Reflector which appears bright when viewed at specific angle and reflective liquid crystal display

• US 6,947,107 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Omote, Kinji, Kano, Mitsuru, Moriike, Tatsuya, Yoshii, Katsumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US10/180,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 349/113, 349/106, 349/122, 349/42, 349/43, 349/114, 349/61, 349/67
• US Class Current: 349/113
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605

Abstract

A reflector for a liquid crystal display includes a substrate with light-reflective concave portions on the surface thereof. Each concave portion has a specific vertical section which passes through a deepest point of the concave portion. The internal shape of the specific vertical section is defined by a first curve, which extends from one point on the peripheral edge of the concave portion to the deepest point of the concave portion, and a second curve, which extends continuously from the first curve and from the deepest point of the concave portion to another point on the peripheral edge of the concave portion. The average of the absolute value of an inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface is larger than the average of the absolute value of an inclination angle of the second curve relative to the substrate surface.

Claims

1. A reflector comprising a substrate having a plurality of light-reflective concave portions on a surface thereof, each concave portion having a specific vertical section which passes through a deepest point of the concave portion,

wherein an internal shape of the specific vertical section is defined by a first curve and a second curve, the first curve extending from a first point on a peripheral edge of the concave portion to the deepest point of the concave portion, and the second curve extending continuously from the first curve and from the deepest point of the concave portion to a second point on the peripheral edge of the concave portion, and

wherein an average of an absolute value of an inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface is larger than an average of an absolute value of an inclination angle of the second curve relative to the substrate surface,

a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface is in the range of about 2°

to 90°

, and

a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the second curve relative to the substrate surface is less than that of the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface.

2. A reflector according to claim 1, wherein the concave portions are formed such that the specific vertical sections of the concave portions are aligned in the same direction and orientations of the first curves of the concave portions are the same.

3. A reflector according to claim 1, wherein the inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface and the inclination angle of the second curve relative to the substrate surface are substantially zero at a point at which the first curve and the second curve are connected to each other.

4. A reflector according to claim 1, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface is in the range of about 4°

to 35°

.

5. A reflector according to claim 1, wherein the concave portions are irregularly formed such that a depth thereof varies in the range of about 0.1 μ

m to 3 μ

m.

6. A reflector according to claim 1, wherein the concave portions are irregularly arranged next to each other.

7. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 1.

8. A liquid crystal display according to claim 7, wherein the concave portions are formed such that the specific vertical sections of each concave portion are aligned in the same direction and orientations of the first curves in the concave portions are the same, and the reflector is installed such that the first curves are disposed above the second curves in the concave portions when viewed by an observer.

9. A reflector in which an integrated value of reflectance in a reflection-angle range smaller than a specular reflection angle with respect to a substrate surface is different from an integrated value of reflectance in a reflection-angle range larger than the specular reflection angle, wherein the reflection-angle range corresponding to the larger of the integrated values of reflectance is from about normal to the surface to about 35°

from normal to the surface.

10. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 9, wherein the reflector is installed such that the reflection-angle range corresponding to the larger of the integrated values of reflectance is disposed at the upper side of the specular reflection angle with respect to the substrate surface when viewed by an observer.

11. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 9, wherein a peak of brightness of the liquid crystal display is approximately 20°

from normal to the surface.

12. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 9, wherein the reflection-angle range corresponding to the larger of the integrated values of reflectance is more proximate to a normal of the substrate surface than the specular reflection angle.

13. A reflector comprising a reflective surface in which incident light is diffusely reflected and is preferentially reflected over a range of angles smaller than that of a specular reflection angle of the incident light with respect to a normal of a surface of the reflector and back reflection is suppressed over a wide viewing-angle range, wherein the range of angles is from about normal to the surface to about 35°

from normal to the surface.

14. A reflector according to claim 13, wherein a peak of brightness of the liquid crystal display is approximately 20°

from normal to the surface.

15. A reflector according to claim 13, wherein the reflective surface comprises a plurality of light-reflective concave portions having an internal shape with a cross-section defined by a first curve and a second curve, the first curve extending from a first point on a peripheral edge of the concave portion to a deepest point of the concave portion, and the second curve extending continuously from the first curve and from the deepest point of the concave portion to a second point on the peripheral edge of the concave portion, and

wherein an average of an absolute value of an inclination angle of the first curve relative to a surface of the reflector is larger than an average of an absolute value of an inclination angle of the second curve relative to the reflector surface.

