Backlight module and reflector thereof

• US 7,513,670 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• 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, Yang, Xing-Peng, Yan, Ying-Bai
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F
• Assistant Examiner(s): APENTENG, JESSICA MCMILLAN
• Application Number:
  US11/454,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 362/608, 362/609, 362/615, 362/621, 362/606, 362/607, 362/610
• US Class Current: 362/609
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer

Abstract

A backlight module (70) includes a light guide plate (72), a light source (74), a micro reflector array (723), and a reflector (76). The light guide plate includes a light input surface (722) facing the light source, a light output surface (724) adjacent to the light input surface, and a reflective surface (726) opposite to the light output surface. The light source and an emitting surface (744) thereof both face the light input surface. The micro reflector array and the reflector are configured for cooperatively coupling a first portion of the light beams into the light input surface via any corresponding microgap and reflecting a second portion of the light beams into the light guide plate at a location distant from the light source.

Claims

1. A backlight module comprising:

a light guide plate having a light input surface, a light output surface adjacent and perpendicular to the light input surface, and a plate reflective surface opposite to the light output surface;

a reflecting device having a device reflective surface, the device reflective surface facing the light input surface of the light guide plate;

a light source facing the light input surface of the light guide plate and configured for emitting light beams toward the light input surface of the light guide plate; and

a micro reflector array comprising a plurality of micro reflectors formed on the light input surface of the light guide plate, the micro reflector array and the reflecting device being structured and arranged for cooperatively coupling a first portion of the light beams into the light input surface via any corresponding microgap and reflecting a second portion of the light beams into the light guide plate at a location distant from the light source.

2. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflecting device comprises a first concave reflective surface and two second curved reflective surfaces extending from two respective sides of the first reflective surface.

3. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light input surface comprises a protrusion structure adjacent and facing the light source.

4. The backlight module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protrusion stricture includes two oppositely-curved concave surfaces.

5. The backlight module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protrusion structure includes two oppositely-slanted surfaces.

6. The backlight module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the micro reflector array is located on the protrusion.

7. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein an emitting surface of the light source faces away from the reflector and toward the light input surface.

8. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflecting device forms a first concave reflective surface and two second slanted plane reflective surfaces respectively extending from two sides of the first reflective surface.

9. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflecting device comprises a plurality of microstructures formed on the device reflective surface thereof.

10. The backlight module as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one microstructure is shaped into one of a V-shaped concavity, a V-shaped convexity, and a microdot shape.

11. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light guide plate is flat shape or wedge shape.

12. A backlight module comprising:

a light guide plate having a light input surface;

a plurality of micro reflector arrays each comprising a plurality of micro reflectors formed on the light input surface of the light guide plate, at least a part of adjacent pairs of the micro reflectors being spaced from each other by a corresponding microgap;

a plurality of reflecting devices each having a device reflective surface facing the light input surface of the light guide plate; and

a plurality of light sources facing the light input surface of the light guide plate and configured for emitting light beams toward the light input surface of the light guide plate, the light sources each being arranged between the respective reflecting device and the respective micro reflector array;

wherein, the reflecting devices and the corresponding micro reflector arrays are structured and arranged for cooperatively coupling a first portion of the light beams into the light input surface via any corresponding microgap and reflecting a second portion of the light beams into the light guide plate through the light input surface thereof other than the microgaps.

13. The backlight module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the light guide plate comprises a plurality of protrusion structures formed on the light input surface thereof, the protrusion structures being arranged spatially corresponding to the respective light sources.

14. The backlight module as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the protrusion structures includes two oppositely-curved concave surfaces.

15. The backlight module as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the protrusion structures includes two oppositely-slanted surfaces.

16. The backlight module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the micro reflector arrays are formed on the respective protrusion structures of the light guide plate.

17. The backlight module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the each reflecting device comprises a first concave reflective surface and two second curved reflective surfaces extending from two respective sides of the first reflective surface.

18. The backlight module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the each reflecting device forms a first concave reflective surface and two second slanted plane reflective surfaces respectively extending from two sides of the first reflective surface.

19. The backlight module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the each reflecting device comprises a plurality of microstructures formed on the device reflective surface thereof.

20. The backlight module as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least one microstructure is shaped into one of a V-shaped concavity, a V-shaped convexity, and a microdot shape.