Coupling device

• US 20080159693A1
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Chang, Yem-Yeu
• Application Number:
  US11/998,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20080159693A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• 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 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type

Abstract

A coupling device including a reflective cavity, at least one light source, and a light guide plate is provided. The reflective cavity has an opening, and includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and an end surface opposite to the opening. The light source is disposed at a position of the end surface. A side surface of the light guide plate is connected with the opening, and a thickness of the light guide plate is smaller than that of the light source.

Claims

1. A coupling device, comprising:

a reflective cavity, having an opening, and including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and an end surface opposite to the opening;

at least one light source, disposed at a position of the end surface; and

a light guide plate, having a side surface connected with the opening, and a thickness smaller than that of the light source.

2. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are mirror reflectors.

3. The coupling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a reflective characteristic of the first side surface is a mirror reflector or a scattering reflector.

4. The coupling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a reflective characteristic of the second side surface is a mirror reflector or a scattering reflector.

5. The coupling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a reflective characteristic of the end surface is a mirror reflector or a scattering reflector.

6. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top surface is a plane, an arc surface, or a multi-slope surface.

7. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom surface is a plane, an arc surface, or a multi-slope surface.

8. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed outside the reflective cavity and located on the end surface, and the end surface has an opening that allows the incidence of light of the light source.

9. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed inside the reflective cavity and located on one side of the end surface.

10. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed on the end surface and a portion of the light source is disposed outside the reflective cavity.

11. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a scattering reflective substance is filled among the light sources by means of integrated packaging to replace the end surface.

12. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light guide plate is further embedded inside the reflective cavity.

13. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a maximum thickness of the reflective cavity is substantially equal to that of the light source.

14. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED light source.

15. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a light spreading element, disposed inside the reflective cavity, wherein a side of the light spreading element adjacent to the light source has a first rough surface, and the other side of the light spreading element has a second rough surface.

16. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first rough surface is a depression, a protrusion, a surface coated with micro particles, a hazed surface, or a combination thereof.

17. The coupling device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the depression comprises a rectangular groove, a trapezoidal groove, an arc groove, a V-shaped groove, or a combination thereof.

18. The coupling device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the protrusion comprises a rectangular pillar, a trapezoidal pillar, an arc pillar, a V-shaped pillar, or a combination thereof.

19. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second rough surface is a depression, a protrusion, a surface coated with micro particles, a hazed surface, a subwavelength antireflection surface, or a combination thereof.

20. The coupling device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the depression comprises a rectangular groove, a trapezoidal groove, an arc groove, a V-shaped groove, or a combination thereof.

21. The coupling device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the protrusion comprises a rectangular pillar, a trapezoidal pillar, an arc pillar, a V-shaped pillar, or a combination thereof.

22. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light spreading element is a transparent material plate.

23. The coupling device as claimed in claim 22, wherein a material of the transparent material plate comprises polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate.

24. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are mirror reflectors.

25. The coupling device as claimed in claim 24, wherein a reflective characteristic of the first side surface is a mirror reflector or a scattering reflector.

26. The coupling device as claimed in claim 24, wherein a reflective characteristic of the second side surface is a mirror reflector or a scattering reflector.

27. The coupling device as claimed in claim 24, wherein a reflective characteristic of the end surface is a mirror reflector or a scattering reflector.

28. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the top surface is a plane, an arc surface, or a multi-slope surface.

29. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the bottom surface is a plane, an arc surface, or a multi-slope surface.

30. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light source is disposed outside the reflective cavity and located on the end surface, and the end surface has an opening that allows the incidence of light of the light source.

31. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light source is disposed inside the reflective cavity and located on one side of the end surface.

32. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light source is disposed on the end surface, and a portion of the light source is disposed outside the reflective cavity.

33. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a scattering reflective substance is filled among the light sources by means of integrated packaging to replace the end surface.

34. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light guide plate is further embedded inside the reflective cavity.

35. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a maximum thickness of the reflective cavity is substantially equal to that of the light source.

36. The coupling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light source is an LED light source.