Luminance measuring apparatus

• US 7,924,417 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2010
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lin, I-Thun
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Sang
• Application Number:
  US12/783,563
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 356213-234, 356 72- 73, 362/225, 362/555, 362/609, 362/612, 362/613, 362/632, 362/634, 435/87, 435/173, 435/102, 348/281.1
• US Class Current: 356/221
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4247 for testing lamps or other light sources

Abstract

An exemplary measuring apparatus includes a base, a table, a light blocking piece, a sensor, a luminance meter, a drive assembly, and a controller. The table defines a first elongated slot. A light guide plate is arranged on the table with a central portion of a bottom surface thereof exposed to the first elongated slot. The light blocking piece is attached to the central portion of the bottom surface and exposed to the first elongated slot. The sensor is configured for sensing light and generating a sensing signal. The luminance meter is configured for measuring luminance of the back-light source module. The drive assembly is configured for moving the table to align the light blocking piece with the sensor. The controller is configured for switching off the drive assembly when the light is blocked by the light blocking piece from reaching the sensor.

Claims

1. A measuring apparatus for measuring luminance of a back-light source module, the back-light source module comprising a light guide plate and a light source coupled to the light guide plate, the light guide plate comprising a light output surface and a bottom surface opposite to the light output surface, the measuring apparatus comprising:

a base;

a table slidably mounted on the base, the table defining a first elongated slot, the first elongated slot configured for exposing a central portion of the bottom surface of the light guide plate arranged on the table, and allowing light from the light guide plate to pass therethrough;

a light blocking piece for attachment to the central portion of the bottom surface of the light guide plate and being exposed to the first elongated slot;

a sensor arranged on the base for sensing light passing through the first elongated slot and generating a sensing signal associated therewith;

a luminance meter configured for facing the light output surface of the light guide plate and measuring luminance of the back-light source module when the luminance meter aligns with the central portion of the bottom surface;

a drive assembly for moving the table to align the light blocking piece with the sensor; and

a controller configured for switching off the drive assembly when the light is blocked by the light blocking piece from reaching the sensor.

2. The measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one elongated rail substantially parallel with the first elongated slot, the table defines a groove receiving the at least one elongated rail.

3. The measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly comprises:

a gear rack attached to the table;

a motor having a shaft; and

a gear mechanically coupled to the shaft and meshed with the gear rack.

4. The measuring apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured for sending a control signal to the motor to switch off the motor when the light is blocked by the light blocking piece from reaching the sensor.

5. The measuring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a clamping member for clamping the light guide plate on the table.

6. The measuring apparatus of claim 5, wherein the table comprises a block, the clamping member comprises:

a clamping plate slidably attached to the table, the clamping plate and the block configured for clamping the light guide plate therebetween; and

at least one screw threadedly coupled to the table and abutting the clamping plate.

7. The measuring apparatus of claim 6, wherein the clamping plate comprises at least one extending portion, the table defines at least one second elongated slot receiving the at least one extending portion.

8. The measuring apparatus of claim 1, further comprises a power supply electrically connected to the light source, the base having a receiving recess receiving the power supply.

9. The measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one of an image sensor and a photo detector.

10. A measuring apparatus for measuring luminance of a back-light source module, the back-light source module comprising a light guide plate and a light source optically coupled to the light guide plate, the light guide plate comprising a light output surface and a bottom surface opposite to the light output surface, the measuring apparatus comprising:

a base;

a table slidably attached to the base, the table defining a first elongated slot for exposing a central portion of the bottom surface of the light guide plate arranged on the table and allowing light from the light guide plate to pass therethrough;

a light blocking piece for attachment to the central portion of the bottom surface of the light guide plate and being exposed to the first elongated slot;

a sensor arranged on the base for sensing light passing through the first elongated slot and generating a sensing signal associated therewith;

a luminance meter configured for facing the light output surface of the light guide plate and measuring luminance of the back-light source module when the luminance meter aligns with the central portion of the bottom surface;

a drive assembly for moving the table to align the light blocking piece with the sensor, the drive assembly comprising;

a gear rack attached to the table,

a motor having a shaft, and

a gear mechanically coupled to the shaft and meshed with the gear rack; and

a controller configured for switching off the drive assembly according to the sensing signal from the sensor.

11. The measuring apparatus of claim 10, wherein the base comprises at least one elongated rail substantially parallel with the first elongated slot, the table defines a groove receiving the at least one elongated rail.

12. The measuring apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller sends a control signal to the motor for switching off the motor when no sensing signal is sent by the sensor.

13. The measuring apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a clamping member for clamping the light guide plate on the table.

14. The measuring apparatus of claim 13, wherein the table comprises a block, the clamping member comprises:

a clamping plate slidably attached to the table, the clamping plate and the block configured for clamping the light guide plate therebetween;

at least one screw threadedly coupled to the table and abutting the clamping plate.

15. The measuring apparatus of claim 14, wherein the clamping plate comprises at least one extending portion, the table defines at least one second elongated slot receiving the at least one extending portion.

16. The measuring apparatus of claim 10, further comprises a power supply electrically connected to the light source, the base having a receiving recess receiving the power supply.

17. The measuring apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises one of an image sensor and a photo detector.