US 7,068,910 B2 · Light generating device having polarized light emitting waveguide plate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a light generating device comprising a slab light guide (1), at least one light input unit (2) arranged on at least one side (10) of said light guide (1) comprising at least one light source (20) and a light incoupling means (21) for coupling light into said light guide (1), and at least one light output unit (3) arranged on at least one side (11) of said light guide (1). In order to provide a device that provides polarized light of a high homogeneity the light output unit (3) according to the present invention comprises a polarized light emitting waveguide plate (31) for selectively coupling light of a first polarization state out of said light guide (1). The present invention further relates to a display device, in particular an LCD, comprising a light generating device according to the invention.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A light generating device comprising:

a slab light guide having two substantially parallel sides and at least one edge, the edge having a surface connecting the surfaces of said sides;
at least one light input unit arranged on at least one side of said light guide, the light input having at least one light source and a light incoupling means for coupling light into said light guide;
at least one light output unit arranged on at least one side of said light guide comprising a polarized light emitting waveguide plate for selectively coupling light of a first polarization state out of said light guide,
wherein said waveguide plate comprises a micro-structured anisotropically light outcoupling layer.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/527,952Filed 8 Aug 2003

Priority

EP 0207886918 Sep 2002

Published

US 2006/0110123 A125 May 2006

Granted

27 Jun 2006

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G02B 6/0036
Provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it: 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
G02B 6/0056
Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide: for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing…
G02B 6/0031
Provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed between the light guide and the light source, or around the light source: reflecting…
G02B 6/0055
Provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide: reflecting element, sheet or layer

Light generating device having polarized light emitting waveguide plate

Life of this patent

Light generating device having polarized light emitting waveguide plate

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13