Light guide plate microstructure

• US 8,075,174 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Tsai, Shau-Yu, Liao, Super
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US12/418,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20100135042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 362/620, 362/626, 362/619, 362/625, 362/330, 362/339, 362/628, 362/606, 362/607, 362/223, 362/224, 362 971- 974, 385/146
• US Class Current: 362/620
• 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 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources

Abstract

A light guide plate microstructure is provided. The light guide plate microstructure is located on at least one surface of the light guide plate and has a plurality of groove units. Each groove unit has multiple V-shaped grooves, and each V-shaped groove has an apex angle within a range of about 80°-160°. Furthermore, at least two of the V-shaped grooves of a groove unit have different apex angles.

Claims

1. A light guide plate microstructure, located on at least one surface of a light guide plate, comprising:

a plurality of groove units located continuously or discontinuously on at least one surface of the light guide plate, wherein each of the groove units comprises a plurality of V-shaped grooves, and wherein each of the V-shaped grooves has an apex angle within a range of about 80°

-160°

, wherein at least two of the V-shaped grooves of a groove unit have different apex angles, wherein a distance between a start point of one groove unit and a start point of the next groove unit is at most about 400 μ

m.

2. The light guide plate microstructure of claim 1, wherein each of the V-shaped grooves has a base width of about 5 μ

m to 400 μ

m.

3. The light guide plate microstructure of claim 1, wherein the light guide plate comprises a top surface, a bottom surface opposite to the top surface and a light incident lateral surface between the top surface and the bottom surface, and wherein said at least one surface is the top surface.

4. The light guide plate microstructure of claim 3, wherein said at least one surface further comprises the bottom surface.

5. The light guide plate microstructure of claim 3, wherein said at least one surface further comprises the light incident surface.

6. A light guide plate, comprising:

a top surface having a light guide plate microstructure disposed thereon, wherein the light guide plate microstructure comprises a plurality of groove units located continuously or discontinuously on at least one surface of the light guide plate, wherein each of the groove units comprises a plurality of V-shaped grooves, wherein each of the V-shaped grooves has an apex angle within a range of about 80°

-160°

, wherein at least two of the V-shaped grooves of a groove unit have different apex angles, wherein a distance between a start point of one groove unit and a start point of the next groove unit is at most about 400 μ

m;

a bottom surface opposite to the top surface; and

a light incident lateral surface between the top surface and the bottom surface.

7. The light guide plate of claim 6, wherein each of the V-shaped grooves has a base width of about 5 μ

m to 400 μ

m.

8. The light guide plate of claim 6, wherein the bottom surface is sand blasted or provided with the light guide plate microstructure.

9. The light guide plate of claim 6, wherein the light incident lateral surface is a smooth surface, a rough surface or is provided with the light guide plate microstructure.

10. A backlight module, comprising:

a light guide plate having a light guide plate microstructure disposed on at least one surface thereof, wherein the light guide plate microstructure comprises a plurality of groove units located continuously or discontinuously on at least one surface of the light guide plate, wherein each of the groove units comprises a plurality of V-shaped grooves, wherein each of the V-shaped grooves has an apex angle within a range of about 80°

to 160°

, wherein at least two of the V-shaped grooves of a groove unit have different apex angles, wherein a distance between a start point of one groove unit and a start point of the next groove unit is at most about 400 μ

m; and

a plurality of LED light sources located on a light incident lateral surface of the light guide plate.

11. The backlight module of claim 10, wherein the LED light sources are spaced at a pitch of about 5 mm to 8 mm.

12. The backlight module of claim 10, wherein each V-shaped grooves has a base width of about 5 μ

m to 400 μ

m.

13. The backlight module of claim 10, wherein a bottom surface of the light guide plate is sand blasted or provided with the light guide plate microstructure.

14. The backlight module of claim 10, wherein a light incident lateral surface of the light guide plate is a smooth surface, a rough surface or is provided with the light guide plate microstructure.