IP Library Granted Patent US 7,623,197
Granted Patent B2
US 7,623,197 · App. 11/367,291 · Granted Nov 24, 2009

Flat screen

Assignee: Nanogate Advanced Materials GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,623,197
App. No.
11/367,291
Granted
Nov 24, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A flat screen comprises a liquid-crystal element, such as an LCD element, for representing an image. Further, a plurality of point light sources, such as LEDs, are provided. Between the point light sources and the liquid-crystal element a light-guiding element is arranged. For rendering the brightness distribution more uniform, the light-guiding element comprises at a surface thereof a plurality of diffractive surface elements arranged in cells.

Claims (31)

1. A flat screen comprising:

a liquid-crystal element for image representation,

an illuminating element comprising a plurality of point light sources,

a light-guiding element arranged between the illuminating element and the liquid-crystal element, and

diffractive surface elements at a surface of the light-guiding element, for rendering the brightness distribution and/or the wavelength distribution more uniform, wherein the surface elements have a size of 0.04-10,000 μm 2 and are arranged at a distance to each other of 0-100 μm, wherein the individual surface elements are arranged at a distance to each other of 0-15 μm.

2. The flat screen according to claim 1 , characterized in that the individual surface elements act as diffraction gratings which produce a collimated light bundle with spectral light splitting.

3. The flat screen according to claim 1 , characterized in that the surface elements are arranged such that by superposition of at least two adjacent light bundles monochromatic light and/or white light is produced.

4. The flat screen according to claim 1 , wherein the surface elements have a size of 0.04-500 μm 2 .

5. The flat screen according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of surface elements with different surface structures are combined to form a surface element group for the purpose of producing essentially white light.

6. The flat screen according to claim 5 , characterized in that the location of the surface element group is matched to the location of the point light sources.

7. The flat screen according to claim 5 , characterized in that the number of surface element groups in the edge region, in particular in the corners, is increased.

8. The flat screen according to claim 5 , characterized in that, on a top side of the light-guiding element, cells comprising a plurality of surface element groups are arranged, wherein one cell is assigned to each point light source.

9. The flat screen according to claim 5 , characterized in that the distance between the surface element groups decreases from a cell center in outward direction.

10. The flat screen according to claim 1 , characterized in that the location of the surface elements is matched to the location of the point light sources.

11. The flat screen according to claim 1 , characterized in that the point light sources are arranged at a distance to each other of at least 5 mm, and preferably at least 10 mm.

12. The flat screen according to claim 1 , characterized in that the point light sources are LED's which essentially emit white light.

13. A flat screen comprising:

a liquid-crystal element for image representation,

an illuminating element comprising a plurality of point light sources,

a light-guiding element arranged between the illuminating element and the liquid-crystal element, and

diffractive surface elements at a surface of the light-guiding element, for rendering the brightness distribution and/or the wavelength distribution more uniform, wherein the number of surface elements in the edge region, in particular in the corners, is increased.

14. The flat screen according to claim 1 , characterized in that, on the surface of the light-guiding element, cells comprising a plurality of surface elements are arranged, wherein one cell is assigned to each point light source.

15. The flat screen according to claim 14 , characterized in that each point light source is arranged concentrically with a cell.

16. The flat screen according to claim 14 , characterized in that the distance between the surface elements decreases from a cell center in outward direction.

17. The flat screen according to claim 14 , characterized in that the individual cells of the light-guiding element comprises regions of lower transparency opposite the individual point light sources.

18. The flat screen according to claim 17 , characterized in that the transparency of each cell increases from the center of the cell in an outward direction.

19. A flat screen comprising:

a liquid-crystal element for image representation,

an illuminating element comprising a plurality of point light sources,

a light-guiding element arranged between the illuminating element and the liquid-crystal element, and

diffractive surface elements at a surface of the light-guiding element, for rendering the brightness distribution and/or the wavelength distribution more uniform, wherein the number of point light sources in the edge region, in particular in the corners, is increased.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2006
From: KLENKE, MARTIN
To: NANOGATE ADVANCED MATERIALS GMBH
Reel/Frame 017972/0797 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 05005249 · Mar 10, 2005 · regional
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 6069171700 · Jun 17, 2005
Related Publication 20080007671A1 · Jan 10, 2008