Patent Application
20070058391
The present invention generally relates to optical films, and more particularly relates to a light extraction film using an array of light extraction structures for conditioning illumination for use in display and lighting applications.
While liquid displays (LCDs) offer a compact, lightweight alternative to cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors, there are many applications for which LCD displays are not satisfactory due to a low level of brightness, or more properly, luminance. The transmissive LCD that is used in known laptop computer displays is a type of backlit display, having a light-providing surface positioned behind the LCD for directing light outwards, towards the LCD. The light-providing surface itself provides illumination that is essentially Lambertian, having an essentially constant luminance over a broad range of angles.
With the goal of increasing on-axis and near-axis luminance, a number of brightness enhancement films have been proposed for redirecting a portion of this light having Lambertian distribution toward normal, relative to the display surface. Among proposed solutions for brightness or luminance enhancement for use with LCD displays and with other types of backlit display types are the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,332 (Nishio et al.) discloses the use of two crossed lenticular lens surfaces for adjusting the angular range of light in an LCD display apparatus;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,611 (Ogino et al.) discloses a rear projection display using a combination of Fresnel and lenticular lens sheets for obtaining the desired light divergence and luminance;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,111,696 (Allen et al.) discloses a brightness enhancement film for a display or lighting fixture. With the optical film disclosed in the '696 patent, the surface facing the illumination source is smooth; the opposite surface has a series of structures, such as triangular prisms, for redirecting the illumination angle;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,784 (Abileah et al.) discloses various embodiments in which a prism sheet is employed for enhancing brightness, contrast ratio, and color uniformity of an LCD display of the reflective type. The brightness enhancement film is arranged with its structured surface facing the source of reflected light for providing improved luminance as well as reduced ambient light effects;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,505 (Parker et al.) discloses various types of surface structures used in light redirection films for LCD displays, including prisms and other structures;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,964 (Higuchi et al.) discloses a transparent prism sheet having extended prism structures along each surface for improved back-light propagation and luminance in an LCD display;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,391 (Gardiner et al.) discloses a pair of optical turning films for redirecting light in an LCD display, using an array of prisms, where the prisms can have different dimensions;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,063 (Fong et al.) discloses a brightness enhancement film with prism structures on one side of the film having blunted or rounded peaks;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,471 (Tang) discloses a brightness enhancement film having a plurality of generally triangular prism structures having curved facets;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,664 (O'Neill et al.) discloses a brightness enhancement film having “soft” cutoff angles in comparison with known film types, thereby mitigating the luminance change as viewing angle increases;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,823 (Hou et al.) discloses an illumination system with light recycling for a non-Lambertian source, using an array of microprisms; and,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,350 (Beeson et al.) discloses a backlight apparatus with light recycling features, employing an array of microprisms in contact with a light source for light redirection in illumination apparatus where heat may be a problem and where a relatively non-uniform light output is acceptable.
While known approaches, such as those noted in the disclosures mentioned above, provide some measure of brightness enhancement at low viewing angles, these approaches have certain shortcomings. Some of the solutions noted above are more effective for redistributing light over a preferred range of angles rather than for redirecting light toward the normal for best on-axis viewing. These brightness enhancement film solutions have a directional bias, working best for redirecting light in one direction. For example, a brightness enhancement film may redirect the light path in a width direction relative to the display surface, but have little or no effect on light in the orthogonal length direction. As a result, multiple orthogonally crossed sheets must be overlaid in order to redirect light in different directions, typically used for redirecting light in both horizontal and vertical directions with respect to the display surface. Necessarily, this type of approach is somewhat a compromise; such an approach is not optimal for light in directions diagonal to the two orthogonal axes. In addition, such known films typically use “recycling” in which the light is reflected back through the backlight module multiple times in an effort to increase brightness. However, some of the reflected light is absorbed by materials and lost in reflection during recycling.
