Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    (a) Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is related to a light source efficiency upgrading installation, and more particularly, to one that is capable of upgrading the overall efficiency of the light source and effectively solve the problem of creating dim and dark bands as found with a backlight module of the prior art. 
         [0003]    (b) Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Usually a direct or side emitting backlight module configuration may be elected according to design requirements for a liquid crystal display (LCD) applied in an information installation.  FIG. 1  of the accompanying drawings for a schematic view of a basic construction of a direct backlight module configuration, the construction of the entire backlight module is comprised of a reflection mask  11 , multiple light sources  12 , a diffuser  13 , multiple optical films  14 , and a liquid crystal panel  15  in sequence going from the inside to the outside. Wherein, each light source  12  may be related to a lamp made in a straight form, U-shaped, or any other continuously curved form. Multiple light sources  12  are arranged with a proper spacing among one another at where between the reflective mask  11  and the diffuser  13 . Those multiple optical films disposed between the diffuser  13  and the liquid crystal panel  15  generally available in the market are comprised of one or up to three diffusers; zero or up two light enforcement films, and zero or one reflective polarized film to diffuse light passing through the liquid crystal panel so to correct the problem of creating dim and dark bands on the liquid crystal module due to absence of light between the interval of two abutted light sources  12 . 
         [0005]    Whereas the diffuser  13  works only to make sure of constant diffusion of the light passing through it, its results to correct the phenomenon of those dim and dark bands are very limited. Therefore, even though in a certain backlight module a longer spacing between the light source  12  and the diffuser  13  is provided on purpose to expand the range for the light from the light source to enter into the diffuser for reducing those dim and dark bands, its results are very limited and thicker backlight module warranted by the longer spacing between the light source  12  and the diffuser  13  also defies the initial design for a compact liquid crystal module. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a light source efficiency upgrading installation to improve the construction of achieving constant radiation of streams of light emitted from the light source towards the liquid crystal panel while the configuration of the basic composition of the LCD works the same to present light source performance results of a light emitting object through optical films and liquid crystal panel. 
         [0007]    To achieve the purpose, a dimmer is disposed to the backlight module at where in relation to the route the light from light source travels. The dimmer is related to an optical structure that is totally permeable and/or reflects light to upgrade light source efficiency and more effectively distribute streams of light emitted by the light source by eliminating those dim and dark belts found between any two neighboring light sources in a more active and initiative means to solve problems of lower light source efficiency and creating those dim and dark band as found with the prior art. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a construction of a backlight module of the prior art. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing a construction of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B)  are perspective views respectively showing a construction of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing travel of streams of light in a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing travel of streams of light in a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B)  are schematic views respectively showing a construction of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B)  are schematic views respectively showing a construction of a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is schematic view showing a construction of a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is schematic view showing a construction of an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is schematic view showing a construction of a ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The present invention relates to an installation to upgrade light source efficiency by providing a dimmer in a backlight module in relation to the route the light emitted from the light source travels; and the dimmer in a construction that is totally permeates and/or reflects the light is disposed at where streams of light directly or indirectly radiate. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is related to a direct backlight module provided with a dimmer  3  on top of multiple light sources  21 . Each light source  21  is related to a light emitting diode or a lamp, and the dimmer  3  is related to a single optical structure to cover up the top of those multiple light sources  21 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3(A)  for a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a dimmer  3  includes multiple optical structures  31  with each one assigned to an individual light source  21 . As illustrated, one optical structure  31  is disposed on top of its respective light source  21 , disposed between two neighboring light sources  21  in single layer or multiple layers overlapped on one another or crisscross; and those multiple optical structures  31  are provided in any combination of totally permeable, totally reflective, and totally permeable and reflective forms. As illustrated in  FIG. 3(B) , those optical structures  31  are respectively disposed on the top of each light source  21 , between two neighboring light sources  21  in a same reflective mask  22 . A reflective film  23  is disposed below those light sources  21 , and the optical structure  31  is related to a totally permeable, totally reflective, or reflective and permeable form. Wherein, the totally permeable optical structure is related to a transparent film; and the reflective and permeable optical structure includes a pre-processed transparent film or a compound material. The process method is related to sandblasting, etching, atomization, disposition of dots, or macro-molecular material. Process may be applied to control reflectivity and permeability, and a reflectivity/permeability ratio can be adjusted as desired by the user. 
         [0019]    In a fourth preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  showing travel route of light emitted from each light source  21 , an optical structure  311  is disposed on top of each light source  21 . Both of its reflectivity and permeability are set at same 50% so that 50% of streams of light emitted from each light source  21  that go upward and pass through the optical structure  311  while another 50% of streams of light are reflected to the reflective film  23  disposed below the light source  21  before being radiated upwards so to average luminance between any light source  21  and the rest of those light sources  21  to upgrade the efficiency of the light sources  21 , effectively distribute streams of light from all the light sources, and eliminate dim and dark bands otherwise created among light sources. 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Wherein, a totally reflective optical structure  312  is disposed over each light source  21 . All streams of light upwardly emitted from the light source  21  are reflected to the reflective film  23  disposed below the light source  21  before being upwardly radiated so to average luminance between the light source  21  and the rest of those light sources  21  to upgrade efficiency of repeated use of light while eliminating dim and dark bands otherwise existing abut any two neighboring light sources  21 . 
         [0021]    Now referring to  FIG. 6(A) , a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention has a totally light permeable optical structure  313  separately provided above those light sources  21 . The optical structure  313  further supports other optical film (e.g., a diffuser or a prism) and protects those light sources  21  and those optical films  4  respectively provided below and above the optical structure  313 . Other optical structure  31  may be provided above the optical structure  313  in corresponding to each light source  21  as illustrated in  FIG. 6(B) . 
         [0022]    The mounting means for the dimmer  3 , other than those illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , is provided in a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B)  essentially by having one or a plurality of transparent film  32  or compound material to define a dimming area  33  that is totally light permeable and/or reflective or to define another dimming area comprised of any combination of multiple totally light permeable and/or reflectively dimming areas. The dimming area  33  may be processed to be located at where above or among those light sources  21 . 
         [0023]    In a seventh preferred embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the dimmer  3  related to a single optical structure  31  is mounted on the side of those light sources  21  to form a side emitting backlight module. As illustrated, a 2-way light input pattern is comprised of having those light sources  21  disposed on both sides of a light guide plate  24  and the optical structure  31  is provided on a light output side  241  of the light guide plate  24 . 
         [0024]    Alternatively as illustrated in  FIG. 9  for an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention, a dimmer includes multiple optical structures  31  in a quantity same as that of their corresponding light sources  21 . Those light sources  21  input lights from one side of the light guide plate  24  and those optical structures  31  are disposed on the same side  242  of the light guide plate  24 . The dimmer is comprised of one or a plurality of transparent film or compound material processed to define a dimming area that is totally light permeable and/or reflective and the dimming area may be provided on one side in relation to or among those light sources  21 . 
         [0025]    A ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , multiple optical structures  31  are respectively provided on the light output side  241  and both sides  242  of the light guide plate  24 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 ,  9 , and  10 , the dimmer of the present invention is applied to a side emitting backlight module and mounted on the route the streams of light travel. The dimmer  3  related to an optical structure that is totally light permeable and/or reflective is capable of emitting constant streams of light and averaging luminance among those light sources, effectively eliminating those dim and dark bands among those light sources, reducing the quantity of light source needed, minimizing the use of optical films (e.g., diffuser, light enforcement film, or reflective polarizing film) in the backlight module so to more effectively distribute streams of light emitting from those light sources and upgrade the efficiency of repeated use of light. 
         [0026]    The prevent invention provides an improved structure of an installation to upgrade light source efficiency, and this patent application is duly filed accordingly. However, it is to be noted that the preferred embodiments disclosed in the specification and the accompanying drawings are not limiting the present invention; and that any construction, installation, or characteristics that is same or similar to that of the present invention should fall within the scope of the purposes and claims of the present invention.

Technology Category: 3