and distributed regularly.

11. The diffusing polarizer according to claim 3, wherein the protrusions are cone shaped and distributed irregularly.

12. A backlight module, comprising:

a plane light source, having an outputting surface;

a diffusing polarizer, disposed on the outputting surface of the plane light source, the diffusing polarizer comprising;

a substrate; and

a microstructure layer, disposed on the substrate, wherein the microstructure layer comprises a solid-phase liquid crystal material having a birefringence feature.

13. The backlight module according to claim 12, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of diffusing particles distributed therein.

14. The backlight module according to claim 12, wherein the microstructure comprises a plurality of protrusions.

15. The backlight module according to claim 14, wherein the protrusions are strip shaped and distributed in a grating form.

16. The backlight module according to claim 14, wherein each of the protrusions has a triangular vertical cross-section.

17. The backlight module according to claim 14, wherein each of the protrusions has a trapeziform vertical cross-section.

18. The backlight module according to claim 14, wherein each of the protrusions has a semi-elliptical vertical cross-section.

19. The backlight module according to claim 14, wherein the protrusions are annular shaped and distributed in a form of concentric circles.

20. The backlight module according to claim 14, wherein the protrusions are cone shaped and distributed regularly.

21. The backlight module according to claim 14, wherein the protrusions are cone shaped and distributed irregularly.

22. The backlight module according to claim 12, wherein the plane light source is a direct type light source or an edge type light source.

23. The backlight module according to claim 12, wherein the plane light source comprising at least one light emitting device.

24. The backlight module according to claim 23, wherein the light emitting device is an organic electro-luminescent device, a fluorescent flat lamp, cold cathode fluorescent tube, or a light emitting diode.