Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 6,749,312 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovative Display Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited (Global Lighting Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Parker, Jeffery R., Ezell, Robert M., Coghlan, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Quach-Lee, Y. My
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US10/325,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20030123247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/27, 362/31, 362/329, 362/330, 362/561
• US Class Current: 362/618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0621 Hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• 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 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 : Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/804 : Surgical or dental spotlight

Abstract

Optical assembly includes a light emitter and a film through which light passes from the light emitter. The film has a uniform or variable pattern of individual deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in one or more surface areas of the film. The deformities are quite small in relation to the width and length of the film. At least some of the deformities may have two or more surfaces that come together to form a ridge having a total length that is quite small in relation to the width and length of the film.

Claims

1. An optical assembly comprising at least a light emitter and at least one layer of film between the light emitter and a display, wherein light emitted from at least one surface area of the light emitter passes through the film, a pattern of individual deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in at least one side of the film for controlling an output ray angle distribution of light emitted by the assembly to suit a particular application, the deformities being quite small in relation to a width and length of the film, at least some of the deformities having two or more surfaces that come together to form a ridge having a total length that is quite small in relation to the width and length of the film, the ridge of at least some of the deformities having ends that intersect the film or other deformities where the ridge ends.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the surfaces of at least some of the deformities are multi-segment, curved or flat.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the ridges of at least some of the deformities are out of alignment with other deformities.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein both ends of the ridges of at least some of the deformities intersect the film.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein both ends of the ridges of at least some of the deformities intersect other deformities.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the deformities only have two surfaces.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein one of the surfaces of at least some of the deformities is flat and the other surface is curved.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein both surfaces of at least some of the deformities are curved.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the deformities vary in at least one of the following characteristics for controlling an output ray angle distribution or uniformity of the light emitted by the assembly to suit a particular application:

size, shape, placement, index of refraction, density, angle, depth, height and type.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the deformities are random in at least one of the following characteristics for controlling an output ray angle distribution or uniformity of the light emitted by the assembly to suit a particular application:

size, shape, placement, index of refraction, density, angle, depth, height and type.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the ridges of at least some of the deformities are random.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the film has multiple layers.

13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the film has a coating.

19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the ridges of substantially all of the deformities are in the same direction.

20. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the deformities overlap, interlock or intersect other deformities.

21. The assembly of claim 1 wherein there is more than one layer of film.

22. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities have a shape or pattern that reduces moiré

or other interference effects in association with a display.

23. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities are random to reduce moiré

or other interference effects in association with a display.

24. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the deformities have angles that vary to direct light in different directions to produce a desired light output distribution or effect.

25. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light emitter is a backlight, and the deformities have a shape or pattern such that the light passing through the film from the backlight will pass through an associated liquid crystal display with low loss.

26. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities are on or in a side of the film closest to the light emitter.

27. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities are on or in a side of the film furthest from the light emitter.

14. An optical assembly comprising at least a light emitter and at least one layer of film, wherein light from the light emitter passes through the film, a pattern of individual deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in at least one side of the film for controlling an output ray angle distribution of light emitted by the assembly to suit a particular application, the deformities being quite small in relation to a width and length of the film, at least some of the deformities having two or more surfaces that come together to form a ridge haying a total length that is quite small in relation to the width and length of the film, the ridge of at least some of the deformities having ends that intersect the film or other deformities where the ridge ends, and additional deformities that are projections or depressions on or in an opposite side of the film.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the additional deformities are prismatic or lenticular.

16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein only the deformities on or in the one side of the film have ridges.

17. The assembly of claim 14 wherein at least some of the additional deformities on or in the opposite side of the film have ridges.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the ridges of at least some of the deformities on different sides of the film are in different directions.