TRANSREFLECTORS, TRANSREFLECTOR SYSTEMS AND DISPLAYS AND METHODS OF MAKING TRANSREFLECTORS

• US 20110063873A1
• Filed: 11/18/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC (Rambus Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC (Rambus Inc.)
• Inventors: McCollum, Timothy A., Parker, Jeffery R.
• Application Number:
  US12/948,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063873A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/609
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0621 Hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/00 Refractors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/504
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• 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 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• 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 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0056 for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 : Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 : Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 : Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 : Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 : transparent

Abstract

Optical assembly comprises a light emitting assembly comprising a light emitting panel and an LED light source, and a transreflector film or sheet attached to the light emitting panel. The light emitting panel has a first pattern of optical deformities, and the transreflector sheet or film has a second pattern of optical deformities. The optical deformities of the second pattern are smaller in length and width than the transreflector film or sheet, and the optical deformities of the first pattern are aligned with the optical deformities of the second pattern.

Claims

1. An optical assembly, comprising:

a light emitting assembly comprising a light emitting panel and an LED light source, the light emitting panel having a first pattern of optical deformities; and

a transreflector film or sheet attached to the light emitting panel, the transreflector sheet or film having a second pattern of optical deformities, the optical deformities of the second pattern of optical deformities being smaller in length and width than the transreflector film or sheet;

wherein the optical deformities of the first pattern of optical deformities are aligned with the optical deformities of the second pattern of optical deformities.

2. The optical assembly of claim 1, additionally comprising a refractive index matching material located between the first and second patterns of optical deformities.

3. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern of optical deformities overlap.

4. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the second pattern of optical deformities is a laser etch or chemical etch pattern.

5. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical deformities of the second pattern of optical deformities are optical elements of well defined shape.

6. The optical assembly of claim 5, wherein the optical deformities of the second pattern of optical deformities have a shape selected from a group consisting of:

pyramid, frusto-pyramid, cone, frusto-cone, hemisphere, frusto-prism, and a shape having a pair of oppositely sloping planar sides, oppositely-curved ends and a planar top.

7. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical deformities of the second pattern of optical deformities have at least one light transmissive surface and at least one light reflective surface.

8. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical deformities of the first pattern of optical deformities vary in a characteristic selected from a group consisting of:

size, shape, width, length, depth, height, density, opaqueness, color, refractive index, and orientation.

9. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical deformities of the first pattern of optical deformities are at least one of staggered, randomized, and arranged in a stochastic pattern.

10. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pattern of optical deformities is a printed pattern, ink-jet printed pattern, etched pattern, machined pattern, hot stamped pattern, molded pattern, stamped pattern, or thermoformed pattern.

11. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the transreflector film or sheet comprises more than one layer.

12. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the transreflector film or sheet comprises a layer of ultra-violet curable material.