Sheet type optical device and backlighting unit using the same

• US 6,151,169 A
• Filed: 12/04/1998
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Wook Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spector, David N.
• Application Number:
  US09/205,879
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 359/619, 359/621, 359/624-626, 359/628, 359/640, 359/707, 359/542, 359/592, 349/61, 349/64-65, 362/31, 362/26, 362/330, 362/339
• US Class Current: 359/640
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer

Abstract

A sheet type optical device that perpendicularly stands light beams progressing obliquely with respect to the plane of the sheet includes a transparent sheet made from a transmissive material and prisms formed in parallel on one surface thereof, the prisms having a vertical angle of about 50° to 70°. The light progressing obliquely with respect to the plane is perpendicularly stood by the prisms. The sheet type optical device is used to form a backlighting unit for a liquid crystal display panel or the like. The backlighting unit includes a light source, a light guide, and the sheet type optical device, and optionally includes a reflective plate, a diffusion panel and a protective film.

Claims

1. A sheet type optical device, comprising:

a transparent sheet having first and second surfaces made from a light-transmissive material; and

a plurality of prisms on the first surface of the transparent sheet, the prisms being substantially parallel to each other and having a vertical angle in a range of about 50°

to 70°

,

wherein said transparent sheet and said prisms are made from a material having a refractive index in a range of about 1.5 to 1.65,

whereby a light beam entering the second surface of the transparent sheet at an oblique incident angle exits the device in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

2. The sheet type optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transparent sheet and said prisms are integrally formed of an acrylic material.

3. The sheet type optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transparent sheet and said prisms are integrally formed of a polyester group material.

4. The sheet type optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transparent sheet and said prisms are integrally formed of polyethylene terephtalate.

5. The sheet type optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vertical angle of said prisms is about 55°

.

6. The sheet type optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said prisms have a height in a range of about 5 to 50 μ

m and a width in a range of about 10 to 100 μ

m.

7. The sheet type optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light beam exits the device at an angle of less than about 10°

from a direction normal to the first surface.

8. A sheet type optical device, comprising:

a transparent sheet having first and second surfaces made from a light-transmissive material; and

a plurality of prisms formed on the first surface of the transparent sheet, the prisms being substantially parallel to each other and having a vertical angle in a range of about 50°

to 70°

,

wherein said transparent sheet and said prisms are made from a material having a refractive index in a range of about 1.5 to 1.65,

whereby a light beam entering the second surface of the transparent sheet at an incident angle in a range of about 15°

to 50°

exits the device in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

9. The sheet type optical device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transparent sheet and said prisms are integrally formed of an acrylic material.

10. The sheet type optical device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transparent sheet and said prisms are integrally formed of a polyester group material.

11. The sheet type optical device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transparent sheet and said prisms are integrally formed of polyethylene terephtalate.

12. The sheet type optical device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the vertical angle of said prisms is about 55°

.

13. The sheet type optical device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said prisms have a height in a range of about 5 to 50 μ

m and a width in a range of about 10 to 100 μ

m.

14. The sheet type optical device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the light beam exits the device at an angle of less than about 10°

from a direction normal to the first surface.

15. A backlighting unit, comprising:

a light source for generating light;

a light guide having a light receiving surface disposed adjacent the light source for receiving the light from the light source and a light emitting surface extending from the light receiving surface, the light guide uniformly distributing the light from the light source on the light emitting surface, the light exiting the light emitting surface obliquely; and

a prism panel having a plurality of prisms on a first surface with a vertical angle in a range of about 50°

to 70°

, wherein said prisms are made from a material having a refractive index in a range of about 1.5 to 1.65, the prism panel being disposed to receive light from the light emitting surface of the light guide, whereby the received light exits the panel in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

16. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a diffusion panel disposed between the light guide and the prism panel for diffusing the light progressing from the light guide to the prism panel.

17. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a protective film disposed over the first surface of the prism panel for protecting the prisms.

18. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the light emitting surface of the light guide is extended obliquely from the light receiving surface.

19. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a reflective plate disposed at a third surface of the light guide opposing the light emitting surface thereof for refracting the light traveling toward the third surface back toward the light emitting surface.

20. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a diffusion panel disposed between the light guide and the prism panel for diffusing the light progressing from the light guide to the prism panel;

a protective film disposed over the first surface of the prism panel for protecting the prisms; and

a reflective plate disposed at a third surface of the light guide opposing the light emitting surface thereof for reflecting the light traveling toward the third surface back toward the light emitting surface.

21. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light emitting surface of the light guide defines a first geometrical reflective pattern to reflect and/or refract light.

22. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 21, wherein the light guide has a third surface opposing the light emitting surface, the third surface defining a second geometrical reflective pattern to reflect and/or refract light.

23. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light guide has a third surface opposing the light emitting surface, the third surface defining a geometrical reflective pattern to reflect and/or refract light.

24. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

a diffusion panel disposed between the light guide and the prism panel for diffusing the light progressing from the light guide to the prism panel.

25. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

a protective film disposed over the first surface of the prism panel for protecting the prisms.

26. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

a reflective plate disposed adjacent a third surface of the light guide opposing the light emitting surface thereof for reflecting the light exiting from the third surface back into the light guide toward the light emitting surface.

27. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

a diffusion panel disposed between the light guide and the prism panel for diffusing the light progressing from the light guide to the prism panel;

a protective film disposed over the first surface of the prism panel for protecting the prisms; and

a reflective plate disposed adjacent a third surface of the light guide opposing the light emitting surface thereof for reflecting the light exiting from the third surface back into the light guide toward the light emitting surface.

28. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light exits the prism panel in a direction less than about 10°

from a direction normal to the first surface.

29. A backlighting unit, comprising:

a light source for generating light;

a light guide having a light receiving surface disposed adjacent the light source for receiving the light from the light source and a light emitting surface extending from the light receiving surface, the light guide uniformly distributing the light from the light source on the light emitting surface, the light exiting the light emitting surface obliquely at an angle of about 15°

to 50°

with respect to a direction normal to the light emitting surface; and

a prism panel having a plurality of prisms on a first surface, each prism having a vertical angle of about 50°

to 70°

, wherein said prisms are made from a material having a refractive index in a range of about 1.5 to 1.65, the prism panel being disposed to receive light at a second surface thereof from the light emitting surface of the light guide, whereby a light beam received at the second surface at an incident angle of about 15°

to 50°

exits the panel in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

30. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 29, further comprising:

a diffusion panel disposed between the light guide and the prism panel for diffusing the light progressing from the light guide to the prism panel.

31. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 29, further comprising:

a protective film disposed over the first surface of the prism panel for protecting the prisms.

32. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 29, wherein the light emitting surface of the light guide is extended obliquely from the light receiving surface.

33. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 29, further comprising:

a reflective plate disposed at a third surface of the light guide opposing the light emitting surface thereof for refracting the light traveling toward the third surface back toward the light emitting surface.

34. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 29, further comprising:

a diffusion panel disposed between the light guide and the prism panel for diffusing the light progressing from the light guide to the prism panel;

a protective film disposed over the first surface of the prism panel for protecting the prisms; and

a reflective plate disposed at a third surface of the light guide opposing the light emitting surface thereof for reflecting the light traveling toward the third surface back toward the light emitting surface.

35. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 29, wherein the light emitting surface of the light guide defines a first geometrical reflective pattern to reflect and/or refract light.

36. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 35, wherein the light guide has a third surface opposing the light emitting surface, the third surface defining a second geometrical reflective pattern to reflect and/or refract light.

37. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 29, wherein the light guide has a third surface opposing the light emitting surface, the third surface defining a second geometrical reflective pattern to reflect and/or refract light.

38. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 37, further comprising:

a diffusion panel disposed between the light guide and the prism panel for diffusing the light progressing from the light guide to the prism panel.

39. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 37, further comprising:

a protective film disposed over the first surface of the prism panel for protecting the prisms.

40. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 37, further comprising:

a reflective plate disposed adjacent a third surface of the light guide opposing the light emitting surface thereof for reflecting the light exiting from the third surface back into the light guide toward the light emitting surface.

41. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 37, further comprising:

a diffusion panel disposed between the light guide and the prism panel for diffusing the light progressing from the light guide to the prism panel;

a protective film disposed over the first surface of the prism panel for protecting the prisms; and

a reflective plate disposed adjacent a third surface of the light guide opposing the light emitting surface thereof for reflecting the light exiting from the third surface back into the light guide toward the light emitting surface.

42. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 29, wherein the light exits the prism panel in a direction less than about 10°

from the direction normal to the first surface.

43. A sheet type optical device, comprising:

a transparent sheet having a first surface; and

a plurality of prisms formed on the first surface of the transparent sheet, the prisms being parallel to each other and each having a vertical angle of about 50°

to 70°

, a height of about 5 to 50 μ

m and a width of about 10 to 100 μ

m,

wherein the transparent sheet and the prisms are made from a light-transmissive material having a refractive index of about 1.5 to 1.65.

