Backlight module and light guide plate thereof

• US 8,545,085 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chi Lin Optoelectronics Co., LTD. (CHI MEI Optoelectronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Chi Lin Optoelectronics Co., LTD. (CHI MEI Optoelectronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Wu, Sung-Tao, Lee, Yuan-Chi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Evan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, DANIELLE NICOLE
• Application Number:
  US12/688,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20110176330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 362/606, 362/607, 362/610, 362615-620, 362623-628, 362 971- 974
• US Class Current: 362/619
• 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 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity

Abstract

The present invention relates to a backlight module and light guide plate thereof. The light guide plate includes a first surface, a second surface and a side surface. The first surface has a plurality of first regions, a second region and a central line. The second region has a plurality of microstructures outside the first regions. The first regions and the second region are solid. The side surface is disposed between the first surface and the second surface. The first regions are adjacent to the side surface and extend toward the central line, and the first regions are intervally spaced. Whereby, the manufacture step of the light guide plate is simplified, and the manufacture cost of the light guide plate is lowered, and the distribution of the microstructures can reduce the hot spots in front a plurality of point light sources efficiently.

Claims

1. A light guide plate comprising:

a first surface, having a plurality of first regions, a second region and a central line, the second region having a plurality of microstructures, the microstructures being outside the first regions, and the first regions and the second region being solid;

a second surface, opposite the first surface; and

a side surface, disposed between the first surface and the second surface;

wherein the first regions are adjacent to the side surface and extend toward the central line, and the first regions are intervally spaced;

the sizes of the microstructures disposed near the central line are larger than those of the microstructures disposed near the side surface, and the distribution of the microstructures disposed near the central line is denser than that of the microstructures disposed near the side surface.

2. The light guide plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of each of the first regions reduces gradually alongside a direction from the side surface toward the central line.

3. The light guide plate as claimed in claim 2, wherein the configuration of each of the first regions is semi-circular or triangular.

4. The light guide plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microstructures are dots.

5. The light guide plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microstructures are protrusions or grooves.

6. The light guide plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central line is substantially parallel to the side surface.

7. The light guide plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sizes of the microstructures disposed around the first regions are the smallest.

8. The light guide plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second region has a plurality of first sub-regions, a plurality of second sub-regions, a plurality of third sub-regions and a plurality of fourth sub-regions, the first sub-region and the second sub-region are disposed in a central portion between two adjacent first regions, the second sub-region is disposed between the first sub-region and the side surface, the third sub-region and the fourth sub-region are disposed between the first sub-region and the two adjacent first regions, respectively, and the sizes of the microstructures disposed in the first sub-regions are larger than those of the microstructures disposed in the second sub-regions, the third sub-regions and the fourth sub-regions.

9. A backlight module comprising:

a plurality of point light sources for providing a plurality of light beams; and

a light guide plate for receiving the light beams from the point light sources, the light guide plate comprising;

a first surface, having a plurality of first regions, a second region and a central line, the second region having a plurality of microstructures, the microstructures being outside the first regions, the first regions and the second region being solid, and each of the point light sources corresponding to one of the first regions;

a second surface, opposite the first surface; and

a side surface, disposed between the first surface and the second surface, and the light beams from the point light sources enter the light guide plate through the side surface;

wherein the first regions are adjacent to the side surface and extend toward the central line, and the first regions are intervally spaced;

the sizes of the microstructures disposed near the central line are larger than those of the microstructures disposed near the side surface, and the distribution of the microstructures disposed near the central line is denser than that of the microstructures disposed near the side surface.

10. The backlight module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the point light sources are LEDs.

11. The backlight module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the point light sources contact the side surface.

12. The backlight module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the width of each of the first regions reduces gradually from the side surface toward the central line.

13. The backlight module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the configuration of each of the first regions is semi-circular or triangular.

14. The backlight module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the microstructures are dots.

15. The backlight module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the microstructures are protrusions or grooves.

16. The backlight module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the central line is substantially parallel to the side surface.

17. The backlight module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sizes of the microstructures disposed around the first regions are the smallest.

18. The backlight module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second region has a plurality of first sub-regions, a plurality of second sub-regions, a plurality of third sub-regions and a plurality of fourth sub-regions, the first sub-region and the second sub-region are disposed in a central portion between two adjacent first regions, the light beams from two adjacent point light sources intersect at the first sub-region, the second sub-region is disposed between the first sub-region and the side surface, the third sub-region and the fourth sub-region are disposed between the first sub-region and the two adjacent first regions, respectively, and the sizes of the microstructures disposed in the first sub-regions are larger than those of the microstructures disposed in the second sub-regions, the third sub-regions and the fourth sub-regions.