Optical adjusting apparatus with composite pattern structure

An optical adjusting apparatus having a composite pattern structure is described. The optical adjusting apparatus include a substrate layer, at least one first pattern module and at least one second pattern module. The substrate has a first optical surface and a second optical surface opposite to the first optical surface. The first pattern module positioned on the first optical surface, wherein the first pattern module has a first structure unit along a first arrangement direction. The second pattern module which is adjacent to the first pattern module and positioned on the first optical surface. The second pattern module has the second structure unit along a second arrangement direction. The first structure unit of the first pattern module is connected to the second structure unit of the second pattern module. Therefore, the convergent angle of a light module is adjusted and the brightness of the light module is increased along specific direction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an optical adjusting apparatus, and more particularly to an optical adjusting apparatus having a composite pattern structure wherein the composite pattern structure includes at least two pattern modules with at least two arrangement directions for increasing the luminance of a light source and for adjusting the convergent angle of the light beam issued from the light source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, a brightness enhancement film (BEF) is widely used in a light module to concentrate a light beam generated by a light source. Specifically, the brightness enhancement film (BEF) is applicable to the display monitor to meet the requirement for higher luminance or to the display supplied with a battery set. Such an application attempts to reuse the light outside the visual angle of the user by reflecting the light beam along the direction of the user in order to increase the usage efficiency of the light source.

The brightness enhancement film (BEF) is composed of prism sheets for centralizing the light beam and the prism sheets are arranged by an array of prisms in single direction. The arrangement of the array prisms is regular and monotone. Since the array prisms are only positioned in a simplex direction, the visual angle of the user cannot be properly changed to meet the requirement of the display standards. In addition, the availability of the concentration of the light beam is decreased due to the regular arrangement along single direction, thereby downgrading to the usability of the light module. Consequently, there is a need to develop an optical adjusting apparatus for solving the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The first objective of the present invention is to provide an optical adjusting apparatus having composite pattern structure for concentrating the light beam from the light source.

The second objective of the present invention is to provide an optical adjusting apparatus having composite pattern structure for adjusting the angle of light emission of the light source. According to the above objectives, the present invention sets forth an optical adjusting apparatus having composite pattern structure. The optical adjusting apparatus include a substrate layer, at least one first pattern module and at least one second pattern module. The optical adjusting apparatus having a composite pattern structure for adjusting the convergent angle of a light module and increasing brightness of the light module. The substrate has a first optical surface and a second optical surface opposite to the first optical surface. The first pattern module is positioned on the first optical surface and has at least one first structure unit along a first arrangement direction. The second pattern module is adjacent to the first pattern module and positioned on the first optical surface. The second pattern module has at least one second structure unit along a second arrangement direction. The first arrangement direction of the first structure units and the second arrangement direction of the second structure units therebetween have a predetermined angle for adjusting a convergent angle of a light beam from the second optical surface to the first optical surface of the substrate layer.

The present invention provides an optical adjusting apparatus for adjusting the convergent angle of a light module and increasing brightness of the light module. The optical adjusting apparatus includes pattern modules having a plurality of geometric shapes and each of the pattern modules is composed of a plurality optical structure units. The structure direction of the adjoining pattern modules has at least two arrangement directions. When the light beam enters the optical adjusting apparatus, the total internal reflection is generated by the optical adjusting apparatus for adjusting the convergent angle of the light beam away from the optical adjusting apparatus and for concentrating the light beam. Moreover, another feature of the optical adjusting apparatus is the control of the area of the pattern modules for dominating the output angle, thereby adjusting the angle light emission of the display system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a schematic view of an optical adjusting apparatus100according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The optical adjusting apparatus100include a substrate layer102, a plurality of first pattern modules104aand a plurality of second pattern modules106a. The optical adjusting apparatus100has a composite pattern structure for adjusting the convergent angle of a light module and increasing brightness of the light module within the convergent angle. The substrate layer102has a first optical surface108and a second optical surface110which is opposite to the first optical surface108. The first pattern modules104aare positioned on the first optical surface108and each of the first pattern modules104ahas a plurality of first structure units112aalong a first arrangement direction120a. That is, the first arrangement direction120aindicates the placement direction of the first pattern modules104a. The second pattern modules106aare adjacent to the first pattern modules104aand each of the second pattern modules106ais positioned on the first optical surface108. Each of the second pattern modules106ahas a plurality of second structure units116aalong a second arrangement direction122a. That is, the second arrangement direction122aindicates the placement direction of the second pattern modules106a. The first arrangement direction120aof the first structure units112aand the second arrangement direction122aof the second structure units116atherebetween have a predetermined angle for adjusting a convergent angle of a light beam from the second optical surface110to the first optical surface108of the substrate layer102. The first arrangement direction120aof the first pattern modules104ais different from the second arrangement direction122aof the second pattern modules106aon the first optical surface108. In one case, the first pattern module104aand the second pattern module106aare quadrilateral shape, as shown inFIG. 1. The predetermined angle between the first arrangement direction120aof the first pattern module104aand the second arrangement direction122aof the second pattern module106ahas a range from 0 to 30 degrees.

