IP Library Granted Patent US 7,278,773
Granted Patent B2
US 7,278,773 · App. 10/956,909 · Granted Oct 9, 2007

Backlight unit for liquid crystal display

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,278,773
App. No.
10/956,909
Granted
Oct 9, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device includes a lamp, a lamp housing surrounding the lamp with an opening, a prism light guide plate having a first side corresponding to the opening and having prisms at a lower surface thereof, the prism light guide plate including a first portion of an even surface at the lower surface adjacent to the lamp, and a reflector opposite the lower surface of the prism light guide plate.

Claims (33)

1. A backlight unit comprising:

a first lamp; and

a light guide plate containing:

a first edge face adjacent to the first lamp, and

a lower surface having a first even surface extending from the first edge face and a portion on which prisms are disposed, the prism having a longitudinal direction,

wherein the longitudinal direction of the prism is substantially in parallel with a direction from the first edge face to an edge face opposing the first edge face and the prisms have substantially identical depth.

2. The backlight unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a second lamp adjacent to a second edge face of the light guide plate, the second edge face opposite to the first edge face, the lower surface of the light guide plate having a second even surface extending from the second edge face.

3. The backlight unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first even surface is inclined with respect to an upper surface of the light guide plate.

4. The backlight unit according to claim 3 , wherein a thickness of the light guide plate at the first edge face is thicker than a thickness of the light guide plate at an edge face opposing the first edge face.

5. The backlight unit according to claim 2 , wherein thicknesses of the light guide plate at the first and second edge faces are the same.

6. The backlight unit according to claim 2 , wherein the lower surface is symmetric around a center of the lower surface.

7. The backlight unit according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second even surfaces each have a width of about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm from the first and second edge faces to the portion of the lower surface on which the prisms are disposed, respectively.

8. The backlight unit according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second even surfaces are level with respect to an upper surface of the light guide plate.

9. The backlight unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a prism sheet and a passivation film over an upper surface of the light guide plate.

10. The backlight unit according to claim 9 , wherein prisms of the prism sheet extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which prisms of the light guide plate extend.

11. The backlight unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a reflector disposed such that light from the first lamp impinging on the reflector is reflected toward the light guide plate.

12. The backlight unit according to claim 11 , wherein at least some of the prisms contact the reflector.

13. The backlight unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first even surface has a width of about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm from the first edge face to the portion of the lower surface on which the prisms are disposed.

14. A backlight unit comprising:

a first lamp; and

a light guide plate containing:

a first edge face adjacent to the first lamp and

a lower surface having:

a first portion extending from the first edge face, and

a second portion on which prisms are disposed, the prism extending substantially in a direction from the first edge face to a second edge face opposing the first edge face, and

a second lamp adjacent to the second edge face of the light guide plate, the lower surface of the light guide plate having a third portion extending from the second edge face, the third portion condensing light from the second lamp that has entered the light guide plate to a smaller extent than the second portion.

15. The backlight unit according to claim 14 , wherein the first portion comprises a first even surface and the third portion comprises a second even surface and wherein the first and second even surfaces each have a width of about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm from the first and second edge faces to the portion of the lower surface on which the prisms are disposed, respectively.

16. The backlight unit according to claim 14 , wherein thicknesses of the light guide plate at the first and second edge faces are the same.

17. The backlight unit according to claim 14 , wherein the lower surface is symmetric around a center of the lower surface.

18. The backlight unit according to claim 14 , wherein the first and second even surfaces are level with respect to an upper surface of the light guide plate.

19. The backlight unit according to claim 14 , further comprising a prism sheet and a passivation film over an upper surface of the light guide plate.

20. The backlight unit according to claim 19 , wherein prisms of the prism sheet extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which prisms of the light guide plate extend.

21. The backlight unit according to claim 14 , further comprising a reflector disposed such that light from the first lamp impinging on the reflector is reflected toward the light guide plate.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 21, 2008
From: LG. PHILIPS LCD CO., LTD.
To: LG DISPLAY CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 020976/0243 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2004
From: HA, HEON-SOO
To: LG, PHILIPS LCD CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 015868/0183 →