Patent Application
20080008422
The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided such that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals designate like elements. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.
It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on” or “connected to” another element or layer, the element or layer can be directly on or connected another element or layer or intervening elements or layers. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” or “directly connected to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
Spatially relative terms, such as “below,” “above” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” relative to other elements or features would then be oriented “above” relative to the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.
For example, an implanted region illustrated as a rectangle will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or a gradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binary change from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried region formed by implantation may result in some implantation in the region between the buried region and the surface through which the implantation takes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
All methods described herein can be performed in a suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”), is intended merely to better illustrate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention as used herein.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
An exemplary embodiment of forming a light guide plate may include a hydrostatic pressing method, in which a predetermined molding frame is prepared, a pressurized fluid is applied to the molding frame in a state where an object to be processed is closely adhered or positioned to the mold, and the object to be processed is formed to have a desired shape. Molding quality varies according to the pressure of the fluid which is applied to the object to be processed, a temperature of the fluid and/or a duration time the pressurized fluid is applied to the object to be processed. The pressure of the fluid, the temperature of the fluid, and the duration time in a state where an optimal molding quality is provided are hereinafter defined as a “molding pressure,” a “molding temperature” and a “molding time,” respectively.
Referring to
In exemplary embodiments, the molding pressure is in a range of about 0.1 to 100 megapascals (MPa). In one exemplary embodiment, the molding temperature is substantially equal to a transition temperature Tg of the light guiding plates 200, which is considered an object to be processed, or greater than the transition temperature Tg. If the temperature of the fluid 110 is lower than the transition temperature Tg of the light guiding plates 200 being used, a solute may be added to the fluid 110 so as to increase the temperature of the fluid 110.
Referring to
The container 120 provides an airtight space into which the fluid 110 flows to perform hydrostatic pressing. The container 120 includes a flow path 121, such as provided at a side wall, at a side of the container 120, and mounting members 161 to 165. In exemplary embodiments, the container 120 is formed of a material having a physical characteristic such that the material has a relatively small amount or a least amount of distortion caused by the molding pressure and/or the molding temperature.
As illustrated in
The mounting members each 161-165 fix the vacuum pack 151-155 such that each of the vacuum packs 151-155 are placed at designated positions within the container 120. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of mounting members 161-165 are preferably provided to mount a plurality of vacuum packs 151-155. The plurality of mounting members 161-165 are arranged substantially in parallel to each other at predetermined intervals, such that a substantially same molding pressure is applied to all of the vacuum packs 151-155. Alternatively, any of a number of the mounting members 161-165 can be removed, if necessary, to achieve the optimal molding quality.
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the mounting members 161-165 may include a pair of clamps. However, the invention is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the mounting members 161-165 may be formed using mounting grooves and/or mounting latches that are capable of fixing an individual vacuum pack 150 or a plurality of the vacuum packs 150.
In the illustrated embodiment, the clamps as mounting members, are arranged substantially linearly or in a line so as to be parallel to each other in same plane of the container 120. Alternatively, the mounting members may be arranged on a plurality of different planes or layers, the mounting members may be arranged in a plurality of lines, i.e., two or more lines, and the mounting members may be alternately arranged across the container 120 such as when viewed on a plane in
The pressurizing unit 130 pressurizes the fluid 110 such that the pressure of the fluid filled into the container 120 reaches a predetermined molding pressure. As shown in
The heating unit 140 heats the fluid 110 such that the temperature of the fluid provided into the container 120 reaches a predetermined molding temperature. As illustrated in
The pressurizing unit 130 and the heating unit 140 maintain the molding pressure and the molding temperature inside the container for a predetermined time, that is, the molding time, when a hydrostatic pressing is performed. In an exemplary embodiment, the molding time is in a range of approximately 30 seconds to 30 minutes, under a condition that the pressure and temperature of fluid inside the container 120 are maintained at the molding pressure and the molding temperature, respectively.
Referring to
The first molding frame 310 and the second molding frame 320 may be formed in a separate type or in an integrated type. As used herein, “integrated” is used to indicate formed to be a single unit or piece rather than combining separate elements to form the molding frame 310 and 320. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the first molding frame 310 and the second molding frame 320 is formed of a metallic material that has relatively good thermal conductivity and hardness. Each of the first and second molding frames 310 and 320 may have a thickness, e.g., from a distal end of the molding patterns 311 and 312 to an opposing surface of the first and second molding frames 310 and 320, respectively, of approximately 0.1 to 10 millimeters (mm). The thickness of the molding frame 300 may be increased or decreased in proportion to an area of the light guiding plate 200 requiring a molding pattern or ultimately being used in the display device.