FIG. 2is a schematic view of an optical adjusting apparatus200according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The optical adjusting apparatus200is similar to the optical adjusting apparatus100shown inFIG. 1. The difference between the optical adjusting apparatus200and the optical adjusting apparatus100is the shape and arrangement of pattern module. The optical adjusting apparatus200include a substrate layer102, a plurality of first pattern modules104b, a plurality of second pattern modules106b, and a plurality of third pattern modules107. The substrate layer102has a first optical surface108and a second optical surface110opposite to the first optical surface108. The first pattern modules104bare positioned on the first optical surface108and each of the first pattern modules104bhas a plurality of first structure units112balong a first arrangement direction120b. The second pattern modules106bare adjacent to the first pattern modules104band positioned on the first optical surface108. Each of the second pattern modules106bhas a plurality of second structure units116balong a second arrangement direction122b. The third pattern module107is adjoined to the first pattern module104band the second pattern module106band positioned on the first optical surface108. The third pattern module107has a plurality of third structure units116calong a third arrangement direction123.

On the first optical surface108, the first arrangement direction120bof the first pattern module104b, the second arrangement direction122bof the second pattern module106b, and the third arrangement direction123of the third pattern module107are different. The first arrangement direction120bof the first structure units112b, the second arrangement direction122bof the second structure units116b, and the third arrangement direction123of the third pattern module107therebetween have predetermined angles for adjusting a convergent angle of a light beam from the second optical surface110to the first optical surface108of the substrate layer102. In one case, the first pattern module104b, the second pattern module106band the third pattern module117are hexagonal shape. In one embodiment, the angle among the first arrangement direction120bof the first pattern module104b, the second arrangement direction122bof the second pattern module106band the third arrangement direction123of the third pattern module117ranges from 0 degree to 30 degrees. Preferably, the angle among the first arrangement direction120b, the second arrangement direction122band the third arrangement direction123is 15 degrees.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the first pattern module104a,104bhas arbitrary geometric shape. Further, the first pattern module104a,104bis composed of first structure units112a,112bhaving different shapes. The second pattern module106a,106bhas an arbitrary geometric shape. Further, the second pattern module106a,106bis composed of the second structure units116a,116bhaving different shapes. The third pattern module117has an arbitrary geometric shape. Further, the third pattern module117is composed of the third structure units116chaving different shapes. In other words, the first pattern modules1041,104b, the second pattern modules106a,106b, and/or the third pattern modules117respectively have an arbitrary geometric shape to be matched therebetween. Based on the total internal reflection mechanism of the first pattern modules104a,104b, the second pattern modules106a,106b, and/or the third pattern modules117, the light beam is concentrated by the first structure units112a,112b, the second structure units116a,117b, and/or the third structure units116calong a variety of arrangement directions for converging the light beam to adjust the convergent angle.

In comparison with conventional two film layers on the substrate, the optical adjusting apparatus100,200in the present invention utilizes a single layer including a plurality of first pattern modules104aand a plurality of second pattern modules106aand/or the third pattern modules117for saving the manufacturing cost of the light module. Moreover, the arrangement directions and the area of the pattern modules can be adjusted to effectively control the convergent angle of the light beam. In other words, the areas of the first pattern module104a,104b, the second pattern module106a,106b, and/or the third pattern module107are adjusted to modify the convergent angle of the light beam through the first optical surface108.

