Bidirectional LED Backlight For In-Vehicle LCD Displays
First Claim
1. A backlight for providing independently controlled illumination of a liquid crystal display to a first observer at a location in front of the liquid crystal display on a first side of a centerline of the liquid crystal display and to a second observer at a location in front of the liquid crystal display on a an opposite side of the centerline of the liquid crystal display, comprising:
- a planar substrate;
a first array of light emitting diodes mounted across the planar substrate, having a light output directed at an angle toward the location of the first observer on the first side of the centerline of the liquid crystal display;
a second array of light emitting diodes mounted across the planar substrate, having a light output directed at an angle toward the location of the second observer on the opposite side of the centerline of the liquid crystal display; and
a diffuser in front of the first array of light emitting diodes and second array of light emitting diodes;
wherein a brightness of the first array of light emitting diodes is independently controllable from a brightness of the second array of light emitting diodes.
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Abstract
A backlight for liquid crystal displays which directs light to the general areas where observers'"'"' heads and eyes are located. In particular, the backlight is designed to direct light toward the driver and passenger positions in an automobile or other vehicle in such a way that the amount of light directed to either person can be varied independently.
6 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A backlight for providing independently controlled illumination of a liquid crystal display to a first observer at a location in front of the liquid crystal display on a first side of a centerline of the liquid crystal display and to a second observer at a location in front of the liquid crystal display on a an opposite side of the centerline of the liquid crystal display, comprising:
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a planar substrate; a first array of light emitting diodes mounted across the planar substrate, having a light output directed at an angle toward the location of the first observer on the first side of the centerline of the liquid crystal display; a second array of light emitting diodes mounted across the planar substrate, having a light output directed at an angle toward the location of the second observer on the opposite side of the centerline of the liquid crystal display; and a diffuser in front of the first array of light emitting diodes and second array of light emitting diodes; wherein a brightness of the first array of light emitting diodes is independently controllable from a brightness of the second array of light emitting diodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A backlight for providing independently controlled illumination of a liquid crystal display to a first observer at a location in front of the liquid crystal display on a first side of a centerline of the liquid crystal display and to a second observer at a location in front of the liquid crystal display on a an opposite side of the centerline of the liquid crystal display, comprising:
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a generally planar substrate having a plurality of sawtooth-shaped ridges extending to an apex at a height from a front surface of the substrate toward the liquid crystal display, each of the sawtooth-shaped ridges being separated from an adjacent sawtooth-shaped ridge by a gap; a plurality of standoffs, each having a first end mounted in a gap between sawtooth-shaped ridges and second end extending a length toward the liquid crystal display greater than the height of the sawtooth-shaped ridges; a first set of side-emitting fiber optic strands, each side-emitting fiber optic strand being located in a corner on a first side of the apex of the sawtooth-shaped ridges adjacent one of the plurality of standoffs, such that light emitted from the first set of side-emitting fiber optic strands exits the backlight in a direction toward the location of the first observer; a second set of side-emitting fiber optic strands, each side-emitting fiber optic strand being located in a corner on a second side of the apex of the sawtooth-shaped ridges adjacent one of the plurality of standoffs, such that light emitted from the second set of side-emitting fiber optic strands exits the backlight in a direction toward the location of the second observer; at least one light source coupled to the first set of side-emitting fiber optic strands and to the second set of side-emitting fiber optic strands; and a diffuser mounted to the second end of the plurality of standoffs, in front of the apexes of the plurality of sawtooth-shaped ridges. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification