Backlighting assembly for display for reducing cross-hatching

• US 9,511,715 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2015
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: VanderPloeg, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Richard
• Application Number:
  US14/609,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20150219967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133507 Films for enhancing the luminance
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133607 the light controlling member including light directing or refracting elements, e.g. prisms or lenses

Abstract

A backlight assembly for a display having a polarized transmission axis is provided including a light source for emitting light; a first brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a first direction, and positioned to receive light emitted from the light source; and a second brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a second direction and positioned to receive light exiting the first brightness enhancement film, wherein the first direction extends at an angle of between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees offset from the polarized transmission axis of the display and the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Claims

1. A backlight assembly for a display having a polarized transmission axis comprising:

a light source for emitting light;

a first brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a first direction, and positioned to receive light emitted from said light source, wherein the first direction extends at an angle of between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees offset from the polarized transmission axis of the display; and

a second brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a second direction and positioned to receive light exiting said first brightness enhancement film, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The backlight assembly of claim 1 and further comprising a diffuser positioned between said light source and said first brightness enhancement film.

3. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the first direction extends at an angle of about 8 degrees offset from the polarized transmission axis of the display.

4. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein said light source is an LED light engine.

5. A display assembly comprising:

the backlight assembly of claim 1; and

a display element disposed to receive light from said second brightness enhancement film.

6. The display of claim 5, wherein said display is a liquid crystal display.

7. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing for attachment to the vehicle;

a mirror element disposed in said housing; and

a display assembly disposed behind said mirror element in said housing, said display assembly comprising;

the backlight assembly of claim 1; and

a display element disposed to receive light from said second brightness enhancement film.

8. A display comprising:

a light source for emitting light;

a first brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a first direction, and positioned to receive light emitted from said light source;

a second brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a second direction and positioned to receive light exiting said first brightness enhancement film; and

a display element disposed to receive light from said second brightness enhancement film, said display element having a polarized transmission axis,

wherein the first direction extends at an angle of between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees offset from the polarized transmission axis of said display element and the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

9. The display of claim 8 and further comprising a diffuser positioned between said light source and said first brightness enhancement film.

10. The display of claim 8, wherein the first direction extends at an angle of about 8 degrees offset from the polarized transmission axis of said display element.

11. The display of claim 8, wherein said display element is a liquid crystal display.

12. The display of claim 11, wherein said liquid crystal display is an IPS liquid crystal display.

13. A rearview assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing for attachment to the vehicle;

a glass element disposed in said housing; and

a display disposed behind said mirror element in said housing, said display comprising;

a light source for emitting light;

a first brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a first direction, and positioned to receive light emitted from said light source;

a second brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a second direction and positioned to receive light exiting said first brightness enhancement film; and

a display element disposed to receive light from said second brightness enhancement film, said display element having a polarized transmission axis,

wherein the first direction extends at an angle of between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees offset from the polarized transmission axis of said display element.

14. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein said glass element is a mirror element.

15. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein said mirror element is partially reflective and partially transmissive.

16. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein said mirror element is an electrochromic mirror element.

17. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein the first direction extends at an angle of about 8 degrees offset from the polarized transmission axis of said display element.

18. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

19. The rearview assembly of claim 13 and further comprising a diffuser positioned between said light source and said first brightness enhancement film.

20. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein said light source is an LED light engine.