ASYMMETRICAL LIGHT-TURNING FEATURES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A light-turning structure comprising:
- a substrate including a first generally planar surface and a second generally planar surface; and
a plurality of depressions in the shape of asymmetrical frusta formed in the first surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of depressions having an angled sidewall including;
a leading edge forming a first angle relative to a normal of the first surface and configured to reflect a portion of incident light out of the substrate, anda trailing edge forming a second angle relative to the normal of the first surface, wherein the first angle is substantially larger than the second angle.
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Abstract
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for light-guiding layers including asymmetrical light-turning features. In one aspect, the asymmetrical light-turning features may include a leading edge oriented at an angle which turns light out of the light-guiding layer, and a near-vertical trailing edge which reduces light leakage from the light-guiding layer. In another aspect, the asymmetrical light-turning features of the light-guiding layer may be oriented in the same or similar direction, and may be distributed with decreasing density adjacent a light source to provide more even illumination.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A light-turning structure comprising:
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a substrate including a first generally planar surface and a second generally planar surface; and a plurality of depressions in the shape of asymmetrical frusta formed in the first surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of depressions having an angled sidewall including; a leading edge forming a first angle relative to a normal of the first surface and configured to reflect a portion of incident light out of the substrate, and a trailing edge forming a second angle relative to the normal of the first surface, wherein the first angle is substantially larger than the second angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A reflective display device, comprising:
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an array of reflective display elements; and a frontlight system configured to illuminate the array of reflective display elements, the frontlight system including; a light-guiding layer having a first edge, a first generally planar surface, and a second generally planar surface; a light source configured to inject light into the light-guiding layer through the first edge of the light-guiding layer; and a plurality of light-turning features in the shape of asymmetrical frusta formed in the first surface of the light-guiding layer and configured to reflect light out of the light-guiding layer through the second surface of the light-guiding layer and towards the array of reflective display elements. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A light-turning structure comprising:
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a substrate including a first generally planar surface and a second generally planar surface; and means for reflecting a portion of incident light out of the substrate, wherein the amount of incident light reflected out of the substrate varies depending on the direction of incidence upon the reflecting means. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of fabricating a light-turning structure, comprising:
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embossing a plurality of depressions in the shape of asymmetrical frusta into a first generally planar surface of a substrate, the substrate including a first material having a first index of refraction; and applying a cladding layer over the first surface of the substrate after embossing the plurality of depressions into the substrate, the cladding layer including a second material having a second index of refraction smaller than the first index of refraction. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification