Light guide device and a backlight module using the same

• US 7,374,329 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Tsinghua University
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Tsinghua University
• Inventors: Jin, Guo-Fan, Fan, Shou-Shan, Yan, Ying-Bai, Feng, Di
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney; Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US11/267,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20060104093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 362/626
• US Class Current: 362/626
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0016 Grooves, prisms, gratings, scattering particles or rough 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 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity

Abstract

A light guide device includes a main body having a first incident surface, a second incident surface, an emitting surface, a reflecting surface and a plurality of first microstructures. The first incident surface is opposite to the second incident surface. The emitting surface extends from the first incident surface to the second incident surface. The reflecting surface is opposite to the emitting surface, and the plurality of first microstructures are formed on the reflecting surface and extend parallel to the first and second incident surface. A distribution density and relative size of the first microstructures progressively decrease along directions from a center of the reflecting surface toward the first and second incident surface, respectively. The present light guide device does not employ additional optical correcting elements and thus has a simple structure. A backlight module using the same light guide device is also provided.

Claims

1. A light guide device, comprising:

a main body, including;

a first incident surface;

a second opposite incident surface;

an emitting surface extending from the first incident surface to the second incident surface;

a reflecting surface opposite from the emitting surface; and

a plurality of first microstructures formed on the reflecting surface, each first microstructure extending parallel to the first and second incident surfaces, the first microstructures having a distribution density and a relative size, the distribution density and the relative size progressively decreasing along directions from a center of the reflecting surface toward the first and second incident surfaces, respectively, wherein each of the first microstructures comprises a triangular cross-section having a first base angle that is approximately in the range from 70 to 90 degrees, a second base angle that is approximately in the range from 15 to 50 degrees, and a vertex angle that is approximately in the range from 40 to 95 degrees.

2. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first microstructures has a same height as the other first microstructures.

3. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein a base width of each of the first microstructures is approximately in the range from 10 to 300 micrometers.

4. The light guide device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second microstructures formed on the emitting surface, the second microstructures being oriented in a direction essentially perpendicular to the incident surface.

5. The light guide device according to claim 4, wherein each of the second microstructures has at least one of the following characteristics:

a given second microstructure has a triangular cross-section having a vertex angle that is approximately in the range from 50 to 150 degrees; and

a given second microstructure has a height in the range from above 0 to approximately 500 micrometers.

6. The light guide device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of third microstructures formed on at least one of the first and second incident surfaces, the third microstructures being oriented in a direction perpendicular to the reflecting surface.

7. The light guide device according to claim 6, wherein each of the third microstructures has at least one of the following characteristics:

a given third microstructure has a triangular cross-section having a vertex angle that is approximately in the range from 50 to 150 degrees; and

a given third microstructure has a height in the range from above 0 to approximately 500 micrometers.

8. The light guide device according to claim 1, further comprising a high reflectivity film formed on the exterior of at least one first microstructure and on at least one intermediate reflective surface portion of the main body.

9. The light guide device according to claim 8, wherein the high reflectivity film is one of a metal film and a dielectric film.

10. The light guide device according to claim 9, wherein the high reflectivity film is a metal film, the metal film being one of an aluminum film and a silver film.

11. The light guide device according to claim 1, further comprising two sidewalls with a high reflectivity film formed on each of the two sidewalls.

12. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the light guide device is one of a flat sheet and a wedge-shaped body.

13. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide device is comprised of material selected from the group consisting of polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, and any combination thereof.

14. A backlight module comprising:

two spaced light sources, and

a light guide device interposed between the light sources, the light guide device having a main body including;

a first incident surface disposed adjacent one of the two light sources;

a second opposite incident surface disposed adjacent to the other light source;

an emitting surface extending from the first incident surface to the second incident surface;

a reflecting surface opposite from the emitting surface; and

a plurality of first microstructures formed on the reflecting surface, each first microstructure extending parallel to the first and second incident surfaces, the first microstructures having a distribution density and a relative size, the distribution density and the relative size progressively decreasing along directions from a center of the reflecting surface toward the first and second incident surfaces, respectively, wherein each of the first microstructures comprises a triangular cross-section having a first base angle that is approximately in the range from 70 to 90 degrees, a second base angle that is approximately in the range from 15 to 50 degrees, and a vertex angle that is approximately in the range from 40 to 95 degrees.

15. The backlight module according to claim 14, wherein the two light sources each comprise one of at least one light emitting diode and a cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

16. The backlight module according to claim 14, further comprising two reflectors each partly surrounding the corresponding light source.

17. The backlight module according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of second microstructures formed on the emitting surface of the light guide device, the second microstructures being oriented in a direction essentially perpendicular to the incident surface of the light guide device.

18. The backlight module according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of third microstructures formed on the incident surface of the light guide device, the third microstructures being oriented in a direction perpendicular to the reflecting surface of the light guide device.