Stepped surface diffuser
AssigneeMicrosharp Corporation Limited
InventorRobin Clabburn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical device such as an overlay panel for a LCD display, comprises an element of light-transmitting material having a surface configured to form a stepped Fresnel prismatic structure. The light-transmitting material itself or ribbed light refracting element, said element incorporates an array of graded refractive index features adapted to impart light dispersing of diffusing characteristics to the light-transmitting material. In an alternative arrangement, the element of light-transmitting material has a layer configured to form a stepped Fresnel-type surface and an additional layer incorporating such an array of graded refractive index features.
Claims19
An LCD display having a cover plate with an overlay comprising an element of light-transmitting material having a surface thereof configured to form a stepped or ribbed light refracting and/or reflecting element, said element of light-transmitting material incorporating an array of graded refractive index features adapted to impart light dispersing or diffusing characteristics to said light-transmitting material, or the element of light-transmitting material having a layer configured to form said stepped or ribbed surface and an additional layer incorporating said array of graded refractive index features.
An LCD display including a liquid crystal cell and, behind the liquid crystal cell, an element of light-transmitting material having a surface thereof configured to form a stepped or ribbed light refracting and/or reflecting element, said element of light-transmitting material incorporating an array of graded refractive index features adapted to impart light dispersing or diffusing characteristics to said light-transmitting material, or the element of light-transmitting material having a layer configured to form said stepped or ribbed surface and an additional layer incorporating said array of graded refractive index features, wherein the surface of said light-transmitting material furthest from the liquid crystal cell is coated with light-reflecting material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.