Display with bright backlight
First Claim
1. A hollow cavity backlight comprising a plurality of surfaces, said plurality of surfaces comprising:
- an open light exiting front surface;
a reflective rear surface spaced apart from and facing toward the open light exiting front surface; and
a plurality of light emitting surfaces disposed between the open light exiting front surface and the reflective rear surface, the plurality of light emitting surfaces comprising a first light emitting surface and a second light emitting surface inclined with respect to the first light emitting surface, each of the first and second light emitting surfaces facing the reflective rear surface and configured to emit light toward the reflective rear surface and away from the open light exiting front surface and wherein the reflective rear surface is configured to redirect the light emitted from the first and second light emitting surfaces toward the open light exiting front surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for projecting light carrying a data image. The apparatus comprises a first layer having regions of electrically alterable variable light transmittance adapted to form the data image, and a hollow cavity backlight having a light exiting surface coupled to the first layer and adapted to provide light to the first layer through the light exiting surface from one or more light emitters some of which point in a principal direction other than at right angles to the light exiting surface. In a preferred embodiment, LEDs are used as the light emitters and are preferably mounted on one or more printed circuit boards or other support tilted at non-zero angles with respect to the light exiting surface.
161 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A hollow cavity backlight comprising a plurality of surfaces, said plurality of surfaces comprising:
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an open light exiting front surface; a reflective rear surface spaced apart from and facing toward the open light exiting front surface; and a plurality of light emitting surfaces disposed between the open light exiting front surface and the reflective rear surface, the plurality of light emitting surfaces comprising a first light emitting surface and a second light emitting surface inclined with respect to the first light emitting surface, each of the first and second light emitting surfaces facing the reflective rear surface and configured to emit light toward the reflective rear surface and away from the open light exiting front surface and wherein the reflective rear surface is configured to redirect the light emitted from the first and second light emitting surfaces toward the open light exiting front surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A data display, comprising:
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a variable transmittance layer having first regions adapted to substantially pass light and second regions adapted to substantially block light in response to a signal applied thereto; and a hollow cavity backlight coupled to the variable transmittance layer and adapted to provide light in a first direction to the variable transmittance layer, wherein the backlight comprises a plurality of surfaces, the plurality of surfaces comprising; an open light exiting front surface; a reflective rear surface spaced apart from and facing toward the open light exiting front surface; and a plurality of light emitting surfaces disposed between the open light exiting front surface and the reflective rear surface, the plurality of light emitting surfaces comprising a first light emitting surface and a second light emitting surface inclined with respect to the first light emitting surface, each of the first and second light emitting surfaces facing the reflective rear surface and configured to emit light toward the reflective rear surface and away from the open light exiting front surface and wherein the reflective rear surface is configured to redirect the light emitted from the first and second light emitting surfaces toward the open light exiting front surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A display for projecting light carrying a data image, comprising:
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a first layer having regions of electrically alterable variable light transmittance for forming the data image; and a backlight comprising a plurality of surfaces, the plurality of surfaces comprising; an open light exiting front surface coupled to the first layer and configured to provide light to the first layer; a reflective rear surface spaced apart from and facing toward the open light exiting front surface; and a plurality of light emitting surfaces disposed between the open light exiting front surface and the reflective rear surface, wherein the plurality of light emitting surfaces comprises a first light emitting surface and a second light emitting surface inclined with respect to the first light emitting surface, each of the first and second light emitting surfaces facing the reflective rear surface and configured to emit light toward the reflective rear surface and away from the open light exiting front surface, wherein the reflective rear surface is configured to redirect the light emitted from the first and second light emitting surfaces toward the open light exiting front surface, and wherein an angle α
between a principal light ray from the plurality of light emitting surfaces and a normal to the open light exiting front surface has a magnitude greater than zero degrees. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A display for projecting light carrying a data image, comprising:
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a first layer having regions of electrically alterable variable light transmittance adapted to form the data image; and a backlight comprising a plurality of surfaces, the plurality of surfaces comprising; an open light exiting front surface coupled to the first layer and adapted to provide light to the first layer through the open light exiting front surface; a reflective rear surface spaced apart from and facing toward the open light exiting front surface; and a plurality of light emitting surfaces disposed between the open light exiting front surface and the reflective rear surface, wherein the plurality of light emitting surfaces comprises a first light emitting surface and a second light emitting surface inclined with respect to the first light emitting surface, each of the first and second light emitting surfaces facing the reflective rear surface and configured to emit light toward the reflective rear surface and away from the open light exiting front surface, wherein the reflective rear surface is configured to redirect the light emitted from the first and second light emitting surfaces toward the open light exiting front surface, and wherein said first and second light emitting surfaces are inclined at an angle α
greater than zero with respect to the open light exiting front surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A cavity backlight comprising a plurality of surfaces, said plurality of surfaces comprising:
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an open light exiting front surface; a reflective rear surface disposed at a first angle α
with respect to the open light exiting front surface; anda first light emitting surface facing, and disposed at a second acute angle β
with respect to, the reflective rear surface, whereby when light is emitted by the first light emitting surface at least a portion of the emitted light is reflected by the reflective rear surface so as to create the appearance of a virtual second light emitting surface that is inclined with respect to the first light emitting surface, the virtual second light emitting surface being a mirror image of the first light emitting surface and facing the reflective rear surface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification