Edge-lit optical display with fluted optical plate

• US 7,766,531 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Anderson, Susan E., Gehlsen, Mark D., Richard, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): May; Robert J
• Application Number:
  US11/277,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20070236960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 362615-629, 362/561, 362/551, 349 61- 62, 349 64- 65, 385/125, 385/901
• US Class Current: 362/615
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type

Abstract

A display system includes a display panel and a backlight disposed behind the display panel. The backlight has a light guide and at least one light source that directs light into an edge of the light guide. The light guide comprises a front layer facing the display panel, a back layer facing away from the display panel, and a plurality of connecting members connecting the front and back layers. The spaces formed between the connecting members and the upper and the first and second layers are referred to as flutes. Light from the light source may propagate along the flutes.

Claims

1. A display system, comprising:

a display panel; and

a backlight disposed behind the display panel, the backlight comprising a light guide and at least one light source, the light guide comprising a front layer facing the display panel, a back layer facing away from the display panel, an incident edge connecting the front and back layers of the light guide and plurality of connecting members attached to the front and back layers where the upper and lower layers together with the connecting members define a plurality of hollow channels, the hollow channels forming openings arranged along the incident edge of the light guide, and the at least one light source is disposed along the incident edge of the light guide and is perpendicular to the openings directing light into the openings.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the front and back layers of the light guide comprises a diffuser layer.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one light management layer attached to the light guide.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one light management layer comprises at least one of a reflecting polarizer layer and a prismatic brightness enhancing layer.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the light guide comprises light extraction features for extracting light out of the light guide towards the display panel.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the front and back layers comprises an integral light management layer.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the integral light management layer comprises one of a prismatic brightness enhancing layer and a reflective polarizer layer.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an arrangement of light management layers disposed between the backlight and the display panel, the arrangement of light management layers comprising at least one of a diffuser layer, a reflective polarizer layer, a prismatic brightness enhancement layer and a turning film.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one of a diffuser layer, reflective polarizer layer and a prismatic brightness enhancement layer is mounted to the light guide.

10. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the arrangement of light management layers further comprises a fluted plate, at least one of the light management layers being attached to the fluted plate.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to control an image displayed by the display panel.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the controller comprises one of a computer and a television controller.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one fluorescent lamp or at least one light emitting diode (LED).

15. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second layers are not mutually parallel.

16. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second layers are mutually parallel.

17. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a reflector layer, the light guide being positioned between the reflector layer and the display panel.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the reflector layer is attached to the light guide.

19. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the second layer of the light guide comprises the reflector layer.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the light guide is provided with extractors for extracting light from the hollow channels through an upper surface of the light guide towards the display panel.