As disclosed above, brightness enhancement layers have been proposed with various types of refractive surface structures formed atop a substrate material, including arrangements employing a plurality of protruding prism shapes, both as matrices of separate prism structures and as elongated prism structures, with the apex of prisms both facing toward and facing away from the light source. For the most part, these films exhibit directional bias, requiring the use of multiple sheets in practical applications.
Certain types of light redirecting layers rely on Total Internal Reflection (TIR) effects for redirecting light. These layers include prism, parabolic or aspheric structures, which re-direct light using TIR. Notably:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,350 to Beeson et al., cited earlier, discloses a backlight apparatus comprising a slab waveguide and an array of microprisms attached on one face of the slab waveguide.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,739,931 and No. 5,598,281 to Zimmerman et al. disclose illumination apparatus for backlighting, using arrays of microprisms and tapered optical structures;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,355 to Kuper et al. discloses arrays for use in area lighting applications, wherein guiding optical structures employ TIR to redirect light towards a preferred direction;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,439 to Hou et al. discloses an illumination apparatus in which microprisms utilize TIR for light redirection.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 8-221013 discloses an illumination apparatus in which two light guide plates are joined with microstructures that utilize TIR;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,675 to Onishi et al. discloses an illumination apparatus in which a light output plate has multiple projections having respective tips held in tight contact with the light exit surface of the light guide member and a bonding process to improve bonding power and avoid embedment of projections.
As can be appreciated from the above description, known light redirecting layers for optical displays have largely been directed to improving brightness of a display over a range of angles. However, the uniformity of the light spatially over the display surface is important to ensure uniform image brightness. Unfortunately, while known light redirecting layers may provide improved luminance, such layers may have bright and dark regions due to poor light uniformity across the display surface. To this end, existing light redirecting layers, in an effort to achieve higher brightness, often compromise display uniformity, creating bright spots and other anomalies in the light output to the LC panel or other light valve.
In addition to improving the spatial uniformity of light in a display, light redirecting layers should also not create appreciable interference effects such as Moiré effects. As is known, the spacing or pitch of the brightness enhancement film may be nearly commensurate with elements of the LC panel. This can result in Moiré fringes in the image, which are undesirable.
What is needed, therefore, is a light redirecting layer that overcomes at least the shortcomings of known films previously described.
As used herein, the terms ‘a’ or ‘an’ means one or more, and the term ‘plurality’ means at least two.
In accordance with an example embodiment, a light extraction layer includes a first end portion and a central portion. The light extraction layer also includes a first side and a second side, and a plurality of light extraction features disposed over the first side. At least two of the light extraction features have different lengths and an optical contact ratio is greater at the central portion than at the first end portion or the second end portion.
In accordance with another example embodiment, a display device includes a light guide having a first end, a second end, a top surface and a bottom surface. The display device also includes at least one light source coupled to the first end or the second end, or both, and a light extraction layer disposed over the top surface. The light extraction layer includes a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion and a first side and a second side. The light extraction layer also includes a plurality of light extraction features disposed at least the top surface. At least two of the light extraction features have different lengths and an optical contact ratio between the light extraction layer and the light guide is greater at the central portion than at the first end portion or the second end portion.
The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawing figures. It is emphasized that the various features are not necessarily drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions may be arbitrarily increased or decreased for clarity of discussion. Wherever practical, like reference numerals refer to like elements.
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, example embodiments disclosing specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present teachings. However, it will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art having had the benefit of the present disclosure that other embodiments that depart from the specific details disclosed herein. Moreover, descriptions of well-known devices, methods and materials may be omitted so as to not obscure the description of the example embodiments. Nonetheless, such devices, methods and materials that are within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art may be used in accordance with the example embodiments.
(LEDs) may be used as the light sources 103. The combination of the light guide 101, the LEX 102 and the light sources 103 has application in lighting and display applications. In either application, the combination may be used to provide brighter (greater luminance) and more uniform lighting. As to the latter, the combination may be implemented in transmissive LCD applications. In both lighting and display applications other elements are required. These elements are known to one of ordinary skill in the light and display arts and are neither shown nor described so as to avoid obscuring the description of the example embodiments.
The LEX 102 includes a plurality of light extraction features (‘features’) 104 disposed over a top surface of the light guide. Light 105, 105′ from the light sources 103 is incident on the lower portion of the feature 104 and is reflected from a surface 106, 106′ of the feature 104 and transmitted as light 107. In a specific embodiment, light 107 is transmitted substantially orthogonal to a surface 115 of an integral substrate 116 of the layer 102. In another specific embodiment, the light reflected from the surface 106 is not perpendicular to the surface 115. Details of the control of the angle of light reflected from surface 106 are provided herein.
As appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the light guide 101 and the LEX 102 beneficially have indices of refraction (nr) that are substantially identical in order to improve the extraction of light by the features 104 and to substantially prevent light 105 being reflected back into the light guide 101. Providing substantially the same indices of refraction may be achieved by forming the light guide 101 from the same material, or by choosing different materials with substantially the same indices of refraction.
In a specific embodiment, the substrate 116 and the features 104 are integral, with the features 104 being formed from the substrate 1116. In another specific embodiment, the features 104 are not integral with the substrate 104, and are adhered to the substrate 116. In either case, the material of the substrate 116 and the features 104 are beneficially of the same material or of different materials having substantially the same indices of refraction (nr).
In general, LEX 102 may be of a variety of materials. In a specific embodiment, LEX 102 is formed from an acrylic film; however, LEX 102 may be formed from any of various types of transparent materials, including, but not limited to polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
As described in further detail herein, light incident on the features 104 is substantially totally internally reflected and transmitted to the display component or lighting components. As is known, there is an insignificant amount of light energy lost in total internal reflection (TIR). In reality, losses are due mainly to absorption of light by the material. However, this is an insignificant fraction of the light incident on the features 104. Thus, little light energy is lost. Moreover, the index matching further reduces light energy loss. As such, displays and lighting devices that incorporate the LEX 102 will be exceedingly efficient due to low light loss. This provides an improved luminance level compared to known BEF layers that rely on multiple reflections between prism structures and a bottom reflector to enhance mainly near on-axis brightness. Since the bottom reflector absorbs some of the light energy at each incidence and light is incident on the bottom reflector multiple times before emerging from the BEF layers, a significant amount of light energy is lost to absorption.
Light 108 is incident on a point 109 of a surface of the light guide 101 and is reflected as light 110 back into the light guide 101. As is known, the light guide 101 is a waveguide that traps the light therein. As such, the light is totally internally reflected from each surface of the light guide. At least some of the light reflected within the waveguide is incident at a portion of the top surface of the waveguide over which the LEX 102 is disposed. Thus, after traveling within the light guide 101 a significant portion of the light from the light sources 103 is transmitted as light 107 to the display or lighting elements.
In order to control beam divergence in the direction normal to the plane of
Notably, the bottom micro-structured layer 113 may include features that are other than prism-shaped. For example, the micro-structured layer may have features that are arc, semi-circular, conic, aspherical, trapezoidal, or composite of at least two shapes in cross-section. The pitch of each shape is in the range of approximately 10.0 micrometers to approximately 1.0 millimeter; and in specific embodiments the pitch is in the range of approximately 25.0 micrometers to approximately 200.0 micrometers.
In general, the features of the micro-structured layer 113 are generally elongated in shape in a direction perpendicular to light input surface 111 on light guide 101. The size and shape of features can be varied along this direction. For example, the apex angle of a prismatic shape may be approximately 90.0 degrees near the light input surface 111 and approximately 140.0 degrees farther away from the light source (i.e. toward the central portion of the light guide). The features of the micro-structured layer 113 can be continuous or discrete, and they can be randomly disposed, staggered, or overlapped with each other. Finally, a bottom reflector that is planar or has a patterned relief may be disposed beneath the light guide 101 or micro-structured layer 113 in order to further enhance brightness by reflecting back to the display light that has been reflected or recycled from display or backlight structures.
