Optical plate with light diffusion layer and backlight module using the same

[0001] This application is related to three co-pending U.S. Patent Applications, which is: application Ser. No. 11/550,379, filed on Oct. 17, 2006, and entitled “OPTICAL PLATE AND BACKLIGHT MODULE USING THE SAME”; application Ser. No. 11/557,914, filed on Nov. 8, 2006, and entitled “OPTICAL PLATE AND BACKLIGHT MODULE USING THE SAME”; application Ser. No. 11/566,836, filed on Dec. 5, 2006, and entitled “OPTICAL PLATE WITH DIFFUSION LAYER AND BACKLIGHT MODULE USING THE SAME”. In the co-pending application, the inventors are Shao-Han Chang. The co-pending application has the same assignee as the present application. The disclosure of the above identified application is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to optical plates, and more particularly to an optical plate typically used in a backlight module, the backlight module being used in an apparatus such as a liquid crystal display (LCD).

[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art

[0005] In a liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal is a substance that does not itself radiate light. Instead, the liquid crystal relies on light received from a light source, in order that the liquid crystal can provide displaying of images and data. In the case of a typical liquid crystal display device, a backlight module powered by electricity supplies the needed light.

[0006] FIG. 7 represents a typical direct type backlight module 10. The backlight module 10 includes a housing 11, a plurality of light emitting diodes 12, a light diffusion plate 13, a light diffusion sheet 14, and a prism sheet 15. The housing 111 includes a base 111, and a plurality of sidewalls 113 extending from a periphery of the base 111. Top ends of the sidewalls 113 cooperatively define an opening 112 therebetween. The light diffusion plate 13, the light diffusion sheet 14, and the prism sheet 15 are stacked in that order on the housing 11 above the opening 112. The light emitting diodes 12 are positioned on the base 111 of the housing 11, being arranged in a regular matrix. Light rays emitted from the light emitting diodes 12 are substantially diffused in the light diffusion plate 13, and finally surface light rays are output from the prism sheet 15.

[0007] However, to enhance the uniformity of light rays output by the backlight module 10, there must be a certain space between the light diffusion plate 13 and the light emitting diodes 12. This space eliminates potential dark areas caused by the reduced intensity of light between adjacent light emitting diodes 12. Therefore the backlight module 10 may be unduly thick, and the overall intensity of the output light rays is reduced. Alternatively, the light diffusion plate 13 can be constructed to have sufficient thickness to be able to thoroughly diffuse light rays passing therethrough. In such case, the thickness is typically required to be in the range of about 2 to 3 centimeters.

[0008] In addition, the light diffusion plate 13 is typically manufactured by uniformly dispersing a plurality of light diffusion particles 132 into a transparent resin matrix material 131. Since numerous light rays are diffused by the light diffusion particles 132 a number of times in the light diffusion plate 13, an amount of light energy is lost, and a brightness of the light rays output by the backlight module 10 is reduced.

[0009] Furthermore, the light diffusion plate 13, the light diffusion sheet 14, and the prism sheet 15 are in contact with each other, but with a plurality of air pockets existing at the boundaries therebetween. When the backlight module 10 is in use, light rays pass through the air pockets, and some of the light rays undergo total reflection at one or another of the corresponding boundaries. Thus the light energy utilization ratio of the backlight module 10 is reduced.

[0010] What is needed, therefore, is an optical plate and a backlight module using the optical plate that can overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings.

[0011] An optical plate according to a preferred embodiment includes a transparent plate and a plurality of light diffusion layers. The transparent plate includes a light output surface, a light input surface opposite to the light output surface, and a plurality of spot-shaped recessed portions formed on the light input surface. The light diffusion layers are coated in the spot-shaped recessed portions, such that the light diffusion layers and the light input surface cooperatively define a flat surface. Each light diffusion layer includes transparent resin matrix material, and first light diffusion particles and second light diffusion particles each dispersed in the transparent resin matrix material uniformly. A refractive index of the second light diffusion particles is greater than that of the first light diffusion particles.

[0012] A backlight module according to another preferred embodiment includes a housing, a plurality of point light sources, and an optical plate. The optical plate includes a transparent plate and a plurality of light diffusion layers. The transparent plate includes a light output surface, a light input surface opposite to the light output surface, and a plurality of spot-shaped recessed portions fanned on the light input surface. The light diffusion layers are coated in the spot-shaped recessed portions correspondingly, such that the light diffusion and the light input surface cooperatively define a flat surface. The housing includes a base and a plurality of sidewalls extending from the base, the base and the sidewalls cooperatively fanning an opening. The optical plate is positioned on the housing above the opening. The point light sources are regularly disposed on the base corresponding to the plurality of the spot-shaped recessed portions.

