Backlight having all-in-one type light guide plate and method of manufacturing all-in-one type light guide plate

• US 7,720,347 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Hong-seok, Yoon, Eung-yeoul
• Primary Examiner(s): LEPISTO, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US11/657,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20070230213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 385/31, 385/36, 385/39, 385/146, 385/147, 385/901, 362/317, 362/327, 362/330, 362/600, 362/606, 362/607, 362/615, 362/616, 362/617, 362/619, 362/620, 359/599, 349/56, 349/61, 349/62, 349/64, 349/65
• US Class Current: 385/146
• 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 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

Provided is an all-in-one type light guide plate including a plurality of prism-shaped structures that are integrally formed on the all-in-one light guide plate and which totally internally reflect light incident from a light source and emit the totally internally reflected light.

Claims

1. A light guiding device, comprising:

a light guide plate which internally reflects light incident thereon;

a plurality of prism-shaped structures integrally formed on the light guide plate, the prism-shaped structures further internally reflecting light reflected by the light guide plate and emitting the further-reflected light; and

a plurality of diffusers formed on an exit surface of each of the prism-shaped structures.

2. The light-guiding device of claim 1, wherein the further-reflected light is emitted from each of the exit surfaces of the prism-shaped structures, and each of the prism-shaped structures further comprises an entry region through which the light reflected by the light guide plate passes, and wherein a width of the entry region is smaller than a width of the exit surface.

3. The light-guiding device of claim 1, wherein the light guide plate and the prism-shaped structures are made of an elastic material.

4. The light guiding device of claim 3, wherein the elastic material is polydimethylsiloxane.

5. The light-guiding device of claim 1, wherein the light guide plate and the prism-shaped structures are made of a hardening material.

6. The light-guiding device of claim 1, wherein each of the prism-shaped structures has an at least partially oval cross-section.

7. The light-guiding device of claim 1, wherein each of the prism-shaped structures has a trapezoidal cross-section.

8. The light-guiding device of claim 1, wherein the light guide plate, the plurality of prism-shaped structures, and the plurality of diffusers are composed of the same material and together comprise a single, integral unit.

9. A light guiding device, comprising:

a light guide plate which internally reflects light incident thereon;

a plurality of prism-shaped structures integrally formed on the light guide plate, the prism-shaped structures further internally reflecting light reflected by the light guide plate and emitting the further-reflected light; and

a plurality of diffusers formed on exit surfaces of the prism-shaped structures,

wherein each of the prism-shaped structures comprises an exit surface, from which the further-reflected light is emitted, and an entry region through which the light reflected by the light guide plate passes, and wherein a width of the entry region is smaller than a width of the exit surface, and

wherein the plurality of diffusers are integrally formed on the exit surface of each of the prism-shaped structures.

10. A light guiding device, comprising:

a single, integral unit comprise of a single material, comprising;

a light guide plate portion which internally reflects light incident thereon;

a plurality of prism-shaped structure portions protruding from a surface of the light guide plate portion, the prism-shaped structure portions receiving light reflected by the light guide plate portion and further internally reflecting the light;

a plurality of diffuser portions protruding from each of the plurality of prism-shaped structure portions.