Light Guide Plate, and Backlight Module and Liquid Crystal Display Comprising the Same

Abstract

A light guide plate structure, for use with a back light module of a liquid crystal display, has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end portion, a second end portion which is opposite the first end portion, and a plurality of substantially paralleled V-shape grooves formed on the bottom surface and extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. Each of said V-shape grooves comprises a top angle with a continuous variation from the first end portion to the second end portion. The present invention gets rid of the dark areas of an LCD that appear adjacent to one of the end portions in conventional models, thus enhancing the uniformity in its brightness levels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic view illustrating a conventional light guide plate with uniform V-shape grooves;

FIG. 1B is a schematic view illustrating the bright/dark areas in view of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating frequent total-reflective paths in a conventional light guide plate that has a uniform thickness;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating rare total-reflective paths in a conventional tapered light guide plate that has a gradually converging thickness;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the light guide plate that has V-shape grooves with gradually increasing top angles according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic end view illustrating V-shape grooves at opposing ends of the light guide plate according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A light guide plate having: a top surface;a bottom surface;a first end portion; anda second end portion opposite to the first end portion;wherein the bottom surface is formed with a plurality of substantially paralleled V-shape grooves which extend from the first end portion to the second end portion, and each of the V-shape grooves has a top angle gradually varying from the first end portion to the second end portion.

2. The light guide plate as claimed in claim 1, having a profile gradually tapered from the first end portion to the second end portion.

3. The light guide plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top angle is gradually greater from the first end portion to the second end portion.

4. The light guide plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top angle is about 110 degrees at the first end portion and about 140 degrees at the second end portion.

5. A backlight module comprising: a light guide plate, having: a top surface;a bottom surface;a first end portion; anda second end portion disposed opposite to the first end portion;wherein the bottom surface is formed with a plurality of substantially paralleled V-shape grooves, which extend from the first end portion to the second end portion, and each of the V-shape grooves has a top angle gradually varying from the first end portion to the second end portion; andan illumination device disposed on a side of the light guide plate to provide light from the first end portion to the second end portion.

6. The backlight module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the light guide plate has a profile gradually tapered from the first end portion to the second end portion.

7. The backlight module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the top angle is gradually greater from the first end portion to the second end portion.

8. The backlight module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the top angle is gradually greater from the first end portion to the second end portion.

9. The backlight module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the top angle is about 110 degrees at the first end portion and 140 degrees at the second end portion.

10. A liquid crystal display comprising the backlight module as claimed in claim 5 and a liquid crystal panel disposed above the backlight module.

11. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 10, wherein the liquid crystal panel has a dimension between about 15 inches and about 19 inches.