44. A backlighting unit, comprising:

a light source for generating light;

a light guide having a light receiving surface for receiving the light from the light source and a light emitting surface extending from the light receiving surface, the light guide uniformly distributing the light from the light source on the light emitting surface; and

a prism panel comprising a transparent sheet having first and second opposing surfaces and a plurality of prisms formed on the first surface, the prisms being parallel to each other and each having a vertical angle of about 50°

to 70°

, a height of about 5 to 50 μ

m and a width of about 10 to 100 μ

m, the transparent sheet and the prisms being made from a light-transmissive material having a refractive index of about 1.5 to 1.65, wherein the second surface of the transparent sheet is disposed to receive light from the light emitting surface of the light guide.

45. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 44, wherein the light emitting surface of the light guide is extended obliquely from the light receiving surface.

46. A method of forming a sheet type optical device, comprising:

providing a transparent sheet having first and second surfaces made from a light-transmissive material; and

forming a plurality of prisms on the first surface of the transparent sheet, wherein said prisms are made from a material having a refractive index in a range of about 1.5 to 1.65, the prisms being substantially parallel to each other and having a vertical angle in a range of about 50°

to 70°

,

whereby a light beam entering the second surface of the transparent sheet at an oblique incident angle exits the device in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

47. A method of forming a sheet type optical device, comprising:

providing a transparent sheet having first and second surfaces made from a light-transmissive material; and

forming a plurality of prisms on the first surface of the transparent sheet, wherein said prisms are made from a material having a refractive index in a range of about 1.5 to 1.65, the prisms being substantially parallel to each other and having a vertical angle in a range of about 50°

to 70°

,

whereby a light beam entering the second surface of the transparent sheet at an incident angle in a range of about 15°

to 50°

exits the device in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

48. A method of assembling a backlight unit, comprising:

providing a light source for generating light;

providing a light guide having a light receiving surface disposed adjacent the light source for receiving the light from the light source and a light emitting surface extending from the light receiving surface, the light guide uniformly distributing the light from the light source on the light emitting surface, the light exiting the light emitting surface obliquely; and

providing a prism panel having a plurality of prisms on a first surface with a vertical angle in a range of about 50°

to 70°

, wherein said prisms are made from a material having a refractive index in a range of about 1.5 to 1.65, the prism panel being disposed to receive light from the light emitting surface of the light guide, whereby the received light exits the panel in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

49. A method of assembling a backlighting unit as claimed in claim 48, wherein the light emitting surface of the light guide is extended obliquely from the light receiving surface.

50. A method of assembling a backlight unit, comprising:

providing a light source for generating light;

providing a light guide having a light receiving surface disposed adjacent the light source for receiving the light from the light source and a light emitting surface extending from the light receiving surface, the light guide uniformly distributing the light from the light source on the light emitting surface, the light exiting the light emitting surface obliquely at an angle of about 15°

to 50°

with respect to a direction normal to the light emitting surface; and

providing a prism panel having a plurality of prisms on a first surface with a vertical angle in a range of about 50°

to 70°

, wherein said prisms are made from a material having a refractive index in a range of about 1.5 to 1.65, the prism panel being disposed to receive light at a second surface thereof from the light emitting surface of the light guide, whereby a light beam received at the second surface at an incident angle of about 15°

to 50°

exits the panel in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

51. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 50, wherein the light emitting surface of the light guide is extended obliquely from the light receiving surface.

52. A method of fabricating a sheet-type optical device, comprising:

providing a transparent sheet made from a light-transmissive material having a refractive index of about 1.5 to 1.65; and

forming a plurality of prisms on a first surface of the transparent sheet, the prisms being parallel to each other and each having a vertical angle of about 50°

to 70°

, a height of about 5 to 50 μ

m and a width of about 10 to 100 μ

m.

53. A method of assembling backlighting unit, comprising:

providing a light source for generating light;

providing a light guide having a light receiving surface disposed adjacent the light source for receiving the light from the light source and a light emitting surface extending from the light receiving surface, the light guide uniformly distributing the light from the light source on the light emitting surface; and

providing a prism panel comprising a transparent sheet having first and second opposing surfaces and a plurality of prisms formed on the first surface, the prisms being parallel to each other and each having a vertical angle of about 50°

to 70°

, a height of about 5 to 50 μ

and a width of about 10 to 100 μ

m, the transparent sheet and the prisms being made from a light-transmissive material having a refractive index of about 1.5 to 1.65, wherein the second surface of the transparent sheet is disposed to receive light from the light emitting surface of the light guide.

54. The backlighting unit as claimed in claim 53, wherein the light emitting surface of the light guide is extended obliquely from the light receiving surface.