V-cutter for an LCD light guide panel

• US 6,619,175 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fawoo Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Fawoo Technology Company Limited
• Inventors: Yoo, Young Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodman, Charles
• Application Number:
  US09/766,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 838/75, 839/17, 836/92, 836/93, 835/54, 835/55, 835/56, 835/58, 835/63, 836/18, 836/31, 836/40, 838/76, 838/79, 125/23.02, 125/35, 125/38, 125/23.01, 33/414, 33/44, 33/325, 33/326, 33/323, 33/324, 33/327, 33/321
• US Class Current: 83/875
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/065 On sheet material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/02 Other than completely through work thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0304 Grooving
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0333 Scoring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8735 With means providing for plural steps in tool stroke
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/874 Straight line positioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8748 Tool displaceable to inactive position [e.g., for work loading]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8847 Screw actuated tool support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8867 With means to adjust tool position on tool holder

Abstract

A V-cutter for use in forming V-shaped grooves (3) on a light guide panel (1) of the backlight unit for a liquid crystal display (LCD) is disclosed. The V-cutter may include a Z-axis lift piece (7) and a W-axis lift piece (8), each of which has a pin kit (10a, 10b) with a plurality of pins (9a, 9b) attached at the bottom thereof. The pins (9a, 9b) are preferably equal in number and spacing to the V-shaped grooves (3) to be formed. The lift pieces (7, 8) may be vertically actuated by a Z-axis controller (5) and a W-axis controller (6). The light guide panel (1) is preferably fixtured to a table (11). The lift pieces (7, 8) are configured to move with respect to the table (11) so that, through successive X-axis and Y-axis operations, the V-shaped grooves can be formed in perpendicular directions with only two reciprocating motions. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the light guide panels (1) is reduced.

Claims

1. A V-cutter for forming a plurality of V-shaped grooves on a light guide panel for a liquid crystal display, the V-cutter comprising:

a table configured to mount the light guide panel thereon;

an X-axis slider disposed above the table and configured to move horizontally in an X-axis direction;

a Z-axis lift piece disposed on the X-axis slider and having a Z-axis pin kit attached thereto which comprises a plurality of pins corresponding to a first set of the V-shaped grooves having a pitch and number to form a plurality of the V-shaped grooves in a Y-axis direction;

a Z-axis controller for vertically actuating the Z-axis lift piece;

a W-axis lift piece disposed in a direction perpendicular to the X-axis slider and having a W-axis pin kit attached thereto which comprises a plurality of pins corresponding to a second set of V-shaped grooves having a pitch and number; and

a W-axis controller for vertically actuating the W-axis lift piece.

2. The V-cutter of claim 1, wherein the table is configured to move in the Y-axis direction, and reciprocating motions of either or both of the table and X-axis slider, in combination with reciprocating lifting motions of the Z-axis lift piece and the W-axis lift piece, are sufficient to form the V-shaped grooves on the light guide panel.

3. A V-cutter for forming a plurality of V-shaped grooves on a light guide panel for a liquid crystal display, the V-cutter comprising:

an X-axis slider configured to move horizontally in an X-axis direction;

a Z-axis lift piece disposed on the X-axis slider, the Z-axis lift piece having a Z-axis pin kit attached thereto, the Z-axis pin kit comprising a plurality of pins, the pins corresponding in pitch and number to a first set of the V-shaped grooves;

a Z-axis controller for vertically actuating the Z-axis lift piece;

a W-axis lift piece having a W-axis pin kit attached thereto, the W-axis pin kit comprising a plurality of pins, the pins corresponding in pitch and number to a second set of the V-shaped grooves;

a W-axis controller for vertically actuating the W-axis lift piece; and

a table configured to receive the light guide panel, the table being configured to move the light guide panel horizontally in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction.