# US 9,519,161 B2 · Wavelength conversion member, backlight assembly, and display device including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,519,161 B2 - Document ID: US9519161B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/295,683 - Filed: 2014-06-04 - Published: 2015-08-06 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-05 - Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yeong Bae Lee; Seok Hyun Nam; Seung Hwan Baek; Sang Won Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519161B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/005: {provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide} - F21V 9/08: for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light (with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40) - G02F 1/0105: {Illuminating devices} - G02F 1/353: {Frequency conversion, i.e. wherein a light beam is generated with frequency components different from those of the incident light beams} - G02F 1/3556: {Semiconductor materials, e.g. quantum wells} - B82Y 20/00: Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals - G02B 6/0065: {Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects} - G02B 6/0088: {of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package} - G02F 1/01791: {Quantum boxes or quantum dots} - G02F 1/133614: {using photoluminescence, e.g. phosphors illuminated by UV or blue light} - Y10S 977/834: Optical properties of nanomaterial, e.g. specified transparency, opacity, or index of refraction - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A wavelength conversion member, a backlight assembly, and a display device including the same are provided. In one aspect, there is provided a wavelength conversion member comprising a first substrate, a second substrate, a wavelength conversion layer, and a spacer. The second substrate is positioned on the first substrate. The wavelength conversion layer is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The spacer is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to constantly keep a distance between the first substrate and the second substrate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wavelength conversion member comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate; a wavelength conversion layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and directly contacting both the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein each of the first substrate and the second substrate is transparent and insulating, wherein the wavelength conversion layer comprises wavelength conversion material members and a dispersive medium, wherein the wavelength conversion material members are dispersed in the dispersive medium, and wherein the dispersive medium is formed of a first material; and a spacer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to keep a distance between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the spacer is formed of a second material, wherein the second material is different from the first material, and wherein a refractive index of the spacer is substantially equal to a refractive index of the dispersive medium. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wavelength conversion member of claim 1, wherein the wavelength conversion material members comprises quantum dots. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The wavelength conversion member of claim 2, wherein the dispersive medium comprises resin, and wherein the resin is mixed with the quantum dots. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The wavelength conversion member of claim 3, wherein the refractive index of the spacer is substantially equal to a refractive index of the resin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wavelength conversion member of claim 1, wherein the spacer comes in direct contact with the first substrate, the second substrate, and the wavelength conversion layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wavelength conversion member of claim 1, wherein the spacer is mixed with the wavelength conversion layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wavelength conversion member of claim 1, wherein the spacer is surrounded by the wavelength conversion layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wavelength conversion member of claim 1, wherein a plurality of spacers are provided, and the spacers are randomly dispersed in the wavelength conversion layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wavelength conversion member of claim 1, wherein the spacer is in a spherical shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The wavelength conversion member of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the spacer is substantially equal to a gap distance between the first substrate and the second substrate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The wavelength conversion member of claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a plurality of holes, and wherein separate portions of the wavelength conversion layer are respectively positioned inside the holes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The wavelength conversion member of claim 11, wherein each of the holes is in a polygonal column shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The wavelength conversion member of claim 11, wherein a portion of the wavelength conversion layer is positioned inside a hole among the plurality of holes and directly contacts at least three inner sides of the hole. ### Claim 14 A backlight assembly comprising: a light guide plate comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is directly connected to the second side and is oriented at an angle with respect to the second side; a light source configured to emit light, wherein the light source comprises a circuit board and a light source element, wherein the light source element is positioned between the circuit board and the first side of the light guide plate; and a wavelength conversion member configured to convert a wavelength of the light emitted from the light source, wherein the light source is positioned outside the wavelength conversion member, and wherein the wavelength conversion member includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a wavelength conversion layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a spacer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to keep a distance between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first substrate is positioned between the spacer and the second side of the light guide plate, wherein the spacer comprises a first wall and a second wall, and wherein the first wall extends at an obtuse angle with respect to the second wall in a plan view of the wavelength conversion member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The backlight assembly of claim 14, wherein the wavelength conversion layer comprises quantum dots. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The backlight assembly of claim 14, wherein the spacer comes in direct contact with the first substrate, the second substrate, and the wavelength conversion layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The backlight assembly of claim 14, wherein the light source is configured to emit blue light, and the wavelength conversion member is configured to convert the blue light into white light. ### Claim 18 A display device comprising: a display panel configured to display an image; and a backlight assembly configured to provide light to the display panel, wherein the backlight assembly includes: a light source configured to emit light; and a wavelength conversion member configured to convert a wavelength of the light emitted from the light source, wherein the wavelength conversion member includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a wavelength conversion layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a spacer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to keep a distance between the first substrate and the second substrate, the spacer completely enclosing the wavelength conversion layer in a plan view of the wavelength conversion member; and a sealant surrounding the spacer, wherein a section of the spacer extends at an acute angle with respect to a section of the sealant in the plan view of the wavelength conversion member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The display device of claim 18, wherein the wavelength conversion layer comprises quantum dots. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The display device of claim 18, wherein the light emitted from the light source passes through the wavelength conversion member and is transferred to the display panel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The wavelength conversion member of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the spacer is in a hexagonal prism shape which includes a hole. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The display device of claim 18, wherein at least a part of the spacer is in a hexagonal prism shape which includes a hole.