US20090059619A1 - Backlight Assembly And Display Device Having The Same - Google Patents
Backlight Assembly And Display Device Having The Same Download PDFInfo
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- US20090059619A1 US20090059619A1 US12/263,340 US26334008A US2009059619A1 US 20090059619 A1 US20090059619 A1 US 20090059619A1 US 26334008 A US26334008 A US 26334008A US 2009059619 A1 US2009059619 A1 US 2009059619A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- light
- light guide
- guide unit
- face
- signal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/005—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
- G02B6/0055—Reflecting element, sheet or layer
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- 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
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/1335—Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a backlight assembly and a display device having the backlight assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a backlight assembly capable of selectively emitting light in each reflection region and a display device having the backlight assembly.
- a display device is an interface device converting electrical format data from an input device into an image.
- Examples of display devices include cathode ray tube (CRT) type display devices, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, plasma display panel (PDP) devices, field emission display (FED) devices, etc.
- CTR cathode ray tube
- LCD liquid crystal display
- PDP plasma display panel
- FED field emission display
- CRT type display devices have a number of benefits, such as a low price, a rapid input/output speed, a large viewing angle, etc.
- CRT type display devices also have a number of drawbacks, such as a large volume, a high power consumption, etc.
- flat panel display devices have recently been developed.
- Flat panel display devices such as LCD devices, PDP devices and FED devices have many merits; for example, they are lightweight and thin. As a result, flat panel display devices are widely used for television receivers, a portable computers, cellular phones, etc.
- LCD devices generally include an LCD panel and a backlight assembly.
- the LCD panel has two glass substrates and a liquid crystal installed between the two glass substrates.
- the backlight assembly provides light for the LCD panel.
- the LCD panel is manufactured using a complex process, and includes high priced optical components such as a polarized film, a prism sheet, etc. It is also relative difficult and expensive to manufacture a large LCD device.
- a single defective cell formed on the glass substrates of the LCD panel may render the entire LCD panel defective.
- PDP devices display an image using light that is generated by applying a high voltage to a gas mixture contained in a cell, to induce collisions of electrons in the mixture gas.
- PDP devices are very expensive, and include cooling devices to dissipate the significant heat generated by the high power consumption of the PDP device.
- FED device vacuum is formed between a pair of glass substrates. An electromagnetic wave is discharged from the one of the glass substrates, and passes through a fluorescent material. The electromagnetic wave strikes the other of the glass substrates to display an image.
- FED devices are very expensive, and very sensitive to the surface of the glass substrates. Technically complex vacuum equipment is required for the manufacturing process of FED devices.
- embodiments of the present invention provide a backlight assembly functioning as a light shutter to selectively reflect light in each of a plurality of reflection regions.
- Embodiments of the present invention also provide for a display device having the above-mentioned backlight assembly and a simplified display module.
- a backlight assembly in one aspect of the present invention, includes a light guide unit, a light source and a reflection module.
- the light source provides light onto an incident face of the light guide unit.
- the reflection module is disposed under the light guide unit to reflect or scatter the light from the light guide unit.
- the reflection module optionally includes a first substrate, a lower electrode, a switch element and an upper electrode.
- the first substrate has a surface facing a reflective face of the light guide unit and a plurality of reflection regions formed over the surface.
- the lower electrode is disposed in each of the reflection regions.
- the switch element is disposed on the first substrate to apply an on signal or an off signal to the lower electrode.
- the upper electrode is positioned corresponding to the lower electrode. The upper electrode makes contact with or is spaced apart from the reflective face of the light guide unit in accordance with the on signal or the off signal so as to emit the light that is incident onto the reflective face of the light guide unit through an exiting face of the light guide unit.
- the lower electrode may allow the upper electrode to be spaced apart from the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to the off signal so as to totally reflect the light that is incident onto the reflective face and totally reflect the reflected light on the exiting face of the light guide unit.
- the lower electrode may allow the upper electrode to make contact with the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to the on signal so as to reflect the light that is incident onto the reflective face and emit the reflected light through the exiting face of the light guide unit.
- the backlight assembly may further include an optical member.
- the optical member is disposed between the light guide unit and the reflection module, and has a refractive index greater than that of the light guide unit.
