OPTICAL MEMBER, BACK LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND DISPLAY APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE BACKLIGHT ASSEMBLY
An optical member is provided and includes a bottom surface upon which light is incident from an outside source. The optical member also includes a top surface, facing the bottom surface, from which the incident light through the bottom surface exits. The optical member further includes a plurality of light controllers formed between the bottom surface and the top surface by removing portions of the optical member to mix and diffuse the incident light.
1 . An optical member comprising:
a bottom surface upon which light is incident from an outside source;
a top surface, facing the bottom surface, from which the incident light through the bottom surface exits; and
a plurality of light controllers formed between the bottom surface and the top surface by removing portions of the optical member to mix and diffuse the incident light,
wherein a ratio of a length of each light controller to a thickness of the optical member is from about 0.7:1 to about 1:1, and a ratio of a width of each light controller to the thickness of the optical member is from about 0.15 to about 1.
2 . A backlight assembly comprising:
a light generator generating light; and
an optical member positioned above the light generator, the optical member including a plurality of light controllers formed between a bottom surface and a top surface of the optical member by removing portions of the optical member to mix and diffuse incident light, the light controllers refracting the incident light to change a path of the incident light.
3 . The backlight assembly of claim 2 , wherein the light controllers define holes formed through the bottom surface and the top surface, the light controllers refracting the incident light to change a path of the incident light.
4 . The backlight assembly of claim 2 , wherein a ratio of a length of each light controller to a thickness of the optical member is from about 0.7:1 to about 1:1, and a ratio of a width of each light controller to the thickness of the optical member is from about 0.15 to about 1.
5 . The backlight assembly of claim 2 , wherein the light generator comprises a plurality of light sources emitting the light having different colors from each other.
6 . The backlight assembly of claim 5 , wherein the light sources comprise light emitting diodes (LED).
7 . The backlight assembly of claim 6 , wherein the light controllers are positioned at a peripheral region of the light sources, when viewed in a plan view.
8 . The backlight assembly of claim 7 , wherein a number of the light controllers are disposed on the bottom surface of the optical member to form at least one pattern of a diamond shape pattern, a pentagonal shape pattern, and a hexagonal shape pattern.
9 . The backlight assembly of claim 5 , wherein the light sources are divided into a plurality of light source groups separated from each other by a predetermined distance, and each of the light source groups comprises at least one red light source, at least one green light source, and at least one blue light source.
10 . The backlight assembly of claim 9 , wherein the light controllers are positioned at a peripheral region of the light source groups, when viewed in a plan view.
11 . The backlight assembly of claim 2 , wherein the optical member comprises at least one pattern of a diffusing pattern, a plurality of beads, and a plurality of voids to diffuse the incident light.
12 . A display apparatus comprising:
a backlight assembly including a light generator generating light and an optical member positioned above the light generator, the optical member including a plurality of light controllers formed between a bottom surface and a top surface of the optical member by removing portions of the optical member to mix and diffuse the light; and
a display panel disposed above the optical member to display an image using diffused light from the optical member.
13 . The display apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the light controllers define holes formed through the bottom surface and the top surface.
14 . The display apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the light generator comprises a plurality of point light sources.
15 . The display apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the light controllers are positioned at a peripheral region of the point light sources, when viewed in a plan view.
16 . The display apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a number of the light controllers are disposed on the bottom surface of the optical member to form at least one pattern of a diamond shape pattern, a pentagonal shape pattern, and a hexagonal shape pattern.
17 . The display apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the optical member comprises at least one pattern of a diffusing pattern, a plurality of beads, and a plurality of voids to diffuse the incident light.
18 . A method of manufacturing a backlight assembly, comprising:
forming an optical member having a bottom surface upon which light is incident and a top surface facing the bottom surface from which the incident light through the bottom surface exits;
disposing the optical member above a light generator, the light generator generating the light; and
forming a plurality of light controllers between the bottom surface and top surface by removing portions of the optical member to mix and diffuse the light.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein forming a plurality of light controllers includes defining holes through the bottom surface and the top surface, the light controllers refracting the incident light to change a path of the incident light.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein a ratio of a length of each light controller to a thickness of the optical member is from about 0.7:1 to about 1:1, and a ratio of a width of each light controller to the thickness of the optical member is from about 0.15 to about 1.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the light generator includes a plurality of light sources that emit red, green, and blue light components, the method further comprising:
disposing the light controllers on the optical member at a peripheral region of the light sources.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein a number of the light controllers are disposed on the bottom surface of the optical member to form at least one pattern of a diamond shape pattern, a pentagonal shape pattern, and a hexagonal shape pattern.
23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the optical member comprises at least one pattern of a diffusing pattern, a plurality of beads, and a plurality of voids to diffuse the incident light.