[0013] Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of various embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe preferred embodiments of the present optical plate and backlight module in detail.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, aspects of an optical plate 20 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention are shown. The optical plate 20 includes a transparent plate 21 and a light diffusion layer 22. The transparent plate 21 includes a light input surface 211, a light output surface 212 opposite to the light input surface 211, and a plurality of spot-shaped recessed portions 213 formed at the light input surface 211. The spot-shaped recessed portions 213 are arranged in a matrix. The light diffusion layer 22 is affixed in the spot-shaped recessed portions 213. That is, the light diffusion layer 22 is discontinuous, and is constituted by a group of separate coplanar portions. The light diffusion layer 22 and the light input surface 211 cooperatively define a single flat surface at a bottom of the transparent plate 21. The light output surface 212 is a flat surface. A thickness H of the transparent plate 21 is configured to be in the range from 1.5 millimeters to 3.0 millimeters. The transparent plate 21 can be selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), copolymer of methylmethacrylate and styrene (MS), and any suitable combination thereof.

[0025] Each spot-shaped recessed portion 213 is flared, and defines a central (vertical) axis of symmetry. A width of a recess of each spot-shaped recessed portion 213 increases from a top end of the recess to a bottom end of the recess. Thus a cross-section of each spot-shaped recessed portion 213 defines an isosceles trapezoid. In alternative embodiments, each spot-shaped recessed portion 213 can define an isosceles triangle, a semicircle, a segment on chord, an arc shape, a curved shape, etc. In consideration of light diffusing effects, a ratio of a depth h of each spot-shaped recessed portion 213 to the thickness H of the transparent plate 21 is preferably less than 0.3. Thus, the depth h is configured to be preferably in the range from about 0.45 millimeters to about 0.9 millimeters.

[0026] The light diffusion layer 22 includes transparent resin matrix material 224 in an amount of 5 to 90 percent by weight, and first and second light diffusion particles 221, 222 in a combined amount of 10 to 95 percent by weight. The first and second light diffusion particles 221, 222 are each dispersed into the transparent resin matrix material 224 uniformly. A ratio by weight of the first light diffusion particles 221 to the second light diffusion particles 222 is in the range from 5 to 100. The light diffusion layer 22 is manufactured by solidifying a varnish that has the first and second light diffusion particles 221, 222 dispersed therein. The varnish can be selected from the group consisting of acrylic varnish, acrylic amine varnish, epoxy resin varnish, and any suitable combination thereof. Accordingly, the transparent resin matrix material 224 can be one of acrylic, acrylic amine, epoxy resin, and any suitable combination thereof.

[0027] A refractive index of the second light diffusion particles 222 is larger than that of the first light diffusion particles 221. The refractive index of the first light diffusion particles 221 is in the range from about 1.4 to about 1.7. The refractive index of the second light diffusion particles 222 is larger than 2.0, and is preferably in the range from about 2.0 to about 2.8. A diameter of the first light diffusion particles 221 is larger than that of the second light diffusion particles 222. The diameter of the first light diffusion particles 221 is in the range from about 1 micron to about 500 microns, and the diameter of the second light diffusion particles 222 is in the range from about 0.01 microns to about 1 micron.

[0028] The first light diffusion particles 221 may be selected from the group consisting of polystyrene (PS) particles, polycarbonate (PC) particles, styrene acrylonitrile copolymer particles, polypropylene particles, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) particles, glass beads, silicon dioxide (SiO₂) particles, quartz particles, and any combination thereof. The second light diffusion particles 222 may be selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles, barium sulfate (BaSO₄) particles, zinc sulfide (ZnS) particles, zinc oxide (ZnO) particles, antimony oxide (Sb₂O₃ or Sb₂O₅) particles, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) particles, and any combination thereof.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, the first light diffusion particles 221 can substantially diffuse light rays passing through the light diffusion layer 22. Referring to FIG. 5, the second light diffusion particles 222 can further diffract and reflect the light rays due to their smaller size and larger refractive index compared to the first light diffusion particles 221. Thus the light diffusion layer 22 has good light diffusion capability with the cooperative effects of the first and second light diffusion particles 221, 222. Accordingly, the light diffusion layer 22 of the optical plate 20 may be configured to be very thin, with the optical plate 20 still being able to achieve uniform light diffusion.