- the optical member may make contact with the reflective face of the light guide unit.
- the lower electrode may allow the upper electrode to make contact with the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to the off signal so as to reflect the light that is incident onto the reflective face of the light guide unit and emit the reflected light through the exiting face of the light guide unit.
- the lower electrode may allow the upper electrode to be spaced apart from the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to the on signal so as to totally reflect the light that is incident onto the reflective face of the light guide unit and totally reflect the reflected light on the exiting face of the light guide unit.
- the reflection module optionally includes a first insulation layer, a second insulation layer and a plurality of spacers.
- the first insulation layer is formed on the lower electrode to insulate the lower electrode from outside.
- the second insulation layer faces the first insulation layer, and the upper electrode is disposed on the second insulation layer.
- the spacers are formed between the first and second insulation layers to support the second insulation layer. The spacers correspond to a peripheral portion of the lower electrode.
- the second insulation layer optionally includes a fixing portion fixed to an upper portion of each of the spacers and a free portion opposite to the fixing portion.
- the upper electrode is spaced apart from the reflective face of the light guide unit when the free portion is bent toward a central portion of the lower electrode.
- the reflection module optionally includes a plurality of first signal lines and a plurality of second signal lines.
- the first signal lines are arranged on the first substrate in a first direction to apply a control signal to the switch element.
- the control signal controls whether the on signal or the off signal is applied to the lower electrode.
- the second signal lines are arranged on the first substrate in a second direction crossing the first direction to apply the on signal or the off signal to the lower electrode.
- a display device in another aspect of the present invention, includes a light guide unit, a light source, a reflection module and a display module.
- the display module is disposed over the light guide unit to display an image using the light from the light guide unit.
- the display module may include color pixels formed in a plurality of pixel regions.
- a display apparatus in another aspect, includes a light guide including an optical interface surface and a light exit surface different than the optical interface surface.
- the apparatus further includes a plurality of optical reflector elements configured to reflect incident light and a first actuator configured to selectively position a first optical reflector element in a first position away from the optical interface surface or a second position proximate to the optical interface surface.
- the apparatus is further configured so that in response to an “on” control signal, the first actuator is configured to selectively position the first optical reflector element in one of the first position or the second position to reflect light to be transmitted through a first associated region of the light exit surface of the light guide.
- the first actuator may comprises a first electrode configured to generate an electric field in response to a first control voltage
- the first optical reflector may comprise a second electrode on a flexible material.
- the light guide includes an incident surface positioned to receive light from a light source.
- the first actuator may be configured to selectively position the first optical reflector element in the other of the first position and the second position so that light is substantially not transmitted through the first associated region of the light exit surface of the light guide.
- the apparatus may include a plurality of actuators each configured to position an associated optical reflector elements in a first position away from the optical interface surface or a second position proximate to the optical interface surface in response to an associated “on” control signal, and configured to position the associated optical reflector in the other of the first position and the second position in response to an associated “off” control signal.
- Each of the plurality of optical reflectors may be associated with a region of the light exit surface of the light guide, and the display apparatus may be configured to totally internally reflect light from each region of the light exit surface of the light guide associated with an optical reflector positioned in the other of the first position and the second position in response to the associated “off” control signal.
- the light guide may comprise a material with an index of refraction n 1 greater than the index of refraction of air.
- the first actuator may be configured to selectively position the first optical reflector element in the second position.
- the light guide may include a first material having an index of refraction n 1 greater than the index of refraction of air, and a second material having an index of refraction n 2 greater than n 1 , and the optical interface surface may be a surface of the second material.
- the apparatus may further comprise a display module including a plurality of pixels, each pixel positioned to receive light from at least one associated region of the light exit surface of the light guide.
- a display device having simplified structure and fewer defects as an LCD device, a PDP device, and so on may be provided.
- FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a backlight assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating the first region ‘A’ shown in FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 4 is a layout illustrating a portion of the reflection module shown in FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating the second region ‘B’ shown in FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an incident angle ‘P’ onto the incident face in FIG. 5 and an amount of light;
- FIG. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating the third region ‘C’ shown in FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an incident angle ‘Q’ onto the exiting face in FIG. 7 and an amount of light;
- FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a backlight assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 10 is an enlarged view illustrating the fourth region ‘G’ shown in FIG. 9 ;
- FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating a diffraction of a wave passing through a single slit
- FIG. 12 is an enlarged view illustrating the fifth region ‘H’ shown in FIG. 9 ;
- FIG. 13 is an enlarged view illustrating the sixth region ‘I’ shown in FIG. 12 ;
- FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an incident angle ‘S’ onto the exiting face in FIG. 9 and an amount of light;
- FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a backlight assembly according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 16 is an enlarged view illustrating the seventh region ‘K’ shown in FIG. 15 ;
- FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II′ in FIG. 17 ;
- FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a backlight assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ in FIG. 1 .
- a backlight assembly 100 includes a light guide such as a light guide unit 105 , a light source 110 and a reflection module 190 .
- the light guide unit 105 changes an optical path.
- the light guide unit 105 includes a reflective face 106 , an exiting face 107 and an incident face 108 .
- the light guide unit 105 in the illustrated example has a plate shape.
- the reflective face 106 and the exiting face 107 face each other.
- the incident face 108 connects an edge portion of the reflective face 106 to an edge portion of the exiting face 107 corresponding to the edge portion of the reflective face 106 .
- the light guide unit 105 includes, for example, a material having various characteristics such as a high optical transmissivity, a high heat resistance, a high chemical resistance, a large mechanical strength, etc.
- the light guide unit 105 may include, for example, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
- the light source 110 faces the incident face 108 of the light guide unit 105 to irradiate light onto the incident face 108 .
- the light source 110 may be disposed such that light incident into the light guide unit 105 is totally internally reflected on the reflective face 106 and the exiting face 107 .
- the backlight assembly 100 may include a light reflector such as light-reflecting member 111 .
- the light-reflecting member 111 partially encloses a housing of the light source 110 , and reflects light generated by the light source 110 toward the incident face 108 .
- the light source 110 for example, includes a light emitting diode.
- the light source 110 may include a fluorescent lamp.
- the light transmitted into the light guide unit 105 advances in the light guide unit 105 , and is totally reflected from the reflective face 106 .
- the reflection module 190 scatters the light on a portion of the reflective face 106 , and totally reflects on another portion of the reflective face 106 .
- the reflection module 190 is disposed to face the reflective face 106 .
- the reflection module 190 includes a first substrate 120 , a plurality of lower electrodes 130 , a plurality of switch elements 140 , and a plurality of upper electrodes 150 .
- each of the lower electrodes 130 is associated with one of the switch elements 140 and one of the upper electrodes 150 .
- each of the lower electrodes 130 have substantially same function and structure as the other lower electrodes 130
- each of the switch elements 140 have substantially same function and structure as the other switch elements 140
- each of the upper electrodes 150 have substantially same function and structure as the other upper electrodes 150 .
- one lower electrode, one switch element, and one upper electrode will be described in detail hereinafter.
- the first substrate 120 has, for example, a plate shape, and may include glass.
- the first substrate 120 has a plurality of reflection regions 121 facing the reflective face 106 and selectively reflecting light. As shown in FIG. 1 , the reflection regions 121 are arranged in a matrix shape.
- the lower electrode 130 is formed in each of the reflection regions 121 .
- the lower electrode 130 may include one or more metal materials having a high electrical conductivity.
- the lower electrode 130 for example, includes aluminum (Al).
- the lower electrode 130 may be formed in a thin film form, and may have a micrometer-sized width and a micrometer-sized thickness. An on signal or an off signal is applied to the lower electrode 130 from outside reflection module 190 .
- the reflection module 190 optionally includes a first insulation layer 160 to insulate the lower electrode 130 from outside reflection module 190 .
- the first insulation layer 160 is formed on the first substrate 120 having the lower electrode 130 .
- the first insulation layer 160 may be formed on an entire surface of the first substrate 120 .
- the first insulation layer 160 may include a material having a high permittivity, for example, such as aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ).
- the reflection module 190 may further include a spacer 170 to space the lower electrode 130 apart from the upper electrode 150 that will be described later.
- the spacer 170 is disposed on the first insulation layer 160 .
