Physical Optics Corporation

Other

Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha

Luminit LLC

Rick L Shie

Gajendra D Savant

Jeffrey A Laine

Tomasz P Jannson

Mark Joseph Bennahmias

San Zhuang Wang

An LED-based backlighting system that provides excellent brightness and homogeneity suitable for high performance multi-color and high resolution portable displays such as for PDAs and cell phones. Several different but similar embodiments are disclosed. Some are suitable for use with multiple LEDs and some for use with a single LED. In a first such embodiment, multiple LEDs are located adjacent the input edge of a light pipe. The input edge contains fixed pitch grooves to propagate the LED light in a direction that is substantially angled toward the bottom surface of the light pipe along its entire area. The light pipe bottom surface also has grooves for altering the direction of the LED light toward the upper surface of the light pipe where it exits the light pipe toward a viewer. The exterior of the exit surface of the light pipe receives a light shaping diffuser (LSD) and an optical film. The diffuser acts to diffuse and distribute the exiting light at selected horizontal and vertical angles and the optical film shapes. In a second embodiment, a second LSD is positioned above the optical film. In a third embodiment, an LSD strip having a foreshortened LSD is positioned below the light pipe adjacent the input edge to better reduce hot spots near the LEDs.

Backlighting system for displays

A monolithic element has a substrate body and at least one macro-optical characteristic integral in a first portion of the optical element. A plurality of surface micro-structures are integral in a portion of the optical element. The micro-structures are designed to homogenize light passing through the optical element to produce a predetermined pattern of smoothly varying, non-discontinuous light exiting the optical element. The light exiting the optical element is therefore altered according to both the macro-optical characteristic of the optical element as well as the homogenizing characteristics of the micro-structures.

Optical element having an integral surface diffuser

A viewing surface in the form of a passive liquid crystal display or front projection viewing screen includes a substrate layer of material having a front side and a back side. A light shaping micro-sculpted surface structure is provided on one side of the substrate layer wherein the microstructure controls the directionality, gain, homogeneity and shape distribution of the light propagated by the screen or display. A reflective layer is deposited on the opposite back side of the substrate layer and reflects light incident upon the substrate layer back through the substrate layer toward a viewing screen surface. This type of construction can be used directly as a viewing screen or can be utilized behind a display such as a liquid crystal display in order to significantly enhance the brightness of such a display or screen. The microstructure can be integral on either the front side of the substrate layer or beneath the reflective layer on the back side of the layer.

Passive matrix liquid crystal display

A vehicle light assembly includes a lens cover from which light emanates. A light shaping surface microstructure is carried in a portion of the light assembly. The microstructure can be incorporated into many different surfaces of the light assembly such as a surface of the lens cover, a surface of a macro-optical structure on the lens cover, or on a reflective surface of the assembly. The microstructure homogenizes and directs light emanating from the light assembly via reflection or transmission to provide a smooth, continuous pattern of light having a predetermined distribution shape or envelope and a predetermined directionality.

Vehicle light assembly including a diffuser surface structure

A device has a carrier and an optical element supported by the carrier. The optical element has a macro-optical characteristic and at least one surface. A light shaping surface microstructure is integral on the surface of the optical element. The microstructure homogenizes, shapes and controls directionality of light emanating from the surface of the optical element to produce a smooth, consistent and continuous pattern of light in a predetermined distribution shape and direction. The optical element can either transmit or reflect light incident on a portion of the device and the optical element.

Device including an optical element with an integral surface diffuser

An apparatus for projecting light on to a predetermined area includes a light source and a transparent element disposed adjacent the light source where in the transparent element is made from a sol-gel type glass, quartz, or other optical material. A plurality of surface micro-structures integral in a surface of the transparent element are provided which both homogenize and control directionality of light passing form the light source through the transparent element. These micro-structures produce a predetermined pattern of highly transmissive, smoothly varying, non-discontinuous light in a predetermined direction which is suitable for any number of applications wherein a sol-gel material transparent element including the diffuser surface structures are particularly well suited.

Growing community of inventors

Westlake Village, CA, United States of America

Rick L Shie