Back light module for flat display device

• US 7,056,001 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toppoly Optoelectronics Corporation (InnoLux Corporation)
• Inventors: Chuang, Meng Ju
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US10/461,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/27, 362/31, 362/555, 362/558, 362/561, 362/560, 362/608, 362/609, 362/612, 362/613, 362/621, 362/623, 362/625, 362/624, 349 62- 65, 349/67
• US Class Current: 362/561
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1336 Illuminating devices

Abstract

A back light module for flat display device for decreasing the thickness of light guide plate is disclosed. This invention comprises a light guide plate having a first section, a second section and a light-emitting surface; a light source above the light guide plate; a reflector below the light guide plate; and a flexible printed circuit board located at the lateral end of light source wherein most of the light rays emitted from the light source enter into the second section through the first section, then emit from the light-emitting surface.

Claims

1. A backlight module for a flat display device, comprising:

a light guide plate comprising a top surface that has an edge section, and a bottom surface terminating with a slant surface below the edge section, the slant surface comprising light diffusion elements;

a reflector below the bottom surface including a slant reflector section below the slant surface; and

a light source positioned relative to the edge section of the top surface, wherein light from the light source is transmitted through the edge section of the top surface and directed towards the slant reflector section, to be redirected towards the top surface to be emitted through the top surface.

2. The backlight module as in claim 1, wherein the edge section is in the same plane as rest of the top surface.

3. The backlight module as in claim 1, wherein the light source is a point light source.

4. The backlight module as in claim 3, wherein the point light source comprises an LED.

5. The backlight module as in claim 1, wherein the light is redirected towards the top surface by the reflector, including sections of the reflector outside of the slant reflector section.

6. The backlight module as in claim 1, wherein the light guide plate has an lateral end near the edge section, and an opposing lateral end away from the edge section, wherein the reflector comprises a section located at the opposing lateral end.

7. The backlight module as in claim 1, wherein the slant surface comprises a fully inclined plane.

8. The backlight module as in claim 1, wherein the slant surface comprises a curved surface.

9. The backlight module as in claim 1, wherein the light diffusion elements comprise at least one of V-cuts, or convex and/or concave dots.

10. The backlight module as in claim 1, wherein the flat display device comprises a liquid crystal display device.

11. The backlight module as in claim 10, wherein the light guide plate has an lateral end near the edge section, wherein the backlight module further comprising a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) located at the lateral end for providing electrical connections to the liquid crystal display device.

12. The backlight module as in claim 1, wherein material of the light guide plate comprises at least one of PMMA or plastic division.

13. The backlight module as in claim 12, wherein the light guide plate comprises TiO₂ difflision grains.

14. The backlight module as in claim 1, further comprising:

a prism sheet supported on the light guide plate; and

at least one diffusor sheet supported on the light guide plate.

15. A backlight module for a flat display device, comprising:

a light guide plate comprising a top surface that has an edge section, and a bottom surface terminating with a slant surface below the edge section;

a reflector below the bottom surface including a slant reflector section below the slant surface; and

a point light source positioned above the edge section of the top surface, wherein light from the point light source is directed through the light guide plate towards the slant reflector section, to be redirected towards the top surface.

16. The backlight module as in claim 15, wherein the slant surface comprises light diffusion elements.

17. The backlight module as in claim 15, wherein the point light source comprises an LED.

18. A method of providing backlight for a flat display device, comprising:

providing a light guide plate comprising a top surface that has an edge section, and a bottom surface terminating with a slant surface below the edge section, the slant surface comprising light diffusion elements;

providing a reflector below the bottom surface including a slant reflector section below the slant surface; and

providing a point light source positioned relative to the edge section of the top surface, wherein light from the light source is transmitted through the edge section of the top surface and directed towards the slant reflector section, to be redirected towards the top surface.