- the spacer 170 is positioned corresponding to a peripheral portion of the lower electrodes 130 .
- the spacer 170 includes, for example, silicon carbide (SiC).
- the reflection module 190 may further include a second insulation layer 165 that insulates the upper electrode 150 from the lower electrode 130 , and moves the upper electrode 150 up and down.
- the second insulation layer 165 is supported by the spacer 170 , and is formed to face the first insulation layer 160 .
- the second insulation layer 165 includes, for example, a material having a good insulation property and a high permittivity.
- the second insulation layer 165 may be flexible so as to move up and down relatively easily.
- the second insulation layer 165 for example, includes silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ).
- the upper electrode 150 is formed on the second insulation layer 165 to face the associated lower electrode 130 .
- the upper electrode 150 is formed in each of the reflection regions 121 .
- the upper electrode 150 may include a metal having a high electrical conductivity.
- the upper electrode 150 includes, for example, aluminum (Al).
- the upper electrode 150 may be formed in a thin film form, and may have a few to tens of micrometer-sized width and a few to tens of micrometer-sized thickness. A common voltage is applied to the upper electrode 150 from outside reflection module 190 .
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating the first region ‘A’ shown in FIG. 2 .
- the switch element 140 is formed on the first substrate 120 before the lower electrode 130 is formed.
- the switch element 140 applies the externally provided on or off signal to the lower electrode 130 .
- the on or off signal may have the same polarity as that of a common signal applied to the upper electrode 150 shown in FIG. 2 .
- the other of the on or off signal may have a different polarity from that of the common signal applied to the upper electrode 150 shown in FIG. 2 .
- the one of the on and off signals which has the same polarity as that of the common signal corresponds to the on signal, while the other of the on and off signals which has the different polarity from that of the common signal corresponds to the off signal.
- a repulsive force from the lower electrode 130 acts on the upper electrode 150 facing the lower electrode 130 to which the on signal is applied.
- the second insulation layer 165 moves up toward the reflective face 106 of the light guide unit 105 .
- the upper electrode 150 becomes closer to the reflective face 106 .
- the switch element 140 includes a gate electrode 141 , a semiconductor layer 143 , a data electrode 145 and a drain electrode 147 to apply the on or off signal to the lower electrode 130 .
- the gate electrode 141 is formed on the first substrate 120 in a first direction.
- a control signal (a gate on signal or a gate off signal) is applied to the gate electrode 141 of the switch element 140 .
- the control signal controls which of the on and off signals is applied to the lower electrode 130 .
- the switch element 140 may further include a third insulation layer 142 formed on the gate electrode 141 .
- the third insulation layer 142 may be formed on an entire surface of the first substrate 120 facing the reflective face 106 of the light guide unit 105 .
- the semiconductor layer 143 is formed on the third insulation layer 142 .
- the data electrode 145 is formed on the semiconductor layer 143 in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A portion of the data electrode 145 is overlaid on the gate electrode 141 . The on or off signal is applied to the data electrode 145 .
- the drain electrode 147 is formed on the semiconductor layer 143 and is substantially symmetrical to the data electrode 145 .
- the reflection module 190 may further include a fourth insulation layer 149 formed on the entire surface of the first substrate 120 having the data electrode 145 and drain electrode 147 formed thereon.
- a contact hole is formed through the fourth insulation layer 149 , and the drain electrode 147 may be electrically connected to the lower electrode 130 via a contact portion 147 a formed by filling the contact hole.
- the gate on signal When the gate on signal is applied to the gate electrode 141 , the on or off signal applied to the data electrode 145 is applied to the lower electrode 130 through the drain electrode 147 .
- FIG. 4 is a layout illustrating a portion of the reflection module shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 4 illustrates the first substrate 120 having the lower electrode 130 formed thereon.
- the reflection module 190 may further include a plurality of first signal lines 181 and a plurality of second signal lines 185 .
- the first signal lines 181 are arranged on the first substrate 120 in the first direction.
- the first signal lines 181 are substantially parallel to each other.
- the first signal lines 181 are formed with the gate electrode 141 , and the gate electrode 141 protrudes from the first signal lines 181 .
- the first signal lines 181 apply the control signal to the gate electrode 141 .
