DISPLAY SYSTEM WITH DISTRIBUTED LED BACKLIGHT

• US 20090135583A1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Law, William Sauway, Alcorta, Efrain, Torres, Ann, Bailey, Sean, HILLMAN, Michael D., Tice, Gregory L., Anderson, Perry
• Granted Patent: US 8,104,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/97.100
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133608 including particular frames or supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133612 Electrical details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133628 with cooling means

Abstract

A display system with a distributed LED backlight includes: providing a plurality of tile LED light sources, each tile LED light source having a tile and a plurality of similar LED light sources on each tile connected for emitting light therefrom; orienting the plurality of tile LED light sources for illuminating a display from the back of the display; and integrating the plurality of tile LED light sources into a thermally and mechanically structurally integrated distributed LED tile matrix backlight light source.

Claims

1. A display system with a distributed LED backlight, comprising:

providing a plurality of tile LED light sources, each tile LED light source having;

a tile; and

a plurality of similar LED light sources on each tile connected for emitting light therefrom;

orienting the plurality of tile LED light sources for illuminating a display from the back of the display; and

integrating the plurality of tile LED light sources into a thermally and mechanically structurally integrated distributed LED tile matrix backlight light source.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein integrating the plurality of tile LED light sources further comprises supporting the tiles in combination with an additional support structure.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein integrating the plurality of tile LED light sources further comprises integrating the tiles in a self-supporting configuration.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein integrating the plurality of tile LED light sources further comprises mechanically structurally integrating the tiles into a matrix in combination with an additional support structure in which the additional support structure is not strong enough to support itself and self-maintain its profile when burdened passively with the weight of the plurality of tile LED light sources.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein integrating further comprises integrating into a three-dimensionally mechanically structurally integrated backlight light source.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising structurally attaching pluralities of the tile LED light sources to respective tile bars.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising structurally attaching pluralities of the tile LED light sources to respective tile bars, and attaching the tile bars to an array tray.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising positioning a reflector around the LEDs on the tiles.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein integrating the plurality of tile LED light sources further comprises thermally integrating a heat spreader with the tiles.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein integrating the plurality of tile LED light sources further comprises electrically connecting adjacent tiles with wire bonds.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein integrating the plurality of tile LED light sources further comprises providing electrical connections between adjacent tiles, the electrical connections being selected from electrically conductive tape, edge connectors, flex interconnects, pad connectors, and a combination thereof.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein providing a plurality of tile LED light sources further comprises overlapping and attaching tiles to each other.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein providing a plurality of tile LED light sources further comprises overlapping and attaching tiles to each other by drop jog attaching adjacent tiles.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

providing a plurality of tile LED light sources further comprises overlapping and attaching tiles to each other; and

attaching tiles to each other further comprises using attachments selected from rivets, clinch rivets, welds, screws, and a combination thereof.

15. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein providing a plurality of tile LED light sources further comprises:

providing tiles having holes therethrough for aligning the tiles for assembly; and

overlapping and attaching the tiles to each other.

16. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein providing a plurality of tile LED light sources further comprises:

providing tiles having drop-and-slide hooks; and

overlapping and attaching the tiles to each other.