# US 11,112,558 B2 · Light guide module and display module having the same

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- Number: US 11,112,558 B2
- Document ID: US11112558B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/903,362
- Filed: 2020-06-16
- Published: 2021-01-07
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-07-03
- Assignees: E Ink Holdings Inc.
- Applicants: E Ink Holdings Inc.
- Inventors: Ching-Huan Liao; Hsin-Tao Huang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112558B2

## CPC

- G02B 6/0021: {for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses}
- G02B 6/0076: {Stacked arrangements of multiple light guides of the same or different cross-sectional area}
- G02B 1/045: {Light guides}
- G02B 6/0036: {2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces}
- G02B 6/0065: {Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects}
- G02B 6/0093: {Means for protecting the light guide}
- G02B 6/0038: {Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide}
- G02B 6/005: {provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A light guide module includes a light guide element and a light source. The light guide element includes a first light guide layer and a second light guide layer. The second light guide layer is disposed on the first light guide layer. The refractive index of the first light guide layer is greater than the refractive index of the second light guide layer. The light source is disposed in the first light guide layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A light guide module applied in a reflective display panel, comprising:
a light guide element comprising a first light guide layer and a second light guide layer, wherein the second light guide layer is disposed on the first light guide layer, and a refractive index of the first light guide layer is greater than a refractive index of the second light guide layer;
a light source disposed within the first light guide layer, wherein the first light guide layer is closer to the reflective display panel than the second light guide layer; and
a light blocking layer disposed at a side of the light guide element facing away from the reflective display panel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The light guide module of claim 1, wherein a material of the first light guide layer is Polycarbonate (PC).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The light guide module of claim 1, wherein a material of the second light guide layer is Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The light guide module claim 1, wherein a refractive index of the first light guide layer is in a range from 1.49 to 1.6, and a refractive index of the second light guide layer is in a range from 1.4 to 1.49.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The light guide module of claim 1, wherein the light guide element comprises a periphery area and a display area, and the
light blocking layer covers the periphery area of the light guide element.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The light guide module of claim 1, further comprising:
a housing surrounding the light guide element, and the
light blocking layer covers the housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The light guide module of claim 1, further comprising:
a hard coating layer covering the light blocking layer and the light guide element.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The light guide module of claim 1, further comprising:
an anti-glare layer covering the light blocking layer and the light guide element.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The light guide module of claim 8, wherein a surface of the first light guide layer has a microstructure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The light guide module of claim 1, further comprising:
a third light guide layer disposed on a bottom surface of the first light guide layer, between the first light guide layer and the second light guide layer, or on a top surface of the second light guide layer, wherein a refractive index of the third light guide layer is smaller than the refractive index of the first light guide layer.

### Claim 11

A display module, comprising:
a light guide module, comprising:
a light guide element comprises a first light guide layer and a second light guide layer, wherein the second light guide layer is disposed on the first light guide layer, and a refractive index of the first light guide layer is greater than a refractive index of the second light guide layer;
a light source disposed within the first light guide layer; and
a light blocking layer disposed at a side of the light guide element facing away from the reflective display panel; and
a reflective display panel located below the light guide element, wherein the first light guide layer is closer to the reflective display panel than the second light guide layer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The display module of claim 11, wherein a material of the first light guide layer is Polycarbonate (PC).

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The display module of claim 11, wherein a material of the second light guide layer is Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The display module of claim 11, wherein a refractive index of the first light guide layer is in a range from 1.49 to 1.6, and a refractive index of the second light guide layer is in a range from 1.4 to 1.49.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The display module of claim 11, wherein the light guide element comprises a periphery area and a display area, and the
light blocking layer covers the periphery area of the light guide element.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The display module of claim 11, further comprising:
a housing surrounding the light guide element and the reflective display panel, and the
light blocking layer covers the housing.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The display module of claim 11, further comprising:
a hard coating layer covering the light blocking layer and the light guide element.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The display module of claim 11, further comprising:
an anti-glare layer covering the light blocking layer and the light guide element.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The display module of claim 11, wherein a surface of the first light guide layer has a microstructure.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The display module of claim 11, further comprising:
a third light guide layer disposed on a bottom surface of the first light guide layer, between the first light guide layer and the second light guide layer, or on a top surface of the second light guide layer, wherein a refractive index of the third light guide layer is smaller than the refractive index of the first light guide layer.