- the second signal lines 185 are arranged on the first substrate 120 in a second direction crossing the first direction.
- the second signal lines 185 are substantially parallel to each other.
- the second signal lines 185 are formed with the data electrode 145 and the drain electrode 147 , and the data electrode 145 protrudes from the second signal lines 185 .
- the second signal lines 185 apply the on or off signal to the data electrode 145 .
- consecutive first signal lines 181 and consecutive second signal lines 185 define one of the reflection regions 121 .
- FIG. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating a second region ‘B’ shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 5 illustrates an optical path of light at a portion of light guide unit 105 adjacent to the incident face 108 .
- FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an incident angle ‘P’ onto the incident face in FIG. 5 and an amount of light received at the incident face from light source 110 .
- light incident on the incident face 108 from the light source 110 forms an incident angle that ranges from a negative first angle ⁇ P 1 to a positive first angle +P 1 with respect to a virtual line that is substantially perpendicular to the light incident face 108 .
- First light L 1 is defined as light that is incident onto the incident face 108 at an incident angle of the first angle P 1
- second light L 2 is defined as light that is incident onto the incident face 108 at an incident angle of a second angle P 2 .
- the second angle P 2 is smaller than the first angle P 1 .
- the first light L 1 is incident onto the incident face 108 of the light guide unit 105 , and then refracted at the incident face 108 .
- the refracted first light L 1 is incident onto the reflective face 106 at an incident angle referred to as third angle ⁇ .
- the second light L 2 is incident onto the incident face 108 of the light guide unit 105 , and then refracted at the incident face 108 .
- the refracted second light L 2 is incident onto the reflective face 106 at an incident angle that is larger than the third angle ⁇ .
- a refractive index of the light guide unit 105 (hereinafter, a refractive index indicates a relative index of refraction with respect to air, that is, an absolute index of refraction) is larger than that of the air layer.
- the critical angle indicates an incident angle at above which a wave is totally internally reflected, for a configuration in which the wave is traveling in a more dense medium and is incident on an interface with a less dense medium.
- the first angle P 1 at which the first light L 1 is incident onto the incident face 108 is the largest angle of incidence for light received at incident face 108 from light source 110 .
- Other incident angles corresponding to light having a different optical path from the first light L 1 are smaller than P 1 (e.g., angle P 2 which corresponds to light L 2 ).
- the third angle ⁇ at which the first light L 1 is incident onto the reflective face 106 is smaller than incident angles for light from light source 110 having a different optical path from the first light L 1 (e.g., light L 2 ).
- the incident angle (the third angle ⁇ ) of the first light L 1 onto the reflective face 106 is greater than a critical angle for the reflective face 106 , the light that is incident into the light guide unit 105 from the light source 110 through the incident face 108 is totally reflected on the reflective face 106 and the exiting face 107 of the light guide unit 105 , so that the light is confined within the light guide unit 105 .
- the ‘n’ indicates a refractive index of the light guide unit 105 with respect to air.
- the critical angle is equal to the incident angle (the third angle ⁇ ) at which the first light L 1 is incident onto the reflective face 106
- the current systems and techniques allow for a material of a higher index of refraction than air (e.g., the material of upper electrode 150 ) to be selectively brought to reflective face 106 to change the local optical characteristics of the interface with reflective face 106 .
- a material of a higher index of refraction than air e.g., the material of upper electrode 150
- At least a portion of the light incident on the interface between light guide 105 and first electrode 150 is scattered at an angle such that it exits the light guide unit 105 through exiting face 107 rather than continuing to be totally internally reflected in light guide unit.
- the backlight assembly 100 may function as a light shutter to control the selective exit from light guide unit 105 of light incident on the reflective face 106 , in each of the reflection regions 121 .
- FIG. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating the third region ‘C’ shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 5 illustrates an optical path of light at a portion of the reflective face 106 of the light guide unit 105 , the portion making contact with the upper electrode 150 .
- FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an incident angle ‘Q’ onto the exiting face in FIG. 7 and an amount of light incident on the exiting surface at that angle.
- the light in the light guide unit 105 is incident onto the portion of the reflective face 106 of the light guide unit 105 with which the upper electrode 150 makes contact, and then scattered.
