Diffuser for light from light source array and displays incorporating same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A display, comprising:
- an LCD panel;
a plurality of point light sources interspersed and spaced apart in conjunction with a reflector in between the point light sources, the point light sources and reflector configured to illuminate the LCD panel;
driving circuits configured to individually modulate the point light sources;
wherein;
the driving circuits configured to receive image data and drive the point light sources to modulate a comparatively low-resolution version of an image to be displayed;
the plurality of point light sources are configured such that light from the point light sources mix together to form the low-resolution version of the image as a smoothly varying low resolution version of the image on the LCD panel;
the LCD panel is configured to modulate the smoothly varying low resolution version of the image to provide a comparatively high resolution image for perception by an observer;
the display further comprising a planar optical structure between the plurality of point light sources and the LCD panel, the planar structure comprising a light diffuser configured to diffuse light which passes into the structure from the point light sources, the light diffuser comprising a plurality of layers of a thin weakly light-scattering sheet material and has an anisotropic scattering coefficient such that light rays from the point light sources which are directed into the planar optical structure normal to a surface of the planar optical structure and light rays traveling in the planar optical structure that are substantially parallel thereto are scattered more intensely than light rays traveling in other directions in the planar optical structure.
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Abstract
An optical structure placeable between a backlight array of point light sources and a planar display. The structure distributes light emitted by the point light sources to uniformly illuminate the plane of the display, without introducing significant viewing parallax. The emitted light is partially collimated within a preferred angular viewing range, maximizing the display'"'"'s luminance when viewed from the normal direction. The structure is highly reflective, such that a substantial portion of any non-emitted light rays are internally reflected by the structure, increasing the likelihood that those rays will be subsequently emitted by the structure.
19 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A display, comprising:
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an LCD panel; a plurality of point light sources interspersed and spaced apart in conjunction with a reflector in between the point light sources, the point light sources and reflector configured to illuminate the LCD panel; driving circuits configured to individually modulate the point light sources; wherein; the driving circuits configured to receive image data and drive the point light sources to modulate a comparatively low-resolution version of an image to be displayed; the plurality of point light sources are configured such that light from the point light sources mix together to form the low-resolution version of the image as a smoothly varying low resolution version of the image on the LCD panel; the LCD panel is configured to modulate the smoothly varying low resolution version of the image to provide a comparatively high resolution image for perception by an observer; the display further comprising a planar optical structure between the plurality of point light sources and the LCD panel, the planar structure comprising a light diffuser configured to diffuse light which passes into the structure from the point light sources, the light diffuser comprising a plurality of layers of a thin weakly light-scattering sheet material and has an anisotropic scattering coefficient such that light rays from the point light sources which are directed into the planar optical structure normal to a surface of the planar optical structure and light rays traveling in the planar optical structure that are substantially parallel thereto are scattered more intensely than light rays traveling in other directions in the planar optical structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A planar optical structure in a locally dimmed dual modulation display comprising a locally dimmed backlight configured to produce a low resolution version of a desired image and an LCD panel configured to further modulate the low resolution version of the desired image to produce an output image approximating the desired image, the optical structure configured to distribute light emitted by light sources of a plurality of point light sources in an array of light sources, the structure comprising:
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an array of light sources interspersed and spaced apart in conjunction with a planar reflector in between the light sources; the planar reflector and light sources configured to pass light from the point light sources into the structure; wherein the structure comprises a light diffuser configured to diffuse light which passes into the structure from the point light sources, the light diffuser comprising a plurality of layers of a thin weakly light-scattering sheet material and has an anisotropic scattering coefficient such that light rays from the point light sources which are directed into the planar optical structure normal to a surface of the planar optical structure and light rays traveling in the planar optical substantially parallel thereto are scattered more intensely than light rays which are traveling in other directions in the planar optical structure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A locally dimmed dual modulation display comprising a locally dimmed backlight configured to produce a low resolution version of an image and an LCD panel configured to further modulate the low resolution version of the desired image to produce an output image approximating the desired image, the locally dimmed backlight comprising an array of light sources, comprising:
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a planar optical structure; an array of point light sources interspersed and spaced apart in conjunction with a reflector in between the light sources; the reflector and light sources configured to pass light from the point light sources into the structure; wherein the structure comprises a light diffuser configured to diffuse light which passes into the structure from the point light sources, the light diffuser comprising a plurality of layers of a thin weakly light-scattering sheet material and has an anisotropic scattering coefficient such that light rays from the point light sources which are directed into the planar optical structure normal to a surface of the planar optical structure and light rays traveling in the planar optical structure that are substantially parallel thereto are scattered more intensely than light rays which are traveling in other directions in the planar optical structure. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification