LIGHT GUIDE INCLUDING CONJUGATE FILM

• US 20090168459A1
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gruhlke, Russell Wayne, Mienko, Marek, Xu, Gang, Holman, Robert L., Sampsell, Matt
• Application Number:
  US11/965,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20090168459A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/623
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer

Abstract

In various embodiments described herein, a front light guide panel comprises a plurality surface relief features having a variety of different sloping surface portions. Light injected into an edge of the light guide propagates though the light guide until it strikes one of the surface relief features. The light is then turned by total internal reflection such that the light is directed onto a reflective modulator array rearward of the light guide panel. The light reflects from the modulator array and is transmitted back through the surface features of the light guide panel. However, depending upon where the light is incident on the surface features, the light will be refracted at different angles by the different sloping surface portions. As a result, light reflected from a single point on the modulator array appears to originate from different locations, and ghost images appear. To reduce such ghosting, a conjugate film having equal and opposite surface relief features is disposed forward of the light guide panel. Light reflected from the modulator array and passing through surface relief features on the light guide panel is refracted a second time by the conjugate film to return the rays to their original trajectory.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus comprising:

a light guide panel having a first end for receiving light from a light source, said light guide panel comprising material that supports propagation of said light along the length of the light guide panel;

a plurality of indentations disposed on a first side of the light guide panel, the indentations configured to turn at least a substantial portion of the light incident on the first side and to direct said portion of light out a second, opposite side of the light guide panel, said indentations having sloping sidewalls that reflect light by total internal reflection out said second side of the light guide panel; and

at least one contoured transmissive surface comprising a plurality of protruding surface portions having substantially complimentary shape to corresponding of said plurality of indentations in said light guide panel, said at least one contoured transmissive surface separated from said light guide panel by a gap.

2. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of indentations comprises a plurality of faceted features formed in said light guide panel.

3. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of indentations comprises a plurality of grooves formed in said light guide panel.

4. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said light guide panel comprises a turning film and said plurality of indentations are included in said turning film.

5. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sloping sidewalls comprise substantially planar surfaces.

6. The illumination apparatus of claim 5, wherein said sloping sidewalls are configured such that adjacent sloping sidewalls form substantially triangular indentions.

7. The illumination apparatus of claim 6, wherein said adjacent sloping sidewalls have different angles of inclination with respect to said light guide panel.

8. The illumination apparatus of claim 6, wherein said plurality of protruding surface portions of said contoured transmissive surface comprise substantially planar sloping sides.

9. The illumination apparatus of claim 8, wherein adjacent planar sloping sides form substantially triangular protruding surface portions in said contoured transmissive surface.

10. The illumination apparatus of claim 8, wherein the angle of inclination between adjacent sloping sidewalls of said plurality of indentations is substantially the same as the angle of inclination between adjacent sloping sides of said plurality of protruding portions.

11. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said protruding surface portions of said contoured transmissive surface extend into said plurality of indentations.

12. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said protruding surface portions of said contoured transmissive surface are substantially aligned with said plurality of indentations disposed on said light guide panel.

13. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one contoured transmissive surface comprises a film.

14. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gap comprises an air gap.

15. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gap is filled with gas.

16. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gap is filled with a material having an index of refraction different from said light guide panel and said contoured transmissive surface.

17. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the index of refraction of said light guide panel is substantially the same as the index of refraction of said contoured transmissive surface.

18. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gap between said plurality of indentations and said contoured transmissive surface is less than approximately 5 microns.

19. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide panel is disposed with respect to a plurality of spatial light modulators such that light ejected from said second side of said light guide panel illuminates the plurality of spatial light modulators.

20. The illumination apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of spatial light modulators comprises MEMS devices.

21. The illumination apparatus of claim 19, wherein the spatial light modulator comprises a first partially transmissive reflector and a second movable reflector separated by a gap distance, said second movable reflector movable with respect to said first partially transmissive reflector so as to alter said gap distance.

22. The illumination apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of spatial light modulators comprises an array of interferometric modulators.

23. The illumination apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a light bar disposed with respect to said light guide panel, wherein the light bar has a first end for receiving light from the light source, said light bar comprising material that supports propagation of said light along the length of the light bar;

turning microstructure disposed on a first side of the light bar, the turning microstructure configured to turn at least a substantial portion of light incident on the first side and to direct the portion of the light out a second opposite side of the light bar; and

at least one substantially reflective surface disposed with respect to said light bar to reflect light escaping from the light bar through a portion of the light bar other than said second side back into said light bar.

24. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the turning microstructure comprises faceted features in a film on said first side of said light bar.

25. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the turning microstructure comprises a plurality of grooves.