Please refer toFIGS. 3A and 3B.FIG. 3Ais schematic view of dragging a two-dimensional cross-section pattern304to form a structure unit via a dragging path300along an arrangement direction302according to one embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3Bis schematic views of two-dimensional cross-section patterns for constructing the optical adjusting apparatus according to four embodiments of the present invention. InFIG. 3A, each of the first structure units is a three-dimensional structure which is constructed by dragging a first two-dimensional cross-section pattern304, e.g. triangular pattern, via a first dragging path along the first arrangement direction. Each of the second structure units includes a three-dimensional structure which is constructed by a second two-dimensional cross-section pattern, e.g. triangular pattern, via a second dragging path along the second arrangement direction. In one embodiment, the size of the two-dimensional pattern304on the substrate layer102is the range from 10 μm to 500 μm to improve the convergent efficiency of the optical adjusting apparatus.

The first dragging path of first structure unit and the second dragging path of the second structure unit are selected from one group consisting of a straight line-type, a curved line-type, and a line-type generated by a trigonometric function. For example, the first dragging path along the first arrangement direction and the second dragging path along the second arrangement direction are a straight line-type, respectively. The first dragging path along the first arrangement direction and the second dragging path along the second arrangement direction are a curved line-type, respectively. The first dragging path along the first arrangement direction and the second dragging path along the second arrangement direction are a line-type which is generated by a trigonometric function, respectively. The first dragging path along the first arrangement direction is a straight line-type and the second dragging path along the second arrangement direction is a line-type which is generated by a trigonometric function. In one embodiment, the starting point and an end point of the three-dimensional structure is generated along the first arrangement direction and the second arrangement direction. That is, the dragging path is along the dragging direction to generate a structure having a dragging length306.

InFIG. 3B, The first and second two-dimensional cross-section patterns respectively are selected from one group consisting of a triangular pattern, a semi-circular pattern, a parabolic curve pattern, and a triangular and parabolic curve pattern, and an arbitrary closed-type profile.

Please refer toFIG. 3C.FIG. 3Cis schematic view of structure units having different vertex angles for constructing the optical adjusting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. A first vertex angle308aof each of the first structure units310ais different from a second vertex angle308bof each of the second structure units310b. In one embodiment, the first vertex angle308aof each of the first structure units310aand the second vertex angle308bof each of the second structure units310bhave a range from 90 to 100 degrees. In this case, the first structure units310aand the second structure units310binclude a triangular pattern. In another case, the first vertex angle has a first arc-shape and the second vertex angle has a second arc-shape which is different from the first arc-shape. The first vertex angle has a first arc-shape and the second vertex angle has a second arc-shape which is the same as the first arc-shape. The first structure units310ain the first pattern modules and the second structure units in the second pattern modules are positioned in a regular arrangement. Alternatively, the first structure units310ain the first pattern module and the second structure units310bin the second pattern module are positioned in an irregular arrangement.

FIGS. 4A-4Care schematic views of the optical adjusting apparatuses400a,400b, and400caccording to three embodiments of the present invention. The optical adjusting apparatus400a,400b, and400care similar to the optical adjusting apparatuses100,200shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The main difference between the optical adjusting apparatus400a,400b, and400cand the optical adjusting apparatus200is the dragging path of the pattern module. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the dragging paths of structure units of the pattern modules104a,106a,104b,104c,107is straight line-type. As shown inFIGS. 4A-4C, the dragging paths in the pattern modules402a,402bis the combinations of straight line-type and curved line-type.

InFIG. 4A, each pattern module402aor402bhas only a structure unit, respectively. The dragging path of the structure unit in the first pattern module402ais straight line-type, and dragging path of the structure unit in the second pattern module402bis a line-type which is generated by a trigonometric function. The first pattern module402aand the second pattern module402bare arranged by interlaced profiles. Further, each of the structure units of the first pattern module402ais continuously connected to each of the structure units of the second pattern module402b.

Similarly, inFIGS. 4B and 4C, each pattern module402aor402bhas plurality of structure units, respectively. In this case, the number of structure unit of the first pattern module402aand the second pattern module402bis three. In another case, the number of structure unit can be two or more than three. The dragging path of the structure unit in the first pattern module404ais straight line-type, and dragging path of the structure unit in the second pattern module404bis a line-type which is generated by a trigonometric function. The first pattern module404aand the second pattern module404bare arranged by interlaced profiles and identical lengths, as shown inFIG. 4B. The first pattern module406aand the second pattern module406bare arranged by interlaced profiles and varied lengths, as shown inFIG. 4C. Further, each of the structure units of the first pattern modules404a,406ais continuously connected to each of the structure units of the second pattern module404b,406b.

