Backlight module and illumination device thereof

• US 7,470,046 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2005
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AUO Corp.
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Liao, Jing-Huan, Kao, Ko-Chia, Huang, Jyh-Haur, Cheng, Chih-Kuang
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton; Anabel M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shallenberger; Julie A
• Application Number:
  US11/175,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20060274547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 362/328, 362/329, 362/332, 362/97, 362/223, 359626-628, 313/512, 313/498, 257/98, 257/100, 257/90
• US Class Current: 362/332
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs

Abstract

A backlight module and an illumination device thereof. The illumination device of the backlight module comprises a light source and a lens, disposed over the light source with a predetermined gap therebetween. The lens comprises a bottom surface as an incident surface, a pair of upper refracting surfaces, and a pair of lateral refracting surfaces. The upper refracting surfaces form an included angle substantially in a range of about 80° to about 120°.

Claims

1. An illumination device, comprising:

a light source; and

a lens, disposed over the light source with a predetermined gap therebetween, comprising a bottom surface as an incident surface, a pair of upper refracting surfaces, and a pair of lateral refracting surfaces,

wherein the pair of upper refracting surfaces form an included angle substantially in a range of about 80°

to about 120°

, the incident surface is a substantially horizontal surface, each of the lateral surfaces is a substantially flat surface, and the incident surface and the lateral refracting surfaces form two obtuse angles are substantially in a range of about 100°

to about 115°

.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the upper refracting surfaces and the incident surface form two acute angles.

3. The illumination device of claim 2, wherein the two acute angles are substantially in a range of about 30°

to about 50°

.

4. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the lateral cross section of the lens is substantially V-shaped.

5. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the refracting index of the lens is substantially in a range of about 1.49 to about 1.51.

6. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined gap is substantially less than about 10 mm.

7. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined gap is substantially in a range of about 0 mm to about 2 mm.

8. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises polymer materials, quartz, or glass.

9. The illumination device of claim 8, wherein the polymer materials comprise polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), or polycarbonate (PC).

10. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a Lamberatian-type LED or a cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

11. A backlight module, comprising:

a frame;

a reflective plate disposed in the frame; and

at least one light source disposed over the reflective plate; and

a lens, disposed over the light source with a predetermined gap therebetween, comprising a bottom surface as an incident surface, a pair of upper refracting surfaces, and a pair of lateral refracting surfaces,

wherein the pair of upper refracting surfaces form an included angle substantially in a range of about 80°

to about 120°

, the incident surface is a substantially horizontal surface, and the incident surface and the lateral refracting surfaces form two obtuse angles are substantially in a range of about 100°

to about 115°

.

12. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the light source is linearly arranged.

13. The backlight module of claim 11, further comprising a supporting member, disposed between the reflective plate and the lens, for supporting the lens.

14. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the frame further comprises at least one positioning member disposed on a sidewall of the frame and fixing the lens in the frame.

15. The backlight module of claim 14, wherein the positioning member is adapted to accommodate the lens.

16. The backlight module of claim 14, wherein the positioning member comprises a screw.

17. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the upper refracting surfaces and the incident surface form two acute angles.

18. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the two acute angles are substantially in a range of about 30°

to about 50°

.

19. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the lateral cross section of the lens is substantially V-shaped.

20. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the refracting index of the lens is substantially in a range of about 1.49 to about 1.51.

21. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the predetermined gap is substantially less than about 10 mm.

22. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the predetermined gap is substantially in a range of about 0 mm to about 2 mm.

23. The backlight module of claim 11, further comprising at least one optical film disposed over the lens.

24. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the lens comprises polymer materials, quartz, or glass.

25. The backlight module of claim 23, wherein the polymer materials comprise polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), or polycarbonate (PC).

26. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein the light source comprises a Lamberation-type LED or a cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

27. An illumination device, comprising:

a light source; and

a lens, disposed over the light source with a predetermined gap therebetween, comprising a bottom surface as an incident surface, a pair of upper refracting surfaces, and a pair of lateral refracting surfaces as a light exit surface,

wherein the pair of upper refracting surfaces form an included angle substantially in a range of about 80°

to about 120°

, each of the lateral surfaces is a substantially flat surface, and the incident surface and the lateral refracting surfaces form two obtuse angles are substantially in a range of about 100°

to about 115°

.

28. The illumination device of claim 27, wherein the upper refracting surfaces and the incident surface form two acute angles.

29. The illumination device of claim 28, wherein the two acute angles are substantially in a range of about 30°

to about 50°

.

30. The illumination device of claim 27, wherein the lateral cross section of the lens is substantially V-shaped.

31. The illumination device of claim 27, wherein the refracting index of the lens is substantially in a range of about 1.49 to about 1.51.

32. The illumination device of claim 27, wherein the predetermined gap is substantially less than about 10 mm.

33. The illumination device of claim 27, wherein the predetermined gap is substantially in a range of about 0 mm to about 2 mm.

34. The illumination device of claim 27, wherein the lens comprises polymer materials, quartz, or glass.

35. The illumination device of claim 34, wherein the polymer materials comprise polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), or polycarbonate (PC).

36. The illumination device of claim 27, wherein the light source comprises a Lamberatian-type LED or a cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

37. A backlight module, comprising:

a frame;

a reflective plate disposed in the frame; and

at least one light source disposed over the reflective plate; and

a lens, disposed over the light source with a predetermined gap therebetween, comprising a bottom surface as an incident surface, a pair of upper refracting surfaces, and a pair of lateral refracting surfaces as a light exit surface,

wherein the pair of upper refracting surfaces form an included angle substantially in a range of about 80°

to about 120° and

the incident surface and the lateral refracting surfaces form two obtuse angles are substantially in a range of about 100°

to about 115°

.

38. The backlight module of claim 37, wherein the light source is linearly arranged.

39. The backlight module of claim 37, further comprising a supporting member, disposed between the reflective plate and the lens, for supporting the lens.

40. The backlight module of claim 37, wherein the frame further comprises at least one positioning member disposed on a sidewall of the frame and fixing the lens in the frame.

41. The backlight module of claim 40, wherein the positioning member is adapted to accommodate the lens.

42. The backlight module of claim 40, wherein the positioning member comprises a screw.

43. The backlight module of claim 37, wherein the upper refracting surfaces and the incident surface form two acute angles.

44. The backlight module of claim 37, wherein the two acute angles are substantially in a range of about 30°

to about 50°

.

45. The backlight module of claim 37, wherein the lateral cross section of the lens is substantially V-shaped.

46. The backlight module of claim 37, wherein the refracting index of the lens is substantially in a range of about 1.49 to about 1.51.

47. The backlight module of claim 37, wherein the predetermined gap is substantially less than about 10 mm.

48. The backlight module of claim 37, wherein the predetermined gap is substantially in a range of about 0 mm to about 2 mm.

49. The backlight module of claim 37, further comprising at least one optical film disposed over the lens.

50. The backlight module of claim 37, wherein the lens comprises polymer materials, quartz, or glass.

51. The backlight module of claim 50, wherein the polymer materials comprise polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), or polycarbonate (PC).

52. The backlight module of claim 37, wherein the light source comprises a Lamberatian-type LED or a cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

53. The backlight module of claim 37, wherein the incident surface is a substantially horizontal surface.