26. The illumination apparatus of claim 25, wherein the turning microstructure comprises a plurality of triangular grooves having substantially triangular cross-sections.

27. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the turning microstructure comprises a plurality of diffractive features.

28. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one reflective surface is disposed with respect to said first side of the light bar to receive light transmitted therethrough.

29. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the light bar further comprises a second end and the at least one reflective surface is disposed with respect to the second end of the light bar to receive light transmitted therethrough.

30. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the light bar further comprises a top side and an opposite bottom side, and the at least one reflective surface is disposed with respect to said top side of the light bar to receive light transmitted therethrough.

31. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the light bar further comprises a top side and an opposite bottom side, and the at least one reflective surface is disposed with respect to said bottom side of the light bar to receive light transmitted there through.

32. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the light bar further comprises a top side and an opposite bottom side, and the at least one reflective surface comprises reflective surfaces disposed with respect to said first side, said top side, and said bottom side of the light bar to receive light transmitted therethrough.

33. The illumination apparatus of claim 32, wherein the light bar further comprises a second end and the at least one reflective surface is disposed with respect to said second end of the light bar to receive light transmitted therethrough.

34. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the light bar further comprises a top side and an opposite bottom side, and the at least one reflective surface comprises reflective surfaces disposed with respect to said first side and said top side.

35. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the reflective surface comprises a reflective sheet.

36. The illumination apparatus of claim 35, the reflective sheet comprises metal.

37. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the reflective surface is separated from the light bar by a gap.

38. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one reflective surface comprises a retro reflector.

39. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one reflective surface comprises a plurality of retro reflectors.

40. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one reflective surface comprises a reflective film disposed on said light bar.

41. The illumination apparatus of claim 40, said reflective film comprises metal film or dielectric multilayer film.

42. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein said second surface of light bar is tapered.

43. The illumination apparatus of claim 42, wherein the second surface includes at least one planar sloping portion.

44. The illumination apparatus of claim 42, wherein the second surface includes at least one curved portion.

45. The illumination apparatus of claim 42, wherein the second surface is multifaceted.

46. The illumination apparatus of claim 42, wherein the second surface includes first and second sloping portions that slope toward a central portion.

47. The illumination apparatus of claim 46, wherein the central portion is substantially planar.

48. The illumination apparatus of claim 46, wherein the first and second sloping portions are substantially planar.

49. The illumination apparatus of claim 23, wherein the light bar has a thickness that is reduced towards said light guide panel.

50. An method of manufacturing an illumination apparatus comprising:

providing a light guide panel having a first end for receiving light from a light source, said light guide panel comprising material that supports propagation of said light along the length of the light guide panel;

disposing a plurality of indentations on a first side of the light guide panel, the indentations configured to turn at least a substantial portion of the light incident on the first side and to direct said portion of light out a second, opposite side of the light guide panel, said indentations having sloping sidewalls that reflect light by total internal reflection out said second side of the light guide panel; and

including at least one contoured transmissive surface comprising a plurality of protruding surface portions having substantially complimentary shape to corresponding of said plurality of indentations in said light guide panel, said at least one contoured transmissive surface separated from said light guide panel by a gap.

51. An illumination apparatus comprising:

means for guiding light having a means for receiving light from a means for emitting light, said light guiding means comprising means for supporting propagation of said light along the length of the light guiding means;

means for turning at least a substantial portion of light incident on a first side of said light guiding means, the light turning means configured to direct said portion of light out a second, opposite side of the light guiding means, said light turning means having means for reflecting light by total internal reflection out said second side of the light guiding means; and

means for transmitting light comprising means for providing a complimentary shape to corresponding of said light turning means in said light guiding means, said light transmitting means separated from said light guide means by means for separating.

52. The illumination apparatus of claim 51, wherein said light guiding means comprises a light guide panel.

53. The illumination apparatus of claim 51, wherein said light receiving means comprises a first end of said light guiding means.

54. The illumination apparatus of claim 51, wherein said light emitting means comprises a light source.

55. The illumination apparatus of claim 51, wherein said light propagation supporting means comprises a material that supports propagation of said light along the length of the light guiding means.

56. The illumination apparatus of claim 51, wherein said light turning means comprises a plurality of indentations disposed on a first side of the light guiding means.

57. The illumination apparatus of claim 51, wherein said light reflecting means comprises sloping sidewalls.

58. The illumination apparatus of claim 51, wherein said light transmission means comprises at least one contoured transmissive surface.

59. The illumination apparatus of claim 51, wherein complementary shape providing means comprises plurality of protruding surface portions.

60. The illumination apparatus of claim 51, wherein said separating means comprises a gap.