InFIGS. 4A-4C, the predetermined angle among the first arrangement direction of the first pattern module and the second arrangement direction of the second pattern module ranges from 0 degree to 30 degrees. Preferably, the predetermined angle between the first arrangement direction and the second arrangement direction is 10 degrees. The first pattern module402a,404a,406aand the second pattern module402b,404b,406bare quadrilateral shape or the shape has the arbitrary number of edges.

In addition, as shown inFIGS. 1-2, and4A-4C, the first pattern module104a,104b, the second pattern module106a,106band the third pattern module107respectively have an arbitrary geometric shape to be matched therebetween. Further, the areas of the first pattern module104a,104b, the second pattern module106a,106band the third pattern module107respectively are adjusted to further modify the convergent angle of a light beam of the first optical surface.

Please refer toFIG. 1andFIGS. 5A-5B.FIGS. 5A-5Billustrate cross-sectional views of issuing the light beam to the optical adjusting apparatuses according to one embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 5A, the light beam500from the light source penetrates into the substrate layer102from the second optical surface110to the first optical surface108. InFIG. 5B, the light beam500from the light source penetrates into the substrate layer102via one lateral side or two lateral sides of the substrate layer102. The output light beam501is convergent. In one embodiment, the refraction index of the first structure unit112a,112bof the first pattern module104a,104band the second structure unit116a,116bof the second pattern module106a,106bon the substrate layer102is greater than one so that the light beam500generates the total internal reflection within the substrate layer102.

Please refer toFIGS. 1,6A-6B.FIGS. 6A-6Bare schematic profiles of the brightness and convergent angle of the light beam of the optical adjusting apparatuses according to one embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 6A, the horizontal axis represents the convergent angle of the light beam along the horizontal direction shown inFIG. 1. The vertical axis represents the brightness corresponding to the convergent angle along the horizontal direction shown inFIG. 1. InFIG. 6B, the horizontal axis represents the convergent angle of the light beam along the vertical direction shown inFIG. 1. The vertical axis represents the brightness corresponding to the convergent angle along the vertical direction shown inFIG. 1.

InFIG. 6A, curve600represents the conventional convergent angle and brightness of the light beam along one direction. The curve600arepresents the proposed convergent angle and brightness of the light beam along the horizontal direction. InFIG. 6B, curve602represents another conventional convergent angle and brightness of the light beam along one direction. The curve602arepresents another proposed convergent angle and brightness of the light beam along the vertical direction.

Conventionally, the brightness and intensity of curve600at the angle (e.g. 40 degrees) of full width at half maximum is different the brightness and intensity of curve602at the angle (e.g. 40 degrees) of full width at half maximum. Conversely, the brightness and intensity of curve600aat the angle (e.g. 40 degrees) of full width at half maximum is the same as the brightness and intensity of curve602aat the angle (e.g. 40 degrees) of full width at half maximum. In other words, the light beam is diffused at the vertical and horizontal directions. Basically, the convergent angle along the horizontal direction is decreased and the convergent angle along the horizontal direction is increased. Additionally, the optical adjusting apparatus is capable of adjusting the area of the pattern module to modify the brightness at different directions, e.g. vertical and horizontal directions. Further, the arrangement directions can be increased to diffuse the light beam at different directions.

According to the above-mentioned descriptions, the present invention provides an optical adjusting apparatus for adjusting the convergent angle of a light module and increasing brightness of the light module. The optical adjusting apparatus includes pattern modules having a plurality of geometric shapes and each of the pattern modules is composed of a plurality optical structure units. The structure direction of the adjoining pattern modules has at least two arrangement directions. When the light beam enters the optical adjusting apparatus, the total internal reflection is generated by the optical adjusting apparatus for adjusting the convergent angle of the light beam away from the optical adjusting apparatus and for concentrating the light beam. Moreover, another feature of the optical adjusting apparatus is the control of the area of the pattern modules for dominating the output angle, thereby adjusting the angle light emission of the display system.