- the upper electrode 150 may include a metal.
- the upper electrode 150 is in an aluminum (Al) thin film form. Since light does not pass through metal in general, refraction of incident light onto metal does not occur. In addition, total reflection may be generated only when light goes from a more dense to a less dense medium.
- the upper electrode 150 has a microscopically nonflat surface on which various convex and concave portions are formed. Thus, light that is incident onto the portion of the reflective face 106 with which the upper electrode 150 makes contact is scattered toward the exiting face 107 .
- most of the scattered light is incident onto the exiting face 107 at an incident angle that is smaller than a critical angle for the exiting face 107 (which is equal to the critical angle for an air interface with the reflective face 106 ).
- most of the scattered light may exit the light guide unit 105 through the light exiting face 107 .
- FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a backlight assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- a backlight assembly 200 includes a light guide unit 205 , a light source 210 and a reflection module 290 .
- the backlight assembly 200 is substantially the same as the backlight assembly 100 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 except for an optical member 215 , a shape of the light guide unit 205 , and the reflection module 290 . Thus, further description of similar elements may be omitted.
- the light guide unit 205 includes a reflective face 206 , an exiting face 207 and an incident face 208 .
- the reflective face 206 and the exiting face 207 face each other.
- the incident face 208 connects one end portion of the reflective face 206 to one end portion of the exiting face 207 , which faces the one end portion of the reflective face 206 .
- the light guide unit 205 has a substantially flat plate shape.
- the light guide unit 205 may have a wedge shape. When the light guide unit 205 has a wedge shape, a thickness of the light guide unit 205 gradually decreases from the one end portion of the reflective face 206 to another end portion of the reflective face 206 , which corresponds to the one end portion of the reflective face 206 .
- the optical member 215 is adjacent to the reflective face 206 .
- the optical member 215 may include a material having a greater refractive index than the light guide unit 205 .
- the optical member 215 includes, for example, a reflective film adhered to the reflective face 206 .
- the optical member 215 may include a thin film deposited on the reflective face 206 .
- the reflection module 290 faces the reflective face 206 .
- the reflection module 290 includes a first substrate 220 , a plurality of lower electrodes 230 , a plurality of switch elements 240 and a plurality of upper electrodes 250 .
- each of the lower electrodes 230 have substantially same function and structure
- each of the switch elements 240 have substantially same function and structure
- each of the upper electrodes 250 have substantially same function and structure.
- one lower electrode, one switch element, and one upper electrode will be described in detail hereinafter.
- the reflection module 290 is substantially the same as the reflection module 190 shown in FIG. 3 except for driving modes (on and off modes). Thus, further descriptions similar elements may be omitted.
- the switch element 240 applies the externally provided on or off signal to the lower electrode 230 .
- the on or off signal may have the same polarity as that of a common signal applied to the upper electrode 250 .
- the other of the on or off signal may have a different polarity from that of the common signal applied to the upper electrode 250 .
- the one of the on and off signals which has the same polarity as that of the common signal corresponds to the off signal, while the other of the on and off signals which has the different polarity from that of the common signal, corresponds to the on signal.
- a repulsive force from the lower electrode 230 acts on the upper electrode 250 facing the lower electrode 230 to which the off signal is applied.
- the second insulation layer 265 moves up toward the reflective face 206 of the light guide unit 205 .
- the upper electrode 250 becomes close to the reflective face 206 .
- FIG. 10 is an enlarged view illustrating the fourth region ‘G’ shown in FIG. 9 .
- light incident on the incident face 208 from the light source 210 forms an incident angle that ranges from a negative first angle ⁇ r 1 to a positive first angle +r 1 with respect to a virtual line that is substantially perpendicular to the light incident face 208 .
- First light F 1 is defined as light that is incident onto the incident face 208 at an incident angle of the first angle r 1
- second light F 2 is defined as light that is incident onto the incident face 208 at an incident angle of a second angle r 2 .
- the second angle r 2 is smaller than the first angle r 1 .
- the first light F 1 is incident onto the incident face 208 of the light guide unit 205 , and then refracted at the incident face 208 .
- the refracted first light F 1 is incident onto the reflective face 206 at an incident angle of a third angle ⁇ 1.