16. A reflector according to claim 15, wherein the concave portions are aligned in the same direction and orientations of the first curves of the concave portions are the same.

17. A reflector according to claim 15, wherein the inclination angle of the first curve and the inclination angle of the second curve are substantially zero at a point at which the first curve and the second curve are connected to each other.

18. A reflector according to claim 15, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve is in the range of about 2°

to 90°

.

19. A reflector according to claim 15, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve is in the range of about 4°

to 35°

.

20. A reflector according to claim 18, wherein the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve in a majority of the concave portions is in the range of about 4°

to 35°

.

21. A reflector according to claim 18, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the second curve is less than that of the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve.

22. A reflector according to claim 19, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the second curve is less than that of the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve.

23. A reflector according to claim 20, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the second curve is less than that of the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve.

24. A reflector according to claim 15, wherein the concave portions are irregularly formed such that a depth thereof varies in the range of about 0.1 μ

m to 3 μ

m.

25. A reflector according to claim 15, wherein the concave portions are irregularly arranged next to each other.

26. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 15.

27. A liquid crystal display according to claim 26, wherein the concave portions are aligned in the same direction and orientations of the first curves in the concave portions are the same, and the reflector is installed such that the first curves are disposed above the second curves in the concave portions when viewed by an observer.

28. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 13.

29. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a reflector comprising a substrate having a plurality of light-reflective concave portions on a surface thereof, each concave portion having a specific vertical section which passes through a deepest point of the concave portion,

wherein an internal shape of the specific vertical section is defined by a first curve and a second curve, the first curve extending from a first point on a peripheral edge of the concave portion to the deepest point of the concave portion, and the second curve extending continuously from the first curve and from the deepest point of the concave portion to a second point on the peripheral edge of the concave portion, and

an average of an absolute value of an inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface is larger than an average of an absolute value of an inclination angle of the second curve relative to the substrate surface, and

the concave portions are formed such that the specific vertical sections of each concave portion are aligned in the same direction and orientations of the first curves in the concave portions are the same, and the reflector is installed such that the first curves are disposed above the second curves in the concave portions when viewed by an observer.

30. A liquid crystal display according to claim 29, wherein the inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface and the inclination angle of the second curve relative to the substrate surface are substantially zero at a point at which the first curve and the second curve are connected to each other.

31. A liquid crystal display according to claim 29, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface is in the range of about 2°

to 90°

.

32. A liquid crystal display according to claim 29, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface is in the range of about 4°

to 35°

.

33. A liquid crystal display according to claim 29, wherein the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface in a majority of the concave portions is in the range of about 4°

to 35°

.

34. A liquid crystal display according to claim 33, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the second curve relative to the substrate surface is less than that of the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface.

35. A liquid crystal display according to claim 32, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the second curve relative to the substrate surface is less than that of the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve relative to the substrate surface.

36. A liquid crystal display according to claim 29, wherein the concave portions are irregularly formed such that a depth thereof varies in the range of about 0.1 μ

m to 3 μ

m.

37. A liquid crystal display according to claim 29, wherein the concave portions are irregularly arranged next to each other.

38. A reflector in which an integrated value of reflectance in a reflection-angle range smaller than a specular reflection angle with respect to a substrate surface is different from an integrated value of reflectance in a reflection-angle range larger than the specular reflection angle, wherein a peak of brightness of the liquid crystal display is approximately 20°

from normal to the surface.

39. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 38, wherein the reflector is installed such that the reflection-angle range corresponding to the larger of the integrated values of reflectance is disposed at the upper side of the specular reflection angle with respect to the substrate surface when viewed by an observer.

40. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 38, wherein the reflection-angle range corresponding to the larger of the integrated values of reflectance is more proximate to a normal of the substrate surface than the specular reflection angle.

41. A reflector in which an integrated value of reflectance in a reflection-angle range smaller than a specular reflection angle with respect to a substrate surface is different from an integrated value of reflectance in a reflection-angle range larger than the specular reflection angle, wherein the reflection-angle range corresponding to the larger of the integrated values of reflectance is more proximate to a normal of the substrate surface than the specular reflection angle.

42. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 41, wherein the reflector is installed such that the reflection-angle range corresponding to the larger of the integrated values of reflectance is disposed at the upper side of the specular reflection angle with respect to the substrate surface when viewed by an observer.

43. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 41.

44. A reflector comprising a reflective surface in which incident light is diffusely reflected and is preferentially reflected over a range of angles smaller than that of a specular reflection angle of the incident light with respect to a normal of a surface of the reflector and back reflection is suppressed over a wide viewing-angle range, wherein a peak of brightness of the liquid crystal display is approximately 20°

from normal to the surface.

45. A reflector according to claim 44, wherein the reflective surface comprises a plurality of light-reflective concave portions having an internal shape with a cross-section defined by a first curve and a second curve, the first curve extending from a first point on a peripheral edge of the concave portion to a deepest point of the concave portion, and the second curve extending continuously from the first curve and from the deepest point of the concave portion to a second point on the peripheral edge of the concave portion, and

wherein an average of an absolute value of an inclination angle of the first curve relative to a surface of the reflector is larger than an average of an absolute value of an inclination angle of the second curve relative to the reflector surface.

46. A reflector according to claim 45, wherein the concave portions are aligned in the same direction and orientations of the first curves of the concave portions are the same.

47. A reflector according to claim 45, wherein the inclination angle of the first curve and the inclination angle of the second curve are substantially zero at a point at which the first curve and the second curve are connected to each other.

48. A reflector according to claim 45, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve is in the range of about 2°

to 90°

.

49. A reflector according to claim 45, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve is in the range of about 4°

to 35°

.

50. A reflector according to claim 48, wherein the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve in a majority of the concave portions is in the range of about 4°

to 35°

.

51. A reflector according to claim 48, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the second curve is less than that of the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve.

52. A reflector according to claim 49, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the second curve is less than that of the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve.

53. A reflector according to claim 50, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the second curve is less than that of the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve.

54. A reflector according to claim 45, wherein the concave portions are irregularly formed such that a depth thereof varies in the range of about 0.1 μ

m to 3 μ

m.

55. A reflector according to claim 45, wherein the concave portions are irregularly arranged next to each other.

56. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 45.

57. A liquid crystal display according to claim 56, wherein the concave portions are aligned in the same direction and orientations of the first curves in the concave portions are the same, and the reflector is installed such that the first curves are disposed above the second curves in the concave portions when viewed by an observer.

58. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 45.

59. A reflector comprising a reflective surface in which incident light is diffusely reflected and is preferentially reflected over a range of angles smaller than that of a specular reflection angle of the incident light with respect to a normal of a surface of the reflector and back reflection is suppressed over a wide viewing-angle range,

wherein the reflective surface comprises a plurality of light-reflective concave portions having an internal shape with a cross-section defined by a first curve and a second curve, the first curve extending from a first point on a peripheral edge of the concave portion to a deepest point of the concave portion, and the second curve extending continuously from the first curve and from the deepest point of the concave portion to a second point on the peripheral edge of the concave portion, and

wherein an average of an absolute value of an inclination angle of the first curve relative to a surface of the reflector is larger than an average of an absolute value of an inclination angle of the second curve relative to the reflector surface.

60. A reflector according to claim 59, wherein the concave portions are aligned in the same direction and orientations of the first curves of the concave portions are the same.

61. A reflector according to claim 59, wherein the inclination angle of the first curve and the inclination angle of the second curve are substantially zero at a point at which the first curve and the second curve are connected to each other.

62. A reflector according to claim 59, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve is in the range of about 2°

to 90°

.

63. A reflector according to claim 59, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve is in the range of about 4°

to 35°

.

64. A reflector according to claim 63, wherein the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve in a majority of the concave portions is in the range of about 4°

to 35°

.

65. A reflector according to claim 63, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the second curve is less than that of the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve.

66. A reflector according to claim 64, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the second curve is less than that of the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve.

67. A reflector according to claim 65, wherein a maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the second curve is less than that of the maximum value of the absolute value of the inclination angle of the first curve.

68. A reflector according to claim 59, wherein the concave portions are irregularly formed such that a depth thereof varies in the range of about 0.1 μ

m to 3 μ

m.

69. A reflector according to claim 59, wherein the concave portions are irregularly arranged next to each other.

70. A liquid crystal display comprising a reflector according to claim 59.

71. A liquid crystal display according to claim 70, wherein the concave portions are aligned in the same direction and orientations of the first curves in the concave portions are the same, and the reflector is installed such that the first curves are disposed above the second curves in the concave portions when viewed by an observer.