The molding patterns 311 and 321 formed on the first and second molding frames 310 and 320 may have any of a number of various prism shapes in a cross-section as is suitable for the purposes described herein. The cross-sectional shape of the prisms of the molding patterns 311 and 321 may include, but are not limited to, triangular, hemispherical, or lens-shaped prism shapes. The sections of the molding patterns 311 and 321 are not limited to the above-described prism shapes. Alternatively, the cross-sections of the molding patterns 311 and 321 may have polygonal shapes, such as, a square, a pentagon, or the like.
Where the molding frame is arranged on each of two opposing sides of the light guiding plate 200, the molding patterns 311 and 321 may be arranged in parallel to each other in a first direction and extend longitudinally in a second direction relative to the first direction. The molding patterns 311 and 321 of the first molding frame 310 and the second molding frame 320 are disposed to face each other. The first and second molding patterns 311 and 321, e.g., in their extended directions, may be disposed in parallel to one another (
Using the apparatus to form a pattern for the light guiding plate that has the above-described structure, it is possible to form optical patterns having high light collecting efficiency, such as, prism patterns that have a triangular shape in section, on a plurality of light guiding plates at substantially the same time. This will be described as follows.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As the light guide plate 200, the first molding frame 310 and the second molding frame 320 sealed in the vacuum pack 150 are pressurized by the molding pressure in the container 120 as indicated by the arrow around the vacuum pack 150, predetermined optical patterns corresponding to the molding patterns 311 and 321 are respectively formed on contact surfaces of the light guiding plate 200. The optical patterns may be prism patterns having a triangular, hemispherical, or lens-shaped cross-section corresponding to the molding patterns 311 and 321 having the prism shape in cross-section. As used herein, “corresponding” is used to indicate corresponding substantially in shape, dimension and/or positional placement relative to another element.
As shown in
When the hydrostatic pressing is performed, a molding time is secured or predetermined to be sufficient enough to precisely transcribe the molding patterns 311 and 321 of the first molding frame 310 and the second molding frame 320, respectively, to the light guiding plate 200. In one exemplary embodiment, the molding time is in a range of approximately 30 seconds to 30 minutes on the condition that the pressure and temperature of the fluid 110 in the container 120 are maintained at the molding pressure and the molding temperature. In an exemplary embodiment, when the hydrostatic pressing is performed, a plurality of light guiding plates 200 may be prepared, and the hydrostatic pressing be performed on the plurality of light guiding plates 200 at substantially the same time.
In exemplary embodiments a light diffusion portion and a light guide portion may be formed on the light guiding plate 200 having the prism patterns thereon, so as to improve the uniformity in the luminance and light utilization.
Referring to
In exemplary embodiments, the diffusion patterns may be formed to have a substantially concentric circular shape such as when viewed on a plane, such that incident light is uniformly diffused and scattered. As a distance from the incident portion “A” of the light guide plate increases, the diffusion patterns become denser. The diffusion patterns may have any of a number of various shapes, such as a circle, a triangle, or a square. The diffusion patterns can also have concave or convex surfaces.
The molding patterns on an upper and a lower surface of the light guiding plate 200 as illustrated in
Referring to
The light guide portion S2 of the light guide plate 200 guides light emitted from the light diffusion portion S1 to a prism portion S3 on which prism patterns are formed. In exemplary embodiments, the light guide portion S2 may be formed by disposing a transparent plate or an air gap in the light guide plate 200. The transparent plate S2 may be interposed between the light diffusion portion S1 and the prism portion S3 of the light guiding plate 200 at predetermined intervals, or the light diffusion portion S1 and the prism portion S3 of the light guiding plate 200 may be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval. In the illustrated embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment, the light diffusion portion S1 and the light guide portion S2 are formed after the prism patterns S3 are formed on the light guiding plate 200. Alternatively, it is also possible, that the prism patterns S3 are formed after the light diffusion portion S1 and the light guide portion S2 are formed on the light guiding plate 200.
In the illustrated embodiments of the method of manufacturing a light guiding plate according to the invention, the prism patterns can be formed on a plurality (e.g., tens or hundreds) of light guiding plates at substantially the same time. The prism patterns can be formed substantially precise because sufficient molding time is secured when forming the prism patterns. The precise prism patterns having high light collecting efficiency can be formed on a relatively large number of light guiding plates at substantially the same time. Advantageously, prism patterns having relatively high light collecting efficiency, and a reduction in overall thickness of a backlight assembly due to pressing can be realized. At the same time, reduction in cost can be achieved, such as by the “mass production” of light guiding plates at substantially the same time.
As in the illustrated embodiments, precise prism patterns can be formed on a relatively large number of light guide patterns using a hydrostatic pressing method. Advantageously, prism patterns having relatively high light collecting efficiency that the prism patterns have, and a reduction in overall thickness of the backlight assembly due to pressing can be realized. At the same time, reduction in cost can be achieved at the time of the “mass production” of the light guiding plates.
Although the invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited thereto, but is defined by the appended claims. Therefore, it should be noted that various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1020060063997 | Jul 2006 | KR | national |
