Illuminator assembly with reflective pyramids and liquid crystal display with same

• US 20090273735A1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: Innolux Display Corporation (InnoLux Corporation)
• Inventors: Yeh, Chih-Chin
• Granted Patent: US 8,059,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/67
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133605 including specially adapted reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133606 including a specially adapted diffusing, scattering or light controlling members

Abstract

An exemplary illuminator assembly includes light emitting diode (LED) chips and reflective pyramids. The LED chips are arranged in an array and capable of emitting light. The reflective pyramids are arranged in an array complementary to the array of LED chips. Each LED chip is arranged among a plurality of the plurality of reflective pyramids, and each reflective pyramid is arranged among a plurality of the plurality of LED chips. The reflective pyramids include a plurality of reflective surfaces, and the reflective surfaces are inclined to the LED chips and thereby capable of reflecting at least some of the light beams emitted from the LED chips such that the reflected light beams propagate in directions that are closer to a direction normal to the arrays than the directions of said some of the light beams prior to their reflection.

Claims

1. An illuminator assembly comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) chips arranged in an array and capable of emitting light; and

a plurality of reflective pyramids arranged in an array complementary to the array of LED chips, wherein each LED chip is arranged among a plurality of the plurality of reflective pyramids and each reflective pyramid is arranged among a plurality of the plurality of LED chips, the reflective pyramids comprising a plurality of reflective surfaces, the reflective surfaces being inclined to the LED chips and thereby capable of reflecting at least some of the light beams emitted from the LED chips such that the reflected light beams propagate in directions that are closer to a direction normal to the arrays than the directions of said some of the light beams prior to their reflection.

2. The illuminator assembly of claim 1, wherein each LED chip is ringed by the corresponding reflective pyramids, and the LED chip maintains a constant distance from said corresponding reflective pyramids.

3. The illuminator assembly of claim 1, wherein each reflective pyramid is ringed by the corresponding LED chips, and the reflective pyramid maintains a constant distance from said corresponding LED chips.

4. The illuminator assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflective pyramids are selected from the group consisting of triangular pyramids, rectangular pyramids, and hexagonal pyramids.

5. The illuminator assembly of claim 1, further comprising a reflective film, wherein the reflective surfaces of the reflective pyramids are inclined to the reflective film.

6. The illuminator assembly of claim 5, wherein the reflective film comprises a plurality of through holes defined therein, and the LED chips extend through the through holes.

7. The illuminator assembly of claim 6, further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to the LED chips, the LED chips extending from the PCB.

8. The illuminator assembly of claim 6, further comprising a resin layer, wherein the resin layer covers the LED chips and the reflective pyramids.

9. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a liquid crystal panel; and

an illuminator assembly positioned for illuminating the liquid crystal panel, the illuminator assembly comprising;

a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) chips arranged in an array and capable of emitting light; and

a plurality of reflective pyramids arranged in an array complementary to the array of LED chips, wherein each LED chip is arranged among a plurality of the plurality of reflective pyramids and each reflective pyramid is arranged among a plurality of the plurality of LED chips, the reflective pyramids comprising a plurality of reflective surfaces, the reflective surfaces being inclined to the LED chips and thereby capable of reflecting at least some of the light beams emitted from the LED chips such that the reflected light beams propagate in directions that are closer to a direction normal to the liquid crystal panel than the directions of said some of the light beams prior to their reflection.

10. The liquid crystal display of claim 9, wherein each LED chip is ringed by the corresponding reflective pyramids, and the LED chip maintains a constant distance from said corresponding reflective pyramids.

11. The liquid crystal display of claim 9, wherein each reflective pyramid is ringed by the corresponding LED chips, and the reflective pyramid maintains a constant distance from said corresponding LED chips.

12. The liquid crystal display of claim 9, wherein the reflective pyramids are selected from the group consisting of triangular pyramids, rectangular pyramids, and hexagonal pyramids.

13. The liquid crystal display of claim 9, further comprising a reflective film, wherein the reflective surfaces of the reflective pyramids are inclined to the reflective film.

14. The liquid crystal display of claim 13, wherein the reflective film comprises a plurality of through holes defined therein, and the LED chips extend through the through holes.

15. The liquid crystal display of claim 14, further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to the LED chips, the LED chips extending from the PCB.

16. The liquid crystal display of claim 14, further comprising a resin layer, wherein the resin layer covers the LED chips and the reflective pyramids.