As detailed herein, the features 104 of the LEX 102 are disposed to provide an increased luminance to display and lighting surfaces. Moreover, the light provided to the display and lighting surfaces is more uniformly distributed over the surfaces. The combined effect is an increased luminance and a greater uniformity of light in display and lighting application. In addition, the ill-effects of interference patterns such as Moiré patterns are substantially mitigated through the structures of the example embodiments.
In light and display applications where light sources 103 are at the ends of the light guide layer (e.g., as shown in
In the present example embodiment, the length 201 of the features 104 is selected to provide a suitable amount of optical contact area with the light guide 101 relative to the location on the LEX 102. The optical contact area in a region of a LEX 102 is the area of the contact between the LEX 102 and the light guide 101 in the region. The optical contact ratio in a region of a LEX 102 is the ratio of the optical contact area in the region to the total area of the light guide surface in the region. For example, in the first and second portions 205, 206 near the light sources 103, the length of the elements is relatively small. Thus, the optical contact area per unit area of the LEX 102 is less in the first and second portions 205, 206. This translates directly into a smaller optical contact ratio of features 104 with the light guide 101. The lower the optical contact ratio between the features 104 and the light guide 101 in a certain area, the lower the amount of light (flux) that will be extracted from the light guide in this area.
By contrast in a central portion 204 of the LEX 102, the length 201 of the features is relatively large. Thus, the optical contact of the features 104 per unit area is greater in the central portion 204. This translates directly into a greater optical contact ratio of the features 104 with the light guide 101. The greater the optical contact ratio between the features 104 and the light guide 101, the greater the amount (flux) of light extracted from the light guide in a particular area.
In accordance with example embodiments, light from the light sources 103, which is normally most intense in the first and second portions 205, 206, is purposely extracted to a lesser extent in these portions; and light in the central portion 204, which is normally less intense compared to the first and second portions 205, 206 is purposely extracted to a greater extent in this portion. Overall, this fosters a more uniform extracted light distribution compared to known light-extracting structures.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, this approach may also be applied to achieve desired non-uniform light distributions. In this case, the optical contact area is increased further in regions where the brightness is desired to be higher than the average across the display, and the optical contact area is decreased further in regions where the brightness is desired to be lower than average.
The LEX 102 provides a greater uniformity of light distribution by selecting the optical contact area to be greater where there is less light and smaller where there is more light (greater flux). This principle can be used to increase the local uniformity of light in certain regions of the LEX 102. For instance, in many display applications, there can be dark regions in the corners of the display. In this case, the light flux in the light guide varies in the x-direction, parallel to the light source. As such, for one reason or another, even though the corners translate to portions of the light guide 101 near the light sources 103, there can be less light extracted from the light guide at these portions. In keeping with the example embodiments, the intensity of the light at the corners may be increased and the local uniformity of the light distribution improved by increasing the optical contact of features in the corners 207 of the LEX 102. Similarly, if a region of a display or lighting device has a local brightness, the local uniformity can be improved by reducing the optical contact area at the corresponding portion of the LEX 102. In the former case, the features may be made longer and in the latter the features may be made shorter in order to increase and decrease, respectively, the optical contact area in the pertinent portion of the LEX 102.
In general, the light flux in the light guide 101 will require a given amount of optical contact area at each location on the LEX, where the optical contact area is calculated over a comparatively small ‘neighborhood’ of the LEX around each location. The neighborhood must be small enough to avoid visible non-uniformity of brightness to the viewer of the display. The neighborhood must also be small enough to support variation in brightness across the LEX without brightness transitions between neighborhoods that are visible to the viewer of the display. As a result, the size of the neighborhood will depend on the application, and depends on pixel size of the LCD display, diffusing power of layers to be placed between the LEX and the LC panel, expected distance from the display to the viewer, and other application-specific factors. The size of a neighborhood might be considerably less than the size of a small LC panel pixel or might be as large as approximately 1.0 millimeter or more in larger display applications.
