Patent · US Expired

Liquid crystal display system with internally reflecting waveguide for backlighting and non-Lambertian diffusing

US5838403A · kind A · utility

151Cited by
45References
67Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 14, 1996
Grant dateNov 17, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 14, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/133615
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing an LCD with a collimated backlight and a non-Lambertian diffuser are described. An LCD system includes: an illumination source for producing light; a collimating waveguide optically connected to the illumination source, the collimating waveguide including a top surface, an incident end and a plurality of substantially parallel optical elements for redirecting light from the incident end to, and through, the top surface, each of the plurality of substantially parallel optical elements including a first facet that is nonparallel to the top surface and a second facet that is nonparallel to the top surface; a reflector optically connected to the light source and optically connected to the collimating waveguide, the reflector (1) at least partially surrounding the illumination source, and (2) reflecting light from said illumination source to said incident end by direct reflection; a liquid crystal display optically connected to the collimating waveguide; and a non-Lambertian diffuser optically connected to the liquid crystal display for directing light from said liquid crystal display. The light from the reflector is directly incident upon the incident …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.