Prism diffuser for diffracting and spreading light

• US 6,798,574 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cheil Industries Incorporated (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Songsan Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Man-Suk
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US10/250,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20040061959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 359/566, 359/569, 359/571, 359/574, 359/599, 359/707, 359/831, 359/833, 359/834, 359/837, 362/31, 362/558
• US Class Current: 359/566
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0231 the surface having microprismatic or micropyramidal shape macroscopic prism arrays G02B5/045
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0252 using holographic or diffractive means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a prism diffuser for diffracting and spreading light, and in particular to a prism diffuser for diffracting and spreading light which is capable of spreading light in a certain direction at a wider angle based on a structure combined with a prism capable of diffracting light on a surface of a medium formed of a glass which transmits or reflect light, a film formed of a transparent synthetic resin material or a metallic plate and a diffuser capable of spreading light and diffracting, spreading and transmitting light into two directions or diffracting, spreading and reflecting light in one direction.

Claims

1. A prism diffuser capable of diffracting and spreading light, comprising:

a medium formed of a material capable of transmitting or reflecting light;

a light diffracting member in which a plurality of fine protrusion surfaces of a micron unit are continuously connected on one surface of the medium, and the neighboring fine protrusion surfaces are formed in parallel in a certain direction for thereby diffracting light; and

a light spreading protrusion member which is formed in a micron unit size greatly smaller than a width and height of the light diffracting member, and a plurality of the same are continuously formed in vertical and horizontal directions on the surface of the light diffracting member and is formed in a longitudinal shape and has a long diameter and a short diameter and has a certain surface curvature for thereby effectively spreading light.

2. A prism diffuser of claim 1, wherein said light diffracting member includes a triangle-shaped cross section in a prism shape.

3. A prism diffuser of claim 1, wherein said light diffracting member is a cylindrical shape lens member in which a continuous cross section forms a waveform.

4. A prism diffuser of claim 1, wherein said light spreading protrusion members are arranged in such a manner that the long diameters of the light spreading protrusion members are formed in a protrusion slanted direction of the light diffracting member.

5. A prism diffuser of claim 1, wherein said light spreading protrusion members are arranged in such a manner that the long diameter directions of the light spreading members are formed in a direction parallel with respect to the longitudinal direction of the light diffracting member.

6. A prism diffuser of claim 1, wherein a plurality of fine light spreading protrusion members each having a width and height of a fine unit smaller than that of the light spreading member are protruded.