Backlight unit and display device

• US 8,511,845 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeong, Chansung, Kim, Sungwoo, Seo, Buwan, Kwon, Soonhyung, Jung, Bupsung, Bae, Seungchoon, Park, Sangtae, Hur, Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Guharay, Karabi
• Application Number:
  US12/860,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20110051412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 362/97.1, 362/235, 362/243, 362/246, 362/248, 362/97.3, 362/236, 349 61- 62
• US Class Current: 362/97.3
• 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 6/0078 Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133611 including means for improving the brightness uniformity

Abstract

A backlight unit and a display device including the backlight unit are discussed. According to an embodiment, a light generating device comprising: a first layer; light source devices disposed on the first layer and configured to emit light; a reflection layer disposed on the first layer and configured to reflect the light emitted from the light source devices; a second layer covering the light source devices and the reflection layer; a diffusion layer disposed on the second layer and configured to diffuse the light emitted from the light source devices; and an auxiliary layer having light shielding members placed between the second layer and the diffusion layer, the auxiliary layer being separated from the second layer so as to create an air space between a surface of the second layer and surfaces of the light shielding members, the air space extending along the light source devices.

Claims

1. A light generating device comprising:

a first layer;

a plurality of light source devices disposed on the first layer and configured to emit light, at least one of the light source devices including a light emitting diode for generating the light;

a reflection layer disposed on the first layer and configured to reflect the light emitted from the light source devices;

a second layer covering the light source devices and the reflection layer;

a diffusion layer disposed on the second layer and configured to diffuse the light emitted from the light source devices; and

an auxiliary layer having a plurality of light shielding members placed between the second layer and the diffusion layer, the light shielding members placed at locations corresponding respectively to the light source devices,

the auxiliary layer being separated from the second layer so as to create a first air space between a surface of the second layer and surfaces of the light shielding members, the first air space extending along the light source devices.

2. The light generating device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary layer is separated from the diffusion layer so as to create a second air space between a surface of the auxiliary layer and a surface of the diffusion layer.

3. The light generating device of claim 2, wherein the second air space extends along the light source devices.

4. The light generating device of claim 2, wherein the diffusion layer is placed on the second layer without using an adhesive material.

5. The light generating device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary layer is placed on the second layer without using an adhesive material.

6. The light generating device of claim 1, wherein the second layer encapsulates the light source devices and the reflection layer.

7. The light generating device of claim 1, wherein the locations corresponding respectively to the light source devices are above the light source devices.

8. The light generating device of claim 1, wherein the reflection layer includes a pattern which varies in a light emitting direction of the light source devices.

9. A light generating device comprising:

a first layer;

a plurality of light source devices disposed on the first layer and configured to emit light, at least one of the light source devices including a light emitting diode for generating the light;

a reflection layer disposed on the first layer and configured to reflect the light emitted from the light source devices;

a second layer covering the light source devices and the reflection layer; and

an auxiliary layer having a plurality of light shielding members, and fixed to portions of the second layer by a first adhesive layer so as to create a first air space between a surface of the second layer and surfaces of the light shielding members.

10. The light generating device of claim 9, wherein the first adhesive layer is disposed only in areas between the light shielding members.

11. The light generating device of claim 9, wherein the light shielding members are placed to correspond with the light source devices.

12. The light generating device of claim 9, further comprising:

a diffusion layer fixed to portions of the auxiliary layer by a second adhesive layer so as to create a second air space between a surface of the diffusion layer and a surface of the auxiliary layer.

13. The light generating device of claim 12, wherein the second air space is located only at areas corresponding to the light source devices.

14. The light generating device of claim 12, wherein the diffusion layer includes protrusions and the light shielding members are disposed on the protrusions of the diffusion layer.

15. The light generating device of claim 9, wherein the reflection layer includes a pattern which varies in a light emitting direction of the light source devices.