Patent ID: 8089583
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A light-transmissive light guide with high coupling efficiency, short color mixing distance and uniform light distribution for LCD backlight units, comprising: an elongated light-transmissive bulk material having a proximal end, a distal end, a top major surface, and a bottom major surface opposing said top major surface; an input window on said proximal end transverse to said top and bottom major surfaces, configured to allow light from a plurality of light sources to enter the bulk material; a viewing area of the bulk material comprising a portion of said top and bottom major surfaces on which a plurality of micro-lenses are disposed; a mixing region of the bulk material adjacent to said viewing area comprising at least one light containing surface transverse to said top and bottom major surfaces, said mixing region configured to mix light from said plurality of light sources and communicate said light, after mixing, to said viewing area; and a color balancing region of the bulk material disposed between said input window and said mixing region, comprising at least one color balancing surface transverse to said top and bottom major surfaces, said color balancing region configured to balance light from at least two of said light sources of different colors and communicate said light, after color balancing, to said mixing region, wherein said color balancing surface is separated from said light containing surface by a predetermined distance.