Prism member, backlight assembly provided with the same, and display device provided with the same

• US 7,824,066 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hwang, Seong-Yong, Kim, Joong-Hyun, Kang, Seock-Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Y My Quach
• Application Number:
  US11/484,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20070012350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 362/330, 362/331, 362/332, 362/339, 362/606, 362/607, 362/615, 362/617, 362/618, 362/619, 362/620, 362/623, 362/624, 362/625, 362/626, 362/627, 362/223, 362/224, 362/243, 362/244, 362/245, 362/246
• US Class Current: 362/246
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0028 refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0066 in the form of an LED array
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0972 Prisms prisms per se G02B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays

Abstract

A prism member, a backlight assembly having the same, and a display device having the same, wherein the prism member includes a plate-type body portion having a thickness, and a plurality of unit light-concentrating portions formed on the body portion and arranged along a first direction and in a second direction crossing the first direction.

Claims

1. A backlight assembly comprising:

a light source unit for emitting light;

a prism member through which light emitted from the light source unit passes; and

a supporting member for supporting the light source unit and the prism member in overlaying relationship,

wherein the prism member includes

a plate-type body portion having a predetermined thickness, and

a plurality of unit light-concentrating portions formed on at least one surface of the body portion and arranged along a first direction and in a second direction crossing the first direction,

wherein the first direction is a length direction of the plurality of unit light-concentrating portions and the second direction is a width direction of the plurality of unit light-concentrating portions,

wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of unit light-concentrating portions arranged along the first direction are spaced apart with one of a plurality of non-light-concentrating regions formed therebetween, and

wherein the plurality of unit light-concentrating portions on a straight line along the first direction have irregular lengths.

2. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the predetermined thickness of the body portion is between 1 and 5 mm.

3. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-light-concentrating regions are formed to have various sizes.

4. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-light-concentrating regions are formed to have irregular cross sections.

5. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein a cross section along the second direction has one of a rounded and a polygonal shape.

6. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source unit comprises a planar light source unit having a plurality of channel portions for emitting light.

7. A display device comprising:

a panel assembly for displaying an image;

a light source unit for supplying light to the panel assembly;

a prism member disposed between the panel assembly and the light source unit; and

a supporting member for supporting the panel assembly, the light source unit, and the prism member in an overlaying relationship,

wherein the prism member includes

a plate-type body portion having a predetermined thickness, and

a plurality of unit light-concentrating portions formed on at least one surface of the body portion and arranged along a first direction and in a second direction crossing the first direction,

wherein the first direction is a length direction of the plurality of unit light-concentrating portions and the second direction is a width direction of the plurality unit light-concentrating portions,

wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of unit light-concentrating portions arranged along the first direction are spaced apart with one of a plurality of non-light-concentrating regions therebetween, and

wherein the plurality of light-concentrating portions on a straight line along the first direction have irregular lengths.

8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the predetermined thickness of the body portion is between 1 and 5 mm.

9. The display device of claim 7, wherein the non-light-concentrating regions are formed to have various sizes.

10. The display device of claim 7, wherein the non-light-concentrating regions are formed to have irregular cross sections.

11. The display device of claim 7, wherein a cross section along the second direction has one of a rounded and a polygonal shape.

12. The display device of claim 7, wherein the light source unit comprises a planar light source unit having a plurality of channel portions for emitting light.