In example embodiments, the first pitch 202 is substantially the same across the LEX 102. The first pitch 202 is illustratively between approximately 10.0 micrometers and approximately 300.0 micrometers depending on the type of display and is chosen in order to mitigate the ill-effects of interference patterns such as Moiré interference in lighting and display applications. Moiré patterns become visible when two periodic or partially-periodic patterns are superimposed on each other. The period of Moiré patterns is calculated as follows:
where p1 and p2 are pitches of two periodic patterns and pM is the period of the resulting Moiré pattern when the two patterns are superimposed. The n and m are positive integer numbers. Generally speaking, Moiré patterns are not visible for cases when n or m is greater than or equal to 4. This means that a human eye usually cannot perceive Moiré patterns if one of the two pitches becomes smaller than one fourth of the other pitch. Depending on other details of the two periodic patterns, in many cases when one pitch p1 is known, another pitch p2 can be chosen such that substantially all of the resulting Moiré patterns are of sufficiently low contrast, or sufficiently high or low frequency, that they are not visible to the human eye or they can be hidden using a diffusing sheet or other means added to the display.
Known light extracting layers include a varying y-direction pitch along the y-direction of the layer, using the coordinate system of
In order to prevent or at least significantly reduce Moiré fringes, in example embodiments the first pitch 202 is selected and maintained substantially constant across the LEX 102. This may be done by choosing the pitch 202 smaller than approximately 0.25 times the pitch of LC panel in the corresponding direction or by choosing pitch 202 in other ways such that all interference patterns are not visible to the human eye.
In other example embodiments, the first pitch 202 may be variable across the LEX 102 in order to substantially avoid objectionable Moiré patterns. For example, the positions of the features 104 in the y-direction may be randomly perturbed in the y-direction while maintaining the desired optical contact density within each small neighborhood on the LEX 102. (As used herein, the term “random” means random or pseudo-random as generated by computer algorithms or other methods known in the art.)
The second pitch 203 along the x-direction is also selected to significantly reduce, if not prevent Moiré effects. The second pitch 203 is chosen with respect to the pitch of periodic structures in the LC panel or other display components in the corresponding x-direction.
In a specific embodiment, the second pitch 203 is substantially constant and is selected in a manner described in connection with the selection of the first pitch 202. In such embodiments, the length of the features 104 may be varied to achieve the desired optical contact area in each neighborhood. If it is not feasible to fabricate the features 104 small enough to achieve the desired optical contact area in any neighborhood, then some of the features 104 may be omitted entirely. The features 104 that are omitted may be in a carefully-chosen pattern (such as every other one, every third one, or in a ‘checkerboard’ pattern), or they may be omitted in a randomly chosen pattern, so long as the optical contact area in each small neighborhood is preserved. Methods known in the art may be used to determine the length of features and which features are omitted. These methods include dithering techniques such as half-toning, Floyd-Steinberg dithering, and partially-random dithering methods.
In another example embodiment, the lengths of the features 104 may be constant and the second pitch 203 varied to achieve the desired optical contact area. In this case, the x positions, and resulting pitches, of the features may be randomly perturbed to lessen Moiré effects.
In other example embodiments, the length of features 104 and the second pitch 203 are both varied while maintaining the desired optical contact ratio within each neighborhood. For purposes of illustration, consider the area of the LEX 102 divided into rows. Further suppose the desired optical contact ratio in a neighborhood requires that 60% of a row in the x-direction consist of features 104, with 40% ‘empty’ space between features. This could be achieved by features 104 that are 60 micrometers long and spaces that are 40 micrometers long (i.e., second pitch 203 of 100 micrometers), or features 104 that are 90 micrometers long and spaces that are 60 micrometers long (for a second pitch 203 of 150 micrometers), or any other combination that maintains the approximately 60:40 ratio between feature lengths and spaces. A row may have features 104 and spaces therebetween of several sizes, where the average over the neighborhood achieves substantially the desired optical contact ratio. The feature positions, lengths, and spaces may follow a pattern designed to minimize Moiré interference effects; or may be chosen randomly from a range of possible values such that the desired optical contact ratio is achieved.