[0030] In this embodiment, the light diffusion layer 22 further includes a plurality of fluorescent particles 223 uniformly dispersed in the transparent resin matrix material 224 amongst the first and second light diffusion particles 221, 222. A ratio by weight of the fluorescent particles 223 to the first light diffusion particles 221 is preferably less than 1 percent. When ultraviolet rays from one or more external light sources irradiate the fluorescent particles 223, a significant amount of the ultraviolet rays are converted into visible light and infrared light. Therefore, the rate of utilization of light energy of a backlight module using the optical plate 20 is increased.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical plate 20 further includes a plurality of hemispherical protrusions 23 formed on the light output surface 212 of the transparent plate 21. The hemispherical protrusions 23 are discrete from each other, and are arranged in a matrix. A diameter of each hemispherical protrusion 23 is configured to be in the range from about 10 microns to about 500 microns. The transparent plate 21 and the hemispherical protrusions 23 can be integrally manufactured as a single body by injection molding. When the optical plate 20 is utilized in a backlight module, light rays from light emitting diodes (not shown) enter the optical plate 20. The light rays are substantially diffused in the light diffusion layer 22 of the optical plate 20. Many or most of the light rays are condensed by the hemispherical protrusions 23 of the optical plate 20 before they exit the light output surface 212. Thereby, a brightness of the backlight module is increased.

[0032] In an alternative embodiment, prism lens structures may be formed on the light output surface 212 of the transparent plate 21 of the optical plate 20 instead of the hemispherical protrusions 23. The prism lens structures can be configured for increasing the brightness of a corresponding backlight module. Further, the optical plate 20 is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, referring to FIGS. 8(a)-8(e). the optical plate 20 may further or alternatively include other suitable brightness enhancement structures formed at the light output surface 212 thereof, such as hemispherical grooves 24, V-shaped protrusions 25, V-shaped grooves 26, arc-shaped protrusions 27, arc-shaped grooves 28, and the like.

[0033] When the optical plate 20 is used in a backlight module, the optical plate 20 may replace a light diffusion plate and prism sheet combination that would ordinarily used. Therefore, air pockets that would ordinarily exist in the backlight module are eliminated, and loss of light energy in the backlight module is reduced. In addition, because the single optical plate 20 can be used in place of both a light diffusion plate and a prism sheet, the cost of the backlight module is reduced.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 6, a backlight module 30 in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The backlight module 30 includes a housing 31, a plurality of light emitting diodes 32, and an optical plate 33. The housing 31 includes a base 312, and a plurality of sidewalls 314 extending from a periphery of the base 312. Top ends of the sidewalls 314 cooperatively define an opening 316 therebetween. The optical plate 33 is positioned on the housing 31 above the opening 316.

[0035] The optical plate 33 is substantially the same as the optical plate 20 of the first preferred embodiment, and includes a transparent plate 41 and a light diffusion layer 42. The transparent plate 41 includes a light output surface 412, a light input surface 411 opposite to the light output surface 412, and a plurality of spot-shaped recessed portions 413 formed at the light input surface 411. The spot-shaped recessed portions 413 are arranged in a matrix. The light diffusion layer 42 is affixed in the spot-shaped recessed portions 413. The light diffusion layer 42 and the light input surface 411 cooperatively define a flat bottom surface. The light emitting diodes 32 are regularly arranged on the base 312 in one-to-one correspondence with the spot-shaped recessed portions 412 of the optical plate 33. A largest width d of each spot-shaped recessed portion 213 is configured to equal to or larger than that of the corresponding light emitting diode 32. Further, said width d is less than a pitch D between each two adjacent light emitting diodes 32. Light rays emitted from the light emitting diodes 32 are substantially diffused in the optical plate 33, and finally uniform surface light rays are output from the optical plate 33.

[0036] Because the light emitting diodes 32 are positioned in one-to-one correspondence with the spot-shaped recessed portions 413, many or most light rays that reach portions of the optical plate 33 directly above the light emitting diodes 32 first pass through the corresponding portions of the light diffusion layer 42. Thus, the portions of the optical plate 33 above the light emitting diodes 32 have relatively low illumination. Accordingly, a distance from the light emitting diodes 32 to the optical plate 33 may be configured to be very short, with little or no risk of dark areas being created by the reduced intensity of input light corresponding to spaces between adjacent light emitting diodes 32. Accordingly, the backlight module 30 can have a thin configuration while still providing good, uniform optical performance.

[0037] Finally, while particular embodiments have been described above, the description is illustrative of principles of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.