Uniform emission backlight
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for providing a source of light emitted throughout a predetermined area, said apparatus comprising:
- a first lamp having a light source therein;
a transparent member exhibiting a critical angle (θ
c with respect to air and having a polished top surface relative to an opposing frosted bottom surface, the bottom surface having a boundary substantially with air, said member having a first cavity therein located proximate a first end of said member, said first lamp being inserted into said first cavity so that said first lamp light source resides inside said member at a distance D1 from the top surface; and
a first opaque section located on said member top surface opposing said member first cavity so that said first opaque section extends toward the central area of said member top surface for a distance greater than D1 X TAN (θ
c from a point opposing the light source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A backlight having lamps inserted into ends of a transparent member is disclosed. A top surface of the member is polished and contains an opaque section opposing the lamps. A bottom surface of the member is uniformly frosted so that variations in the average depth of surface irregularities are minimized.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing a source of light emitted throughout a predetermined area, said apparatus comprising:
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a first lamp having a light source therein; a transparent member exhibiting a critical angle (θ
c with respect to air and having a polished top surface relative to an opposing frosted bottom surface, the bottom surface having a boundary substantially with air, said member having a first cavity therein located proximate a first end of said member, said first lamp being inserted into said first cavity so that said first lamp light source resides inside said member at a distance D1 from the top surface; anda first opaque section located on said member top surface opposing said member first cavity so that said first opaque section extends toward the central area of said member top surface for a distance greater than D1 X TAN (θ
c from a point opposing the light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of uniformly backlighting a display, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a point light source, a transparent member having opposing top and bottom surfaces and exhibiting a critical angle (θ
c) relative to air, and a display;inserting the point light source of said providing step within the transparent member of said providing step; frosting the bottom surface of the transparent member so that the depth of surface irregularities of the bottom surface varies less than 35 microinches; blocking passage of light at surface points on the top surface where angles formed between lines perpendicular to the top surface at the surface points and lines through the respective surface points and the point light source are less than the critical angle (θ
c);installing the display substantially parallel to the top surface and spaced apart from the top surface by a predetermined distance; and providing a boundary with a bottom surface comprised substantially of air. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A display apparatus having a backlight, said apparatus comprising:
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a transparent plastic member exhibiting a critical angle (θ
c) with respect to air, having opposing and substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces, having opposing and substantially parallel ends, and having first and second cavities through the bottom surface thereof, said member bottom surface, ends, and sides being frosted relative to the top surface, and said member bottom surface being frosted so that surface depth irregularities vary less than 35 microinches;a liquid crystal display located substantially parallel to and facing said member top surface and spaced apart from said top surface by a distance of at least 0.050 inch; first and second lamps having first and second light sources, respectively, said first and second lamps being located within the first and second cavities of said member so that the light sources of said first and second lamps are each located approximately a distance D away from said member top surface; a circuit board located substantially parallel to and facing said member bottom surface; first and second reflective strips located substantially parallel to and facing said member first and second sides respectively; and first and second opaque sections located on said member top surface extending perpendicularly away from points opposing said first and second lamp light sources, respectively, for distances greater than D X TAN (θ
c). - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An apparatus for providing a source of light emmitted throughout a predetermined area, said apparatus comprising:
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a first lamp having a light source therein; a transparent member exhibiting a critical angle (θ
c) with respect to air and having a polished top surface relative to an opposing frosted bottom surface, first and second sides substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces wherein each of said member first and second sides has first and second end sections relative to a central section and the central sections of the first and second sides are frosted relative to said member top surface and the end sections of said first and second sides, said member having a first cavity therein located proximate a first end of said member, said first lamp being inserted into said first cavity so that said first lamp light source resides inside said member at a distance D1 from the top surface; anda first opaque section located on said member top surface opposing said member first cavity so that said opaque section extends toward the central area of said member top surface for a distance greater than D1 X TAN (θ
c) from a point opposing the light source.
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Specification