In still other example embodiments, first pitch 202 and second pitch 203 may both be varied across the LEX in ways that avoid or minimize Moiré effects. One example of placing features 104 in these embodiments, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, is analogous to the placement of backlight dots as described in Journal of the Optical Society of America A, Vol. 20, No. 2, February 2003, pp. 248-255, to Ide, et al., the disclosure of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference. With this method, the locations of features 104 are determined by combinations of known methods such as random placement, low-discrepancy sequences, and dynamic relaxation. Additional similar methods will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. As applied to the present embodiment, such methods result in non-periodic yet varying-pitch patterns that achieve the desired optical contact ratio within each small neighborhood of the LEX 102 and simultaneously avoid or minimize Moiré patterns.
An alternative method to vary the optical contact area in different regions of the LEX 102 involves varying the width of the contact area of each feature 104 measured in the y-direction of
As described below, straightforward methods may be used to fabricate such features. One factor to be considered when varying the width of the contact area as illustrated in
The methods used to place features, the choices of first and second pitches, and the methods of varying the optical contact area described above may be combined in embodiments. The method chosen will depend on the particular application domain and details.
Notably, the optical contact area can be tailored to extract light from the light guide 101 by forming the features 104 as discrete or discontinuous elements, having a substantially constant pitch (in the y-direction of
A LEX according to the example embodiments may be fabricated using a variety of known methods, generally involving replication from a mold.
In one embodiment, the mold may be planar and the LEX is formed by injection molding. In another embodiment, the LEX is formed as a film in a roll-to-roll process using a mold in roller form. Suitable forming processes will be known to those skilled in the art, including but not limited to solvent or heat embossing, UV casting, or extrusion-roll molding as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,583,936, the disclosure of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference. After the continuous film is formed in a roll-to-roll process, then the individual LEX pieces may be cut from the film. If the optical contact ratio of the LEX only varies along the y-direction, then the roller for the LEX may be made with one or more continuous bands around the roller, and the individual LEX pieces may be cut from film that is molded from any circumferential position around the roller. However, if the optical contact ratio of the LEX varies along the x-direction as well, for example to compensate for dark corners in the light guide, then the roller will have one or more rectangular images of the LEX on it, and the individual LEX pieces must be cut from the corresponding locations on the film. The roller might have images of one or more different LEX designs for multiple applications.
A roller for molding LEX may be fabricated using a gravure-type engraving process, or by a digitally controlled fast-servo diamond turning machine, or similar technology. For example, gravure-type engraving may be effected in accordance with commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/859,652 entitled “Method for Making Tools for Microreplication” to Thomas Wright, et al. The disclosure of this application is specifically incorporated herein by reference. In these processes, a blank roller is mounted in a cutting machine, and the roller is turned about its axis. A cutting head moves a cutter into and out of the surface of the roller as the roller turns. The cutting edges of the cutter determine the cross section of the mold cavity.
In the coordinate system of
The roller cavities might be cut using single or multiple cuts to achieve the final shape on the roller 601.
In the noted roller-cutting processes, diamond cutters are beneficial because of their ability to form an optical-quality cut surface finish and their resistance to wear, chipping, and other types of cutter damage.
A flat mold for injection molding may be formed by a scribing process using diamond cutting tools described herein. A sleeve may also be mounted on a cylinder and engraved as described herein for fabricating a roller. Then the sleeve may be removed from the cylinder and unrolled to form the molding surface of a flat mold 601. Various replication processes known in the art, such as electroforming, may be used to copy and transform the mold 601 surface into a usable form.
As noted previously, the features of the LEX 102 function under the principle of TIR. TIR (for a structure in air) is achieved when the critical angle φTIR for incident light is exceeded as defined in equation (2) below, where ne is the index of refraction of the material used for the LEX 102.
