Light guides
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A light guide device comprising:
- a base substrate having a first refractive index,one or more light sources mounted upon a first surface of the base substrate, anda first guide layer having a second refractive index that is less than or equal to the first refractive index and which comprises a light output surface, the first guide layer being arranged so as to encapsulate the one or more light sources upon the first surface, wherein the light sources provide an output and there is no air gap between the output of the one or more light sources and the first guide layer, andwherein the base substrate and the guide layer form a composite structure for guiding light produced by the one or more light sources over the first surface and said one or more light sources are positioned directly behind the light output surface and direct light parallel to the plane of the base substrate;
wherein the one or more light sources are present in a direct lit arrangement in a two dimensional array forming a plurality of rows and columns of light sources, andwherein in a given row or column for two adjacent light sources the angle between the direction of light generated by the first light source in a first direction which is substantially parallel to the plane of the base substrate and the direction of light generated by the second light source in a second direction which is also substantially parallel to the plane of the base substrate is about 180°
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Abstract
This invention relates to light guide devices and methods of manufacture. The light guide device is suitable for use in a range of applications, particularly in connection with the backlighting of displays, for example, liquid crystal displays.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A light guide device comprising:
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a base substrate having a first refractive index, one or more light sources mounted upon a first surface of the base substrate, and a first guide layer having a second refractive index that is less than or equal to the first refractive index and which comprises a light output surface, the first guide layer being arranged so as to encapsulate the one or more light sources upon the first surface, wherein the light sources provide an output and there is no air gap between the output of the one or more light sources and the first guide layer, and wherein the base substrate and the guide layer form a composite structure for guiding light produced by the one or more light sources over the first surface and said one or more light sources are positioned directly behind the light output surface and direct light parallel to the plane of the base substrate; wherein the one or more light sources are present in a direct lit arrangement in a two dimensional array forming a plurality of rows and columns of light sources, and wherein in a given row or column for two adjacent light sources the angle between the direction of light generated by the first light source in a first direction which is substantially parallel to the plane of the base substrate and the direction of light generated by the second light source in a second direction which is also substantially parallel to the plane of the base substrate is about 180°
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2. A light guide device comprising:
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a base substrate having a first refractive index, one or more light sources mounted upon a first surface of the base substrate, and a first guide layer having a second refractive index that is less than or equal to the first refractive index and which comprises a light output surface, the first guide layer being arranged so as to encapsulate the one or more light sources upon the first surface, wherein the light sources provide an output and there is no air gap between the output of the one or more light sources and the first guide layer, wherein the base substrate and the guide layer form a composite structure for guiding light produced by the one or more light sources over the first surface and said one or more light sources are positioned directly behind the light output surface and direct light parallel to the plane of the base substrate, wherein the one or more light sources are positioned directly behind the light output surface in a direct lit arrangement forming a plurality of rows and columns comprising the light sources, and wherein all or substantially all of the one or more light sources are arranged to emit light in the same or substantially the same direction which is into the light guide device and parallel or substantially parallel to the plane of the base substrate. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
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17. A method of producing a light guide device, the method comprising:
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i. mounting one or more light sources onto a first surface of a base substrate having a first refractive index; ii. adding a first guide layer, having a second refractive index that is less than or equal to the first refractive index, to the first surface so as to encapsulate the one or more light sources upon the first surface, wherein the light sources provide an output and there is no air gap between the output of the one or more light sources and the first guide layer; and iii. applying one or more scattering, reflective or refractive structures or any combination thereof on the first guide layer and/or the substrate before the substrate and the first guide layer are combined, such that said one or more scattering, reflective or refractive structures or any combination thereof are located at the interface between the substrate and the first guide layer;
orapplying one or more scattering, reflective or refractive structures or any combination thereof on the lower surface of the base substrate;
orapplying one or more scattering, reflective or refractive structures or any combination thereof on the upper surface of the first guide layer, wherein the one or more light sources are positioned directly behind the light output surface in a direct lit arrangement forming a plurality of rows and columns comprising the light sources, and wherein all or substantially all of the one or more light sources are arranged to emit light in the same or substantially the same direction which is into the light guide device and parallel or substantially parallel to the plane of the base substrate. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification