Patent · US Expired

Compact lighting system and display device

US7364343B2 · kind B2 · utility

23Cited by
4References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 2002
Grant dateApr 29, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 7, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/0055
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A compact backlight system for illuminating a display device (12) has a light-emitting panel (1) with a front wall (2) and an opposed rear wall (3) and with edge surfaces (4, 5). At least one of the edge surfaces (4) is light-transmitting. The backlight system has a light source (6) comprising a limited number of LEDs. Light from the light source (6) is coupled into the light-emitting panel (1) via the edge surface that is light-transmitting. According to the invention, the light-emitting panel (1) is wedge-shaped, and the surface area Si of the light-transmitting edge surface (4) and the surface area Sr of the opposite edge surface (5) fulfill the relation: 1<(Sr/Si)<10, preferably 1.5<(Sr/Si)<5. Light travelling for the first time from the light-transmitting edge surface through the light-emitting panel (1) towards the opposite edge surface (5) cannot be coupled out of the light emitting panel (1).

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