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. 02, 2018
Filed:
Oct. 15, 2010
David Scott Thompson, Woodbury, MN (US);
Craig R. Schardt, St. Paul, MN (US);
Brian W. Ostlie, Hudson, WI (US);
Scott J. Kienitz, Woodbury, MN (US);
John A. Wheatley, Lake Elmo, MN (US);
David Scott Thompson, Woodbury, MN (US);
Craig R. Schardt, St. Paul, MN (US);
Brian W. Ostlie, Hudson, WI (US);
Scott J. Kienitz, Woodbury, MN (US);
John A. Wheatley, Lake Elmo, MN (US);
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
Direct-lit backlights and associated methods and components are disclosed in which a transflector that partially transmits and partially reflects incident light is shaped to form at least one concave structure facing a back reflector of the backlight. This provides at least one recycling cavity therebetween, the at least one recycling cavity substantially filling the output area of the backlight. At least one light source is disposed behind the output area to inject light into each cavity, and can be positioned in the recycling cavity or behind an aperture in the back reflector. The cavities are preferably shallow and wide, having a width-to-depth ratio of at least 5 or 10, and can provide uniform brightness and color at the output area with sparsely distributed light sources and in a thin profile backlight.