Transreflectors, transreflector systems and displays and methods of making transreflectors

• US 6,827,456 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2001
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovative Display Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited (Global Lighting Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: McCollum, Timothy A., Parker, Jeffery R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/010,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/31, 362/330, 362/339
• US Class Current: 362/629
• 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 5/00 Refractors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/504
• 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 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0056 for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements
• 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 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 : Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 : Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 : Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 : Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 : transparent

Abstract

The transreflectors may comprise a transparent substrate having reflective surfaces and other light transmissive surfaces for respectively reflecting and transmitting a greater portion of the light striking opposite sides of the substrate. Alternatively, the transreflectors may comprise two or more transparent substrates of different indices of refraction bonded together, with a pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of one of the substrates and an inverse pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of an other substrate in mating engagement with each other. The transreflectors are used in a transreflector system or display to transmit more of the light emitted by a backlight or other light source incident on one side of the transreflectors and reflect more of the light incident on the opposite side of the transreflectors. The transreflectors and backlight may be tuned to each other to enable the transreflectors to better transmit more of the light emitted by the backlight.

Claims

1. A transreflector comprising a transparent substrate having opposite sides, optical deformities on or in at least one of said sides, a plurality of surfaces on or in said substrate each having a reflective layer or covering for reflecting exterior light incident on the exterior one of said sides and striking said reflective surfaces, and a plurality of light transmissive surfaces on or in said substrate for transmitting exterior light incident on the exterior of the other of said sides and striking said light transmissive surfaces.

2. The transreflector of claim 1 wherein said substrate is a film or plate.

3. The transreflector of claim 1 wherein said substrate is a multilayer film.

4. The transreflector of claim 3 wherein said multilayer film is comprised of a carrier film and an ultra-violet curable layer.

5. The transreflector of claim 1 wherein said reflective surfaces and said transmissive surfaces vary in at least one of the following:

size, shape, angle, and orientation.

6. The transreflector of claim 1 wherein at least some of said optical deformities overlap each other.

7. The transreflector of claim 6 wherein at least some of said optical deformities are staggered with respect to each other.

8. The transreflector of claim 6 wherein at least some of said optical deformities intersect or interlock each other.

9. The transreflector of claim 1 wherein said reflective surfaces are on or in the other side of said substrate opposite the side that receives the exterior light that is reflected by the reflective surfaces.

10. The transreflector of claim 1 wherein said reflective surfaces are on or in the same side of said substrate that receives the exterior light that is reflected by the reflective surfaces.

11. A transreflector comprising a transparent substrate having opposite sides, optical deformities on or in at least one of said sides, a plurality of reflective surfaces on or in said substrate each having a reflective layer or covering for reflecting light striking one of said sides, and a plurality of light transmissive surfaces on or in said substrate for transmitting light striking one of said sides, said optical deformities having at least two surfaces, one of said surfaces being said reflective surfaces each having said reflector layer or covering, and the other of said surfaces being said light transmissive surfaces.

12. The transreflector of claim 11 wherein said reflective layer or covering for each of said reflective surfaces is a reflective coating.

13. The transreflector of claim 11 wherein said reflective layer or covering for each of said reflective surfaces is made of metal.

14. The transreflector of claim 11 wherein said optical deformities each have a length and width substantially smaller than the length and width of said substrate and having a well defined shape.

15. The transreflector of claim 11 wherein said optical deformities run the full length or width of said substrate.

16. The transreflector of claim 15 wherein said optical deformities comprise a pattern of prismatic or lenticular surfaces.

17. A transreflector comprising a transparent substrate having opposite sides, a plurality of reflective surfaces on or in said substrate each having a reflective layer or covering for reflecting exterior light incident on the exterior of one of said sides and striking said reflective surfaces and a plurality of light transmissive surfaces on or in said substrate for transmitting exterior light incident on the exterior of the other of said sides and striking said light transmissive surfaces.

18. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said reflective surfaces are shaped, oriented or angled to reflect a greater portion of the exterior light incident on the exterior of said one side of said substrate.

19. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said light transmissive surfaces are shaped, oriented or angled to transmit a greater portion of the exterior light incident on the other side of said substrate.

20. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said reflective surfaces are shaped, oriented or angled to reflect a greater portion of the exterior light incident on the exterior of said one side of said substrate and said light transmissive surfaces are shaped, oriented or angled to transmit a greater portion of the exterior light incident on the other side of said substrate.

21. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said reflective surfaces have a substantially larger projected surface area, when projected onto a plane parallel to said substrate, than the projected surface area of said light transmissive surfaces when projected onto a plane parallel to said substrate.

22. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said light transmissive surfaces have a substantially larger projected surface area, when projected onto a plane normal to the angle of maximum intensity of the exterior light incident on the exterior of the other side of said substrate than the projected surface area of said reflective surfaces when projected onto a plane normal to the angle of maximum intensity of the exterior light incident on the exterior of the other side of said substrate.

23. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said light transmissive surfaces have a substantially larger projected surface area, when projected onto a plane normal to the angle of maximum intensity of the exterior light incident on the exterior of the other side of said substrate than the projected surface area of said reflective surfaces when projected onto a plane normal to the angle of maximum intensity of the exterior light incident on the exterior of the other side of said substrate, the exterior light incident on the exterior of the other side of said substrate coming from a backlight.

24. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said reflective surfaces are substantially planar.

25. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said reflective surfaces are curved.

26. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said light transmissive surfaces are textured or lensed to redirect the exterior light striking said light transmissive surfaces.

27. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said light transmissive surfaces have optical shapes on or in said light transmissive surfaces.

28. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said light transmissive surfaces have an antireflection coating.

29. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said reflective surfaces and said light transmissive surfaces are formed by a plurality of grooves in said substrate.

30. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said reflective surfaces and said light transmissive surfaces are formed by a pattern of individual optical deformities on or in said substrate each having a length and width substantially smaller than the length and width of the substrate and having a well defined shape.

31. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said reflective surfaces and said light transmissive surfaces are on or in said other side of said substrate and said one side of said substrate is shaped to redirect light.

32. The transreflector of claim 31 wherein said one side of said substrate has at least one of a texture, and optical deformities shaped to redirect the light transmitted by said transreflector.

33. The transreflector of claim 32 wherein said one side of said substrate optical deformities which comprise at least one of the following:

prismatic grooves, lenticular grooves, cross grooves, and individual optical elements of deformities of well defined shape.

34. The transreflector of claim 17 wherein said reflective surfaces and said light transmissive surfaces are on or in said one side of said substrate and a pattern of individual optical deformities of well defined shape are on or in said other side of said substrate, at least some of said optical deformities vary in at least one of the following characteristics:

position, size, height, density, angle, orientation, and shape.

35. A transreflector and backlight system comprising a backlight including a light emitting panel member having a panel surface that emits a light ray output distribution, and a transreflector comprised of one or more layers, said transreflector having one side in close proximity to the panel surface of the backlight, a plurality of light transmissive surfaces on or in said transreflector that transmits greater than 50% of the light ray output distribution from the panel surface incident on the exterior of the one side, and a plurality of reflective surfaces on or in said transreflector each having a reflective layer or covering that reflects more than 50% of ambient light incident on exterior of the other side.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising a display in close proximity to the other side of the transreflector for receiving ambient light reflected by the transreflector and light from the backlight transmitted by the transreflector.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

38. A transreflector and backlight system comprising a backlight including a light emitting panel member having at least one input edge for receiving light from a light source and at least one panel surface for emitting light, and a transreflector for transmitting light emitted by said panel surface incident on the exterior of one side of said transreflector and for reflecting ambient light incident on the exterior of the opposite side of said transreflector, at least one of said sides of said transreflector having optical deformities, a plurality of reflective surfaces on or in said transreflector each having a reflective layer or covering for reflecting ambient light incident on the exterior of said opposite side of said transreflector, and a plurality of light transmissive surfaces on or in said transreflector for transmitting light emitted by said panel surface incident on the exterior of said one side of said transreflector.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said deformities have at least two surfaces, one of said surfaces being said reflective surfaces each having said reflective layer or covering and the other of said surfaces being said light transmissive surfaces.

