Prism sheet and backlight unit employing the same

• US 7,448,787 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jin-hwan, Choi, Hwan-young
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton; Anabel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shallenberger; Julie A.
• Application Number:
  US11/285,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20060109681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 362/600, 362606-608, 362/610, 362/614, 362618-620, 362626-629
• US Class Current: 362/620
• 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 6/0041 provided in the bulk of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer

Abstract

Provided is a prism sheet including a substrate transmitting incident light and having at least one groove inwardly formed in a surface of the substrate. A refractive member is provided in the groove and has a relatively higher refractive index than a refractive index of the substrate. A prism is arranged to face the refractive member, refract and transmit incident light, and has a relatively lower refractive index than the refractive index of the refractive member. A backlight unit is provided that includes at least one light source emitting light, along with a light guide panel that guides a procession of light emitted from the light source. The prism sheet includes at least one groove inwardly formed in a surface of the light guide panel. A refractive member is provided in the groove and a prism is arranged to face the refractive member.

Claims

1. A prism sheet comprising:

a substrate which has a first incident surface, transmits light incident from the first incident surface and has at least one groove disposed inwardly in a surface of the substrate opposed to the first incident surface;

a refractive member provided in the groove and having a higher refractive index than a refractive index of the substrate; and

a prism arranged to face the refractive member, refract and transmit incident light, and having a lower refractive index than the refractive index of the refractive member,

wherein the prism comprises,

a second incident surface which faces the refractive member; and

a first exit surface and a second exit surface which are arranged to face each other at an angle; and

,

wherein a light incident angle to the first exit surface or the second exit surface is smaller than a critical angle for total reflection regardless of an incident angle to the first incident surface.

2. The prism sheet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the groove has a triangular section and the refractive member is formed in the groove to have a shape symmetrical to a shape of the prism.

3. The prism sheet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the groove has one of a semicircular and an oval section and the refractive member is fonned in the groove to have one of a semicircular and an oval section.

4. The prism sheet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the refractive member has a refractive index gradient in which a refractive index increases in a direction away from the prism.

5. The prism sheet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of grooves, and a plurality of refractive members are respectively provided in the grooves, the plurality of grooves are arranged parallel to one another and at least one of the refractive members provided in the grooves has a refractive index different from those of other refractive members.

6. The prism sheet as claimed in claim 5, wherein the refractive indexes of the refractive members are different from one another and the refractive members are arranged in order of the refractive index.

7. The prism sheet as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of the refractive members have a refractive index gradient in which a refractive index increases in a direction away from the prism.

8. The prism sheet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate and the prism are formed of an identical material.

9. The prism sheet as claimed in claim 8, wherein the substrate and the prism are formed of acryl-based resin.

10. The prism sheet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the refractive member is formed of at least one of a cyclic olefin copolymer, polycarbonate, and polyetherimide.

11. A prism sheet comprising:

a substrate which has a first incident surface, transmits light incident from the first incident surface and has a plurality of grooves disposed inwardly in a surface of the substrate in an inverted triangular shape, and formed of acryl-based resin;

a refractive member provided in each of the grooves, the refractive member including at least one of a cyclic olefin copolymer, polycarbonate, and polyetherimide having a higher refractive index than a refractive index of the substrate; and

a prism arranged to face the refractive member, refract and transmit incident light, and formed of acryl-based resin having a lower refractive index than the refractive index of the refractive member,

wherein the prism comprises,

a second incident surface which faces the refractive member; and

a first exit surface and a second exit surface which are arranged to face each other at an angle; and

,

wherein a light incident angle to the first exit surface or the second exit surface is smaller than a critical angle for total reflection regardless of an incident angle to the first incident surface.

12. A backlight unit comprising:

at least one light source emitting light;

a light guide panel guiding a procession of light emitted from the light source and incident on a side surface of the light guide panel, the light guide panel having a light exit surface through which the light exits;

a reflective panel separated a predetermined distance from a surface opposite to the light exit surface of the light guide panel, the reflective panel reflects incident light toward the light exit surface; and

a prism sheet which comprises,

a substrate which has a first incident surface, transmits light incident from the first incident surface and has at least one groove disposed inwardly in a surface of the light guide panel opposed to the first incident surface;

a refractive member provided in the at least one groove and having a higher refractive index than a refractive index of the light guide panel; and

a prism arranged to face the refractive member, refract and transmit incident light, and having a relatively lower refractive index than the refractive index of the refractive member,

wherein the prism comprises,

a second incident surface which faces the refractive member; and

a first exit surface and a second exit surface which are arranged to face each other at an angle; and

,

wherein a light incident angle to the first exit surface or the second exit surface is smaller than a critical angle for total reflection regardless of an incident angle to the first incident surface.

13. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a diffusive member which diffuses and transmits incident light.

14. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the diffusive member is a diffusive sheet arranged on the prism sheet.

15. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the diffusive member is a plurality of beads distributed in the light guide panel.

16. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a second prism sheet arranged between the light guide panel and the reflective panel and having a plurality of prisms which refracts and transmits incident light.

17. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one groove has a triangular section and the refractive member is formed in the at least one groove and has a shape symmetrical to a shape of the prism.

18. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the refractive member has a refractive index gradient in which a refractive index increases in a direction away from the prism.

19. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the refractive member comprises a plurality of refractive members having different refractive indexes and which are arranged such that the refractive index increases from a portion close to the light source to a portion located far from the light source.

20. A backlight unit comprising:

at least one light source emitting light;

a light guide panel which guides a procession of light emitted from the light source and incident on a side surface of the light guide panel, the light guide panel having a light exit surface through which the light exits;

a reflective panel separated a predetermined distance from a surface opposite to the light exit surface of the light guide panel, the reflective panel reflects incident light toward the light exit surface; and

a prism sheet disposed between the light guide panel and the reflective panel, which comprises,

a substrate which has a first incident surface, transmits light incident from the first incident surface and has at least one groove inwardly formed in a surface of the substrate opposed to the first incident surface;

a refractive member provided in the groove and having a higher refractive index than a refractive index of the substrate; and

a prism arranged to face the refractive member, refract and transmit incident light, and having a lower refractive index than the refractive index of the refractive member,

wherein the prism comprises,

a second incident surface which faces the refractive member; and

a first exit surface and a second exit surface which are arranged to face each other at an angle; and

,

wherein a light incident angle to the first exit surface or the second exit surface is smaller than a critical angle for total reflection regardless of an incident angle to the first incident surface.

21. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 20, wherein the refractive member of the prism sheet comprises a plurality of refractive members having different refractive indexes and which are arranged such that the refractive index increases from a portion close to the light source to a portion located far from the light source.

22. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a diffusive member which diffuses and transmits incident light.

23. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein the diffusive member is a diffusive sheet arranged on the light exit surface of the light guide panel.

24. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein the diffusive member is a plurality of beads distributed in the light guide panel.

25. The backlight unit as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a second prism sheet arranged on the light guide panel and having a plurality of prisms which refract and transmit incident light.

26. A backlight unit comprising:

at least one light source emitting light;

a light guide panel which guides a procession of light emitted from the light source and incident on a side surface of the light guide panel, the light guide panel having a light exit surface through which the light exits;

a reflective panel separated a predetermined distance from a surface opposite to the light exit surface of the light guide panel, the reflective panel reflects incident light toward the light exit surface;

a prism sheet which comprises,

a substrate which has a first incident surface, transmits light incident from the first incident surface and has a plurality of grooves disposed inwardly in a surface of the light guide panel opposed to the first incident surface;

a plurality of refractive members respectively provided in the grooves, having a higher refractive index than a refractive index of the light guide panel, and arranged such that the refractive index increases from a portion close to the light source to a portion located far from the light source; and

a plurality of prisms arranged to face the refractive members, refract and transmit incident light, and has a relatively lower refractive index than the refractive index of the refractive member, the plurality of prisms comprising,

a second incident surface which faces the plurality of refractive members;

incident surfaces which face the refractive members; and

first exit surfaces and second exit surfaces which are arranged to face each other at an angle; and

a light incident angle to the first exit surfaces or the second exit surfaces is smaller than a critical angle for total reflection regardless of an incident angle to the first incident surface;

a diffusive member formed of a plurality of beads distributed in the light guide panel which diffuses and transmits incident light; and

a second prism sheet arranged between the light guide panel and the reflective panel and comprising a plurality of prisms which refracts and transmits incident light in a direction.