Integrator array for HUD backlighting

• US 7,932,960 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Fong, Ching
• Primary Examiner(s): QI, ZHI QIANG
• Application Number:
  US12/059,371
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 349/11, 349/61, 349/62
• US Class Current: 349/11
• 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: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133608 including particular frames or supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133612 Electrical details

Abstract

An system for providing uniform and focused backlighting to a liquid crystal display (LCD) can be provided. The system can include at least one light source that emits light rays. The system can include at least one column having a first end positioned adjacent to the at least one light source, a second end adapted to be positioned adjacent to the LCD and a plurality of walls. The system can include an optical receptor coupled to the first end of the at least one column, which can include an angled side wall that can be coupled to the walls of the at least one column. The light rays from the at least one light source can be totally internally reflected by the angled side wall and walls to create at least one virtual light source to backlight the LCD.

Claims

1. An integrator array providing uniform and focused backlighting to a liquid crystal display, the integrator array comprising:

at least one light source that emits a plurality of light rays;

at least one tapered column corresponding to each light source, each column having a first, narrowed end positioned adjacent to the light source, a second, widened end positioned adjacent to the liquid crystal display, and a plurality of walls extending between the first and second ends; and

an optical receptor secured between the light source and the first end of the at least one column having an angled side wall coupled to the plurality of walls of the at least one column, wherein the plurality of light rays from the at least one light source are reflected by the optical receptor to create at least one virtual light source to backlight the liquid crystal display.

2. The integrator array of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is positioned on a printed circuit board adjacent to the first end of the integrator array.

3. The integrator array of claim 2, further comprising:

a housing adapted to support the liquid crystal display, the housing surrounds the at least one column; and

a support structure received within the housing that includes a flange coupled to the second end of the at least one column and at least one support leg coupled to the flange wherein the printed circuit board is operable to receive a portion of the at least one support leg to couple the support structure to the printed circuit board.

4. The integrator array of claim 1, wherein the at least one column is a transparent material having a refractive index greater than 1.0.

5. The integrator array of claim 1, further comprising a center optical axis that extends longitudinally along the at least one column.

6. The integrator array of claim 5, wherein the optical receptor further comprises an inner lens that is centrally-positioned about the center optical axis.

7. The integrator array of claim 6, wherein the inner lens of the optical receptor is a convex lens operable to bend and collimate the plurality of light rays that enter the convex lens.

8. The integrator array of claim 6, wherein the plurality of light rays that enter the first end of each of the columns are reflected and collimated to remain within the at least one column and substantially parallel to the center optical axis.

9. An integrator array for providing uniform and focused backlighting to a liquid crystal display comprising:

a plurality of light sources that emit a plurality of light rays;

a plurality of columns corresponding in number to the plurality of light sources, each column having a first end, a second end, and four walls extending between the first and second ends, each wall diverging outwardly from the first end such that the columns are spaced apart at the first end and are coupled together at the second end; and

an optical receptor positioned between each light source and the first end of each column, each optical receptor having an outer angled side wall that merges into the four walls and a centrally-positioned inner lens, whereby light rays from each light source entering each column at the first end are reflected by at least one of the angled side wall, inner lens and four walls to remain within a space defined by the column.

10. The integrator array of claim 9, further comprising:

a printed circuit board that includes the plurality of light sources, with one of each of the plurality of light sources positioned adjacent to each first end of the plurality of columns;

a support structure including a flange coupled to the second end of each of the plurality of columns and at least one support leg operable to be coupled to the printed circuit board; and

a liquid crystal display positioned on a common plane formed by the flange.

11. The integrator array of claim 10, wherein the plurality of light rays create at least one virtual light source to backlight the liquid crystal display.

12. The integrator array of claim 9, wherein the inner lens of the optical receptor is centrally-positioned about a center optical axis.

13. The integrator array of claim 12, wherein the light rays are reflected such that the light rays remain between about 0.0 to about 3.5 degrees of the center optical axis.

14. The integrator array of claim 9, wherein the inner lens of the optical receptor is a convex lens.

15. An integrator array for providing uniform and focused backlighting to a liquid crystal display comprising:

a plurality of light sources that emit a plurality of light rays;

a plurality of columns arranged in parallel rows, each column having a first end, a second end, and four walls extending between the first and second ends that diverge outwardly from the first end such that the columns are spaced apart at the first end and adjacent to each other at the second end;

an optical receptor positioned between the first end of each column and one of the plurality of light sources, each optical receptor having an angled side wall coupled to the four walls and a centrally-positioned inner lens coupled to the angled side wall;

a liquid crystal display that displays a message, the liquid crystal display positioned adjacent to the second ends of the plurality of columns; and

wherein the plurality of light rays from the plurality of light sources are totally internally reflected by the angled side wall and four walls to create a plurality of virtual light sources, and wherein the angled side wall, four walls, and inner lens cooperate to provide spatially uniform and angularly focused backlighting of the liquid crystal display.

16. The integrator array of claim 15, wherein the four walls diverge about a center optical axis that extends longitudinally along each of the plurality of columns.

17. The integrator array of claim 16, wherein the plurality of light rays entering each column at the first end are reflected within the column so as to be substantially parallel to the center optical axis.

18. The integrator array of claim 16, wherein the inner lens of the optical receptor is centrally-positioned about the center optical axis.

19. The integrator array of claim 15, further comprising:

a support structure that includes a flange and at least one support leg, the flange coupled to the second ends of the plurality of columns to receive the liquid crystal display and the at least one support leg adapted to couple the integrator array to a printed circuit board.

20. The integrator array of claim 15, wherein the inner lens of the optical receptor comprises a convex lens.