The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 20, 2009
Filed:
Nov. 15, 2006
Kenneth A. Epstein, St. Paul, MN (US);
Kenneth J. Hanley, Eagan, MN (US);
James A. Stevenson, St. Paul, MN (US);
Robert M. Emmons, St. Paul, MN (US);
Kenneth A. Epstein, St. Paul, MN (US);
Kenneth J. Hanley, Eagan, MN (US);
James A. Stevenson, St. Paul, MN (US);
Robert M. Emmons, St. Paul, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A directly illuminated display unit has a display panel and one or more light sources disposed behind the display panel. A diffuser is disposed between the light source unit and the display panel and a light diverting layer is disposed between the one or more light sources and the diffuser. The light diverting layer has light diverting members on a first side of the light diverting layer facing the diffuser. Surfaces of the light diverting members are disposed at more than one angle relative to a normal to the light diverting layer and also include one or more sharp changes of surface slope. The light diverting members spread the illumination light so as to be more uniform. Different light diverting members can have different apex angles. Also, different sides of a light diverting member can have best fit centers of curvature that are non-coincident.