The critical angle is measured relative to a perpendicular (normal) to the reflective surface. Light 1304 is incident at a point 1305 that has a tangent 1306 thereto. Light 1307 is incident at a more elevated point 1308 on feature 1302 that has a tangent 1309. The tangent 1306 to the first feature 1301 has a smaller slope than the tangent 1309 of the second feature. As such, the trajectory of the reflected light 1310 is at a lesser angle relative to a normal to the surface 1311 of the adhesive layer 1302. Moreover, the trajectory 1312 of the light reflected from the second feature 1302 is at a greater angle relative to the normal to the surface 1311.
As the LEX 102 is useful in redirecting light from light sources 103, there may be cases where it is useful to have a feature disposed over the adhesive layer, and in other cases it may be useful to embed the feature in the material by a selective depth to alter the trajectory by varying the point of incidence.
The adhesive layer 1302 is often needed to provide a complete and robust assembly. The features of the LEX often are partially embedded as second feature 1303 is shown in
Feature 1313 includes a base 1314 that is embedded in the adhesive material 1302 so that a lower surface 1315 of the feature 1313 is disposed substantially at the top surface of the adhesive layer. In this manner, the shape of the feature 1313 may be used to provide the light along a trajectory substantially perpendicular to the surface of the adhesive 1303 and thus the LEX 102. Notably, the base 1314 has a height of approximately 1.0 micrometers to approximately 5.0 micrometers and a width of approximately 10.0 micrometers to approximately 30.0 micrometers. The shape of the base 1314 may be rectangular, spherical, parabolic, triangular, a continuation of the shape of the feature sides, or other shapes. Moreover, because the base 1314 is embedded in the adhesive, which has an index of refraction that is substantially identical to the index of refraction of the base 1314, the base is optically inert. To wit, light incident on the base is neither reflected nor refracted by the base.
Beneficially, the base 1314 allows predictability in the LEX in air. To this end, without the base 1314 it is difficult to determine the depth at which the lower surface 1315 of a feature will be embedded in the adhesive. This impacts the slope of the tangent to the feature and thus the trajectory of light reflected by the feature. With the base, the lower surface may be disposed over the adhesion layer and slope of the tangent can be readily determined. Therefore, the trajectory of the reflected light is also predicted and thus consistent from feature to feature. This improves the uniformity of the light output across the surface of the LEX.
As noted previously, the features 104 of the LEX 102 may be one of a variety of shapes. The cross-sectional shape chosen for redirecting light depends on desired trajectories. These shapes include ellipses, parabolas, aspheric elements, and composites of at least two shapes. The two sides of the LEX features 104 may have different shapes. Some representative shapes are described presently.
Z(y)=71.42857y2 (3)
Z(y)=78.83476y2−93751.82y4+2.244680E8y6−1.813808E11y8 (4)
As noted previously, the LEX 102 of the illustrative embodiments described provides improved luminance to display and light components and thus improves the image and lighting brightness. Moreover, the uniformity of the light output from the LEX 102 is also improved compared to known light redirecting layers.
As can be appreciated, the peak 1601′ of the luminance is significantly greater than the peak 1602′ of the luminance of the known BEF layer. Moreover, the curve 1602 includes side lobes 1603. These side lobes 1603 represent regions of brightness and thus light leakage at the extreme viewing angles.
The width of the peak luminance is often used to characterize light redirecting films. In the example embodiment, the width of the peak is between points 1604 and 1605 and has an angular breadth (Full Width Half-Maximum (FWHM)) of approximately 20.0 degrees.
Z(y)=66.67y2 (5)
The viewing angle, as measured by FWHM between points 1902 and 1903, is approximately 60 degrees.
In view of this disclosure it is noted that the various methods and devices described herein can be implemented in a variety of applications. Further, the various materials, elements and parameters are included by way of example only and not in any limiting sense. In view of this disclosure, those skilled in the art can implement the present teachings in determining their own techniques and needed equipment to effect these techniques, while remaining within the scope of the appended claims.
The present invention is related to the following commonly assigned, pending application: “Brightness Enhancement Film Using Light Concentrator Array” to Junwon Lee et al., U.S. Ser. No. 10/785,598, filed Feb. 24, 2004. The disclosure of this application is specifically incorporated herein by reference.
