Low cost optical film stack

• US 9,720,278 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2016
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: VanderPloeg, John A., Weller, Andrew D., Lee, Ethan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEILS, PEGGY A
• Application Number:
  US15/003,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20160216560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133606 including a specially adapted diffusing, scattering or light controlling members
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133607 the light controlling member including light directing or refracting elements, e.g. prisms or lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133611 including means for improving the brightness uniformity

Abstract

A rearview assembly for a vehicle includes a housing for attachment to the vehicle, a glass element disposed in the housing and a display disposed behind the mirror element in the housing. The display contains a light source for emitting light, a first brightness enhancement film having a first plurality of prismatic elements extending in a first direction and positioned to receive light emitted from the light source, a diffuser configured to transmit about 97% of light from the first brightness enhancing film, a second brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a second direction and positioned to receive light exiting the diffuser, and a display element disposed to receive light from the second brightness enhancement film with the display element having a second plurality of prismatic elements extending in a second direction. The first direction is substantially vertical and the second direction is substantially horizontal.

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 the light source;

a second brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a second direction; and

a diffuser positioned to receive light exiting the first brightness enhancement film, wherein light exiting the diffuser enters the second brightness enhancement film.

2. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the first direction of the plurality of prismatic elements of the first brightness enhancement film is substantially vertical relative to the display.

3. The backlight assembly of claim 2, wherein the second direction of the plurality of prismatic elements of the second brightness enhancement film is substantially horizontal relative to the display.

4. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the diffuser has a transmissivity greater than about 90%.

5. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein the transmissivity of the diffuser is greater than about 95%.

6. The backlight assembly of claim 3, wherein said light source is an LED light engine.

7. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the backlight assembly is configured to have a substantially uniform luminance between at least one of:

about a +30 degree viewing angle and about a +50 degree viewing angle across a horizontal axis thereof; and

about a −

30 degree viewing angle and about a −

50 degree viewing angle across a horizontal axis thereof.

8. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the display includes a display element disposed to receive light from said second brightness enhancement film.

9. The backlight assembly of claim 8, wherein said display is a liquid crystal display.

10. The backlight assembly of claim 9, wherein said liquid crystal display is an IPS-Type liquid crystal display.

11. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the first direction of the plurality of prismatic elements of the first brightness enhancement film is substantially vertical, the second direction of the plurality of prismatic elements of the second brightness enhancement film is substantially horizontal and the diffusor has a transmissivity greater than about 95%.

12. 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 diffuser having a transmissivity to light of about 97%, wherein the diffuser is disposed between the first brightness enhancing film and the second brightness enhancing film,

wherein the display is configured to have a substantially uniform luminance between at least one of;

about a +30 degree viewing angle and about a +50 degree viewing angle across a horizontal axis thereof; and

about a −

30 degree viewing angle and about a −

50 degree viewing angle across a horizontal axis thereof.

13. The display of claim 12, further comprising:

a display element, wherein said display element is an IPS-Type liquid crystal display.

14. 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 glass element in said housing, said display comprising;

a light source for emitting light;

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

a diffuser configured to transmit about 97% of light from the first brightness enhancing film;

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

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

wherein the first direction is substantially vertical and the second direction is substantially horizontal relative to the rearview assembly.

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

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

17. The rearview assembly of claim 15, wherein said mirror element is an electrochromic mirror element.

18. The rearview assembly of claim 14, wherein said light source is an LED light engine.

19. The rearview assembly of claim 17, wherein said display element is a liquid crystal display.

20. The rearview assembly of claim 15, wherein said liquid crystal display is an IPS-Type liquid crystal display.