Illuminated display with light source destructuring and shaping device
First Claim
1. A liquid crystal display system having a homogenizer spaced from a light source, the homogenizer made by a process including:
- A. generating random disordered non-planar speckle in a photosensitive medium having a refractive index by exposing said photosensitive medium with coherent light, said coherent light having been diffused through a diffuser, so as to define non-discontinuous and smoothly varying changes in said refractive index of said photosensitive medium, said non-discontinuous and smoothly varying changes scattering collimated light into a controlled pattern with smooth brightness variation;
B. developing said photosensitive medium to form a micro-sculpted surface structure that (i) controls the direction in which light propagates and (ii) homogenizes light with directionality; and
C. making a replica of said micro-sculpted surface structure from said photosensitive medium,wherein light scattered from said replica of said micro-sculpted surface structure is characterized by said random, disordered and non-planar speckle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light source destructuring and shaping device which both homogenizes and imparts predetermined directionality to light rays emanating from a light source is disclosed. The device comprises a micro-sculpted surface structure which controls the direction in which light propagates in either reflection or transmission. The sculpted surface structure also homogenizes light propagating through it with predetermined directionality. The device may be used in an almost unlimited number of applications which require homogenization and which would benefit from being able to impart directionality to light waves propagating from a light source. These applications include existing diffuser applications and applications wherein it was not practical to use conventional diffusers. The homogenizing and shaping device achieves these benefits with very high transmission or reflection efficiency and with reduced side lobes.
146 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A liquid crystal display system having a homogenizer spaced from a light source, the homogenizer made by a process including:
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A. generating random disordered non-planar speckle in a photosensitive medium having a refractive index by exposing said photosensitive medium with coherent light, said coherent light having been diffused through a diffuser, so as to define non-discontinuous and smoothly varying changes in said refractive index of said photosensitive medium, said non-discontinuous and smoothly varying changes scattering collimated light into a controlled pattern with smooth brightness variation; B. developing said photosensitive medium to form a micro-sculpted surface structure that (i) controls the direction in which light propagates and (ii) homogenizes light with directionality; and C. making a replica of said micro-sculpted surface structure from said photosensitive medium, wherein light scattered from said replica of said micro-sculpted surface structure is characterized by said random, disordered and non-planar speckle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A liquid crystal display system having a homogenizer with a normal axis, a horizontal direction, and a vertical direction, said homogenizer spaced from a light source and including:
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A. a sheet of deformable material having formed therein a micro-sculpted surface structure that (i) controls the direction in which light propagates and (ii) homogenizes light with directionality, said micro-sculpted surface structure having been formed by replicating in said sheet of deformable material a prior micro-sculpted surface structure that (i) controls the direction in which light propagates and (ii) homogenizes light with directionality, said prior micro-sculpted surface structure having been formed in a photosensitive medium having a refractive index by; (a) generating random, disordered and non-planar speckle in said photosensitive medium using coherent light, said coherent light having been diffused through a diffuser, so as to define non-discontinuous and smoothly varying changes in said refractive index of said photosensitive medium, said non-discontinuous and smoothly varying changes scattering collimated light into a controlled pattern with smooth brightness variation; and (b) developing said photosensitive medium; and B. a reflective layer deposited on and conforming to said micro-sculpted surface structure, whereby light incident on said homogenizer is reflected into an output area by said micro-sculpted surface structure, wherein light scattered from said micro-sculpted surface structure is characterized by said random, disordered and non-planar speckle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A light emitting diode system having a homogenizer spaced from a light source, the homogenizer made by a process including:
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A. generating random disordered non-planar speckle in a photosensitive medium having a refractive index by exposing said photosensitive medium with coherent light, said coherent light having been diffused through a holographic diffuser, so as to define non-discontinuous and smoothly varying changes in said refractive index of said photosensitive medium, said non-discontinuous and smoothly varying changes scattering collimated light into a controlled pattern with smooth brightness variation; B. developing said photosensitive medium to form a micro-sculpted surface structure that (i) controls the direction in which light propagates and (ii) homogenizes light with directionality; and C. making a replica of said micro-sculpted surface structure from said photosensitive medium, wherein light scattered from said replica of said micro-sculpted surface structure is characterized by said random, disordered and non-planar speckle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A liquid crystal display comprising:
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a display screen; a light source disposed behind the display screen for illuminating the display screen; and a homogenizer spaced from the light source; wherein the homogenizer includes a sheet of deformable material having formed therein a micro-sculpted surface structure that both controls the direction in which light propagates and homogenizes light with directionality, the homogenizer having been formed by generating random, disordered and non-planar speckle in a photosensitive medium using coherent light, the coherent light having been diffused through a diffuser, so as to define non-discontinuous and smoothly varying changes in a refractive index of the photosensitive medium, such that the non-discontinuous and smoothly varying changes scatter collimated light into a controlled pattern with a smooth brightness variation and then developing the photosensitive medium, wherein light scattered from the micro-sculpted surface structure is characterized by the random, disordered and non-planar speckle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A light emitting diode comprising:
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a display surface; a light source disposed behind the display surface for providing light thereto; and a homogenizer, spaced from the light source; wherein the homogenizer includes a sheet of deformable material having formed therein a micro-sculpted surface structure that both controls the direction in which light propagates and homogenizes light with directionality, the homogenizer having been formed by generating random, disordered and non-planar speckle in a photosensitive medium using coherent light, the coherent light having been diffused through a diffuser, so as to define non-discontinuous and smoothly varying changes in a refractive index of the photosensitive medium, such that the non-discontinuous and smoothly varying changes scatter collimated light into a controlled pattern with a smooth brightness variation, and then developing the photosensitive medium, wherein the light scattered from the micro-sculpted surface structure is characterized by the random, disordered and non-planar speckle. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification