FRONT-LIGHT MODULE AND LIGHT SOURCE MODULATION APPARATUS THEREOF

• US 20130258705A1
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: PAO, Yu-Nan, CHEN, I-Jeng, HUANG, Hsin-Tao, TSAO, Yu-Nan, HSU, Chin-Ju
• Application Number:
  US13/749,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20130258705A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/603
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0068 arranged in a single integral body or plate, e.g. laminates or hybrid structures with other optical elements G02B5/1885, G02B17/002, G02B30/27 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0023 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed between the light guide and the light source, or around the light source
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/003 Lens or lenticular sheet or layer
• 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

Abstract

A front-light module includes at least one point light source, a light source modulation apparatus and a light guide plate. The light source modulation apparatus includes a body and a plurality of uniform illumination microstructures. The body includes a light incident surface and a light emission surface. The point light source is disposed beside the light incident surface, and the light emission surface is opposite to the light incident surface. The uniform illumination microstructures are disposed on the light emission surface of the body. Each uniform illumination microstructure is arc-shaped.

Claims

1. A light source modulation apparatus, comprising:

a body having a light incident surface and a light emission surface opposite to the light incident surface, wherein the light incident surface is used for receiving light from at least one point light source; and

a plurality of uniform illumination microstructures disposed on the light emission surface of the body, wherein each of the uniform illumination microstructures is arc-shaped.

2. The light source modulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the uniform illumination microstructures are continuously connected along a lengthwise direction of the body.

3. The light source modulation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the uniform illumination microstructures cover the whole light emission surface of the body.

4. The light source modulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the uniform illumination microstructures are protruded on the light emission surface of the body.

5. The light source modulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the uniform illumination microstructures are concave on the light emission surface of the body.

6. The light source modulation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of light diffusing microstructures disposed on the light incident surface of the body for expanding an emitting range of the point light source.

7. The light source modulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises:

a first sub-body; and

a second sub-body spaced apart from the first sub-body, wherein the light incident surface is located on one side of the first sub-body opposite to the second sub-body, and the light emission surface is located on one side of the second sub-body opposite to the first sub-body.

8. A front-light module, comprising:

at least one point light source;

a light source modulation apparatus comprising;

a body having a light incident surface and a light emission surface opposite to the light incident surface, wherein the point light source is disposed beside the light incident surface; and

a plurality of uniform illumination microstructures disposed on the light emission surface of the body, wherein each of the uniform illumination microstructures is arc-shaped; and

a light guide plate facing to the light emission surface of the body of the light source modulation apparatus.

9. The front-light module of claim 8, wherein the light guide plate comprises a plurality of grooves disposed on a surface of the light guide plate.

10. The front-light module of claim 8, wherein the at least one point light source is plural, and the point light sources are arranged along a lengthwise direction of the body of the light source modulation apparatus.

11. The front-light module of claim 10, wherein the uniform illumination microstructures are continuously connected along the lengthwise direction of the body.

12. The front-light module of claim 11, wherein the uniform illumination microstructures cover the whole light emission surface of the body.

13. The front-light module of claim 8, wherein the uniform illumination microstructures are protruded on the light emission surface of the body.

14. The front-light module of claim 8, wherein the uniform illumination microstructures are concave on the light emission surface of the body.

15. The front-light module of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of light diffusing microstructures disposed on the light incident surface of the body for expanding an emitting range of the point light source.

16. The front-light module of claim 8, wherein the body comprises:

a first sub-body; and

a second sub-body spaced apart from the first sub-body, wherein the light incident surface is located on one side of the first sub-body opposite to the second sub-body, and the light emission surface is located on one side of the second sub-body opposite to the first sub-body.