40. A transreflector and backlight system comprising a backlight including a light emitting panel member having at least one input edge for receiving light from a light source and at least one panel surface for emitting light, and a transreflector for transmitting light emitted by said panel surface incident on the exterior of one side of said transreflector and for reflecting ambient light incident on the exterior of the opposite side of said transreflector, one or the other of said sides of said transreflector having a plurality of reflective surfaces each having a reflective layer or covering for reflecting the ambient light incident on the exterior of said opposite side of said transreflector and a plurality of light transmissive surfaces for transmitting the light emitted by said panel surface incident on the exterior of said one side of said transreflector.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein said reflective surfaces are shaped, oriented or angled to reflect more than 50% of the light incident on the exterior of said one side of said transreflector.

42. The system of claim 40 wherein said light transmissive surfaces are shaped, oriented or angled to transmit more than 50% of the light incident on the exterior of the other side of said transreflector.

43. The system of claim 40 wherein said reflective surfaces are shaped, oriented or angled to reflect more than 50% of the light incident on the exterior of said one side of said transreflector and said light transmissive surfaces are shaped, oriented or angled to transmit more than 50% of the light incident on the exterior the other side of said transreflector.

44. The system of claim 40 wherein said panel member has a pattern of individual optical deformities for producing a particular light output distribution from said panel surface that is tuned to the side of the transreflector that receives incident light emitted by said panel surface such that said transreflector transmits a greater portion of the light emitted by said panel surface.

45. The system of claim 40 wherein said reflective surfaces and said light transmissive surfaces are formed in or on said opposite side of said transreflector, and said one side of said transreflector has optical deformities that transmit the incident light emitted from said panel surface and direct the light to said light transmissive surfaces in or on said opposite side of said transreflector.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein said optical deformities which comprise at least one of the following:

prismatic grooves, lenticular grooves, cross grooves, and individual optical deformities of well defined shape.

47. The system of claim 40 wherein said reflective surfaces and said light transmissive surfaces are in or on said one side of said transreflector, and said opposite side of said transreflector has optical deformities for redirecting the light exiting from said opposite side more toward the normal relative to said opposite side of said transreflector.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein said optical deformities comprise a pattern of prismatic surfaces.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein said optical deformities comprise a pattern of individual optical deformities each having a well defined shape.

50. The system of claim 40 wherein said reflective surfaces and said light transmissive surfaces are in or on said one side of said transreflector, and said opposite side of said transreflector has at least one of a texture, chemical etch, laser etch, and optical deformities shaped to redirect the light transmitted by said transreflector.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein said opposite side of said transreflector has said optical deformities which comprise at least one of the following:

prismatic grooves, lenticular grooves, cross grooves and individual optical deformities of well defined shape.

52. The system of claim 40 wherein said panel member has a pattern of individual optical deformities for producing a particular light output distribution from said panel surface, at least some of said deformities of said panel member having a length and width that is substantially smaller than the length and width of said panel member and a well defined shape including at least one sloping surface for reflecting or refracting light impinging thereon out of said panel surface.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein said sloping surface of at least some of said deformities of said panel member is oriented to face an optically coupled area of said input edge across said panel member.

54. The system of claim 52 wherein the area of said sloping surface of at least some of said deformities of said panel member varies across said panel member to attain a desired light output distribution from said panel surface.

55. The system of claim 52 wherein said sloping surface of at least some of said deformities of said panel member is a planar surface, further comprising at least one light source optically coupled to said input edge, said planar surface of the respective deformities of said panel member being oriented across said panel member to face an area of said input edge to which the light source is optically coupled.

56. The system of claim 52 further comprising a display having one side in close proximity to a side of said transreflector facing away from said panel member.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein said display is signage, a liquid crystal display, or a membrane switch.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein said display is a liquid crystal display and said pattern of said optical deformities of said panel member is varied such that the spacing of said optical deformities of said panel member does not cause interference with any pixel spacing of the liquid crystal display.

59. A transreflector comprising a transparent film or substrate of one or more layers, a plurality of light transmissive surfaces on or in said film or substrate that transmit greater than 50% of exterior light incident on the exterior of one side of said film or substrate, and a plurality of reflective surfaces on or in said film or substrate each having a reflective layer or covering that reflects more than 50% of a different exterior light incident on the exterior of the other side of said film or substrate that has a different light ray angle distribution than the light ray angle distribution of the exterior light incident on the exterior of the one side.