Lens array sheet, light source and liquid crystal display device

• US 8,390,763 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ogasawara, Toyokazu, Maeda, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Stahl, Mike
• Application Number:
  US12/423,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20090257000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 349/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0056 arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0236 the diffusion taking place within the volume of the element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0294 adapted to provide an additional optical effect, e.g. anti-reflection or filter

Abstract

A lens array sheet includes a lens layer having a lens surface on which a plurality of lenses are formed in an array, and a light diffusion layer arranged at an opposite side to the lens surface of the lens layer, for diffusing light directing toward the lens layer, wherein the light diffusion layer has a light reflection portion, which is embedded in at least a part of a non-light focusing region of the lens layer, for reflecting light passing through the non-light focusing region and directing toward the lens layer.

Claims

1. A lens array sheet comprising:

a lens layer having a lens surface on which a plurality of lenses are formed in an array;

a light diffusion layer arranged at an opposite side to the lens surface of the lens layer, for diffusing light directed toward the lens layer; and

a light reflection portion attached to the light diffusion layer,

wherein a periphery portion of the light diffusion layer is not covered with the light reflection portion.

2. The lens array sheet according to claim 1, wherein

the light reflection portion has a shape such that a width of the shape gradually narrows toward the lens layer.

3. The lens array sheet according to claim 1, wherein

the light reflection portion has a shape such that a width of the shape gradually widens toward the lens layer.

4. The lens array sheet according to claim 1, wherein

the light reflection portion is embedded in the light diffusion layer from a back side of a surface opposite to the lens layer, and

a depth, by which the light reflection portion is embedded, is configured such that a reflectance of the light reflection portion is equal to or more than 70%.

5. The lens array sheet according to claim 1, wherein a haze of the light diffusion layer is equal to or less than 20%.

6. The lens array sheet according to claim 1, wherein

the light reflection portion is a scatter and reflection layer for scattering light in order to reflect the light.

7. The lens array sheet according to claim 1, wherein

the lens layer comprises a lenticular lens and the lenticular lens includes a plurality of convex cylindrical lenses arranged in parallel to each other and at a predetermined distance.

8. A light source comprising:

a lens array sheet having a lens surface on which a plurality of lenses are formed in an array; and

a backlight arranged at an opposite side to the lens surface of the lens array sheet, for emitting light on the lens array sheet,

wherein the lens array sheet includes;

a lens layer having the lens surface;

a light diffusion layer arranged at an opposite side to the lens surface of the lens layer, for diffusing light emitted from the backlight and directing the light toward the lens layer; and

a light reflection portion attached to the light diffusion layer,

wherein a periphery portion of the light diffusion layer is not covered with the light reflection portion.

10. The light source according to claim 8, wherein

the light reflection portion has a shape such that a width of the shape gradually narrows toward the lens layer.

11. The light source according to claim 8, wherein

the light reflection portion has a shape such that a width of the shape gradually widens toward the lens layer.

12. The light source according to claim 8, wherein

the light reflection portion is embedded in the light diffusion layer from a back side of a surface opposite to the lens layer, and

a depth, by which the light reflection portion is embedded, is configured such that a reflectance of the light reflection portion is equal to or more than 70%.

13. The light source according to claim 8, wherein a haze of the light diffusion layer is equal to or less than 20%.

14. The light source according to claim 8, wherein

the light reflection portion is a scatter and reflection layer for scattering light in order to reflect the light.

15. The light source according to claim 8, wherein

the lens layer comprises a lenticular lens and the lenticular lens includes a plurality of convex cylindrical lenses arranged in parallel to each other and at a predetermined distance.

9. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal panel;

a backlight emitting light on the liquid crystal panel;

a lens array sheet arranged between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight, and having, at a side of the liquid crystal panel, a lens surface on which a plurality of lenses are formed in an array,

wherein the lens array sheet includes;

a lens layer having the lens surface;

a light diffusion layer arranged at an opposite side to the lens surface of the lens layer, for diffusing light emitted from the backlight and directing the light toward the lens layer; and

a light reflection portion attached to on the light diffusion layer,

wherein a periphery portion of the light diffusion layer is not covered with the light reflection portion.

16. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 9, wherein

the light reflection portion has a shape such that a width of the shape gradually narrows toward the lens layer.

17. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 9, wherein

the light reflection portion has a shape such that a width of the shape gradually widens toward the lens layer.

18. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 9, wherein

the light reflection portion is embedded in the light diffusion layer from a back side of a surface opposite to the lens layer, and

a depth, by which the light reflection portion is embedded, is configured such that a reflectance of the light reflection portion is equal to or more than 70%.

19. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 9, wherein a haze of the light diffusion layer is equal to or less than 20%.

20. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 9, wherein

the light reflection portion is a scatter and reflection layer for scattering light in order to reflect the light.

21. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 9, wherein

the lens layer comprises a lenticular lens and the lenticular lens includes a plurality of convex cylindrical lenses arranged in parallel to each other and at a predetermined distance.