Optical assembly, backlight unit and display apparatus thereof

• US 8,403,511 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2009
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Bae, Seung Choon, Kim, Sung Woo, Kwon, Soon Hyung, Jung, Bup Sung, Park, Sang Tae, Seo, Bu Wan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S
• Application Number:
  US12/648,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20110051397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 362 28- 30, 362/33, 362/97.1, 362/97.2, 362/97.3, 362/97.4, 362/230, 362/231, 362/236, 362/237, 362240-246, 362/249.01, 362/249.02, 362/326, 362/327, 362/330, 362/540, 362543-546, 362/561, 362/800, 362/812, 345/1.3, 345/33, 345/55, 345/82, 345/102, 349 56- 59, 349 60- 62, 349/64, 349 68- 70, 405/41, 405/42, 405/49, 40564-570
• US Class Current: 362/97.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0041 provided in the bulk of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0078 Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133601 for spatial active dimming
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133605 including specially adapted reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133606 including a specially adapted diffusing, scattering or light controlling members
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133611 including means for improving the brightness uniformity
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133613 characterized by the sequence of light sources

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical assembly, a backlight unit, and a display apparatus thereof. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an optical assembly includes a first layer; a plurality of light sources disposed over the first layer; and a second layer that is disposed above the first layer and cover the plurality of light sources on the first layer, wherein the plurality of light sources are disposed as a first light source array and a second light source array, the first light source array including first lines of light sources among the plurality of light sources, the second light source array including second lines of light sources among the plurality of light sources, the first and second lines being alternatively disposed.

Claims

1. An optical assembly, comprising:

a first layer;

a plurality of light sources disposed over the first layer; and

a second layer that is disposed above the first layer and covers the plurality of light sources,

wherein the plurality of light sources are disposed as at least a first light source array and a second light source array,

wherein the light sources included in the first light source array and the light sources included in the second light source array emit light in different directions from each other,

wherein the first light source array includes a first light source and a third light source disposed adjacent to the first light source, and the second light source array includes a second light source disposed on a vertical line extending between the first light source and the third light source, and

wherein a gap between the first light source and the vertical line is different from a gap between the third light source and the vertical line.

2. The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first light source array includes first lines of light sources among the plurality of light sources, the second light source array includes second lines of light sources among the plurality of light sources, and the first and second lines are alternatively disposed.

3. The optical assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first line of light sources included in the first light source array and the second line of light sources included in the second light source array are disposed adjacent to each other, and

wherein a gap between the first and second lines is different from a gap between two adjacent light sources in the first line.

4. The optical assembly according to claim 3, wherein the gap between the first and second lines is smaller than the gap between two adjacent light sources in the first line.

5. The optical assembly according to claim 3, wherein the gap between the first and second lines is approximately 5 to 22 mm.

6. The optical assembly according to claim 3, wherein the gap between the two adjacent light sources in the first line is approximately 9 to 27 mm.

7. The optical assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second layer encapsulates the plurality of light sources on the first layer.

8. The optical assembly according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second lines includes top-view type light source.

9. The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources emit a light to the side at a predetermined orientation angle, and

wherein the first light source included in the first light source array and the second light source included in the second light source array emit light in opposite directions from each other.

10. The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein a light emitting surface of the first light source included in the first light source array faces a first direction, and a light emitting surface of the second light source included in the second light source array faces a second direction different from the first direction.

11. The optical assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction.

12. The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first light source included in the first light source array is disposed adjacent to the second light source included in the second light source array in a diagonal direction.

13. The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the gap between the first light source and the vertical line is larger than the gap between the third light source and the vertical line.

14. The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one light source included in the second light source array is positioned in a quadrangle formed by four adjacent light sources which are part of the first light source array.

15. The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first layer is a substrate on which the plurality of light sources are mounted.

16. The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second layer is made of a silicon-based or acrylic resin.

17. The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second layer includes a plurality of particles.

18. The optical assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reflection layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer.

19. The optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of light sources are positioned so that a height of a light emitting surface is substantially equal to a height of the reflection layer or the light emitting surface is higher than the reflection layer.

20. The optical assembly according to claim 18, further comprising:

at least one support member disposed on the first layer,

wherein the plurality of light sources are formed on the support member.

21. The optical assembly according to claim 20, wherein a thickness of the reflection layer is equal to or smaller than a thickness of the support member.

22. The optical assembly according to claim 20, wherein the support member is configured by a same material as a body of at least one light source among the plurality of light sources.

23. The optical assembly according to claim 20, wherein the support member is configured by a same material as the reflection layer.

24. The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the second layer is approximately 0.1 to 4.5 mm.