- a refractive index n 2 of the optical member 215 is greater than a refractive index n 1 of the light guide unit 205 .
- the off signal When the off signal is applied to the lower electrode 230 and thus the upper electrode 250 makes contact with the reflective face 206 , the first portion F 1 ′ of the first light F 1 that travels through the optical member 215 is reflected on an interface 216 between the optical member 215 and the upper electrode 250 .
- the reflected first portion of the first light F 1 enters the light guide unit 205 again, and is refracted at the reflective face 206 .
- the second portion F′′ of the first light F 1 that is reflected on the reflective face 206 and the first portion F′ of the first light F 1 that reenters the light guide unit 205 from the optical member 215 are incident onto the exiting face 207 substantially the same incident angle, designated as ⁇ 2.
- the light guide unit 205 may have a wedge shape, so that the incident angle ⁇ 2 onto the exiting face 207 may be smaller than the incident angle ⁇ 1 onto the reflective face 206 .
- backlight assembly 200 light selectively exits the light guide unit 205 through the exiting face 207 in each of the reflection regions 221 , depending on whether one or more of the first electrodes 250 are adjacent interface 216 .
- the backlight assembly 200 may serve as a light shutter.
- light that is incident onto the exiting face 207 may preferably be totally reflected from the exiting face 207 .
- Light received in light guide 205 with an angle of incidence between +r 1 and ⁇ r 1 (e.g., light F 2 ) is incident onto the exiting face 207 at an incident angle that is greater than the incident angle ⁇ 2 of the first light F 1 .
- FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating a diffraction of a wave passing through a single slit.
- a solid line indicates a direction in which a wave advances
- a dotted line indicates a wavefront that is a surface joining all points of substantially equal phase of the wave.
- the direction in which the wave advances is substantially perpendicular to the wavefront.
- the wave when the wave passes through a small aperture, the wave is diffracted at the small aperture. Thus, after passing through the small aperture, the wave advances in various directions. Light passing through a narrow slit conforms to the principle of diffraction.
- FIG. 12 is an enlarged view illustrating the fifth region ‘H’ shown in FIG. 9 .
- FIG. 13 is an enlarged view illustrating the sixth region ‘I’ shown in FIG. 12 .
- the light may exit the light guide unit 205 through the optical member 215 to the air layer and thus the light is reflected on the upper electrode 250 .
- the light advances from the optical member 215 that is a more dense medium to the air layer that is a less dense medium, so that total internal reflection may occur at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle.
- an incident angle ⁇ 3 that is equal to the first refractive angle ⁇ 3
- a critical angle for the interface 216 between the air layer and the optical member 215 a portion of the light is reflected at the interface 216 , while another portion of the light is refracted at a second refractive angle ⁇ 4 and exits the optical member 215 to the air layer.
- the light from the optical member 215 advances between two upper electrodes 250 that make contact with the reflective face 206 .
- Each of the upper electrodes 250 has a micrometer-sized width.
- the two upper electrodes 250 that make contact with the reflective face 206 may form a single slit.
- the light that advances between the two upper electrodes 250 adjacent the reflective face 206 is diffracted, so that optical paths of the diffracted light transmitted through interface 216 into the air gap and then incident on the upper electrode 250 in the “on” state have different directions (as shown in FIG. 12 ).
- the light is reflected from the upper electrodes 250 in the “on” state (spaced apart from the reflective face 206 ), and the reflected light is incident into the optical member 215 to exit the light guide unit 205 through the exiting face 207 .
- FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an incident angle ‘S’ onto the exiting face in FIG. 12 and an amount of light incident on the exiting face having the associated angle.
- FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a backlight assembly according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- the backlight assembly 300 includes a light guide unit 305 , a light source 310 and a reflection module 390 .
- the backlight assembly 300 is substantially the same as the backlight assembly 200 shown in FIG. 9 except for the light source 310 and the reflection module 390 .
- further descriptions of substantially similar elements may be omitted.
- the light guide unit 305 includes a reflective face 306 , an exiting face 307 and an incident face 308 .
- the light source 310 includes a lamp 311 and a lamp reflector 312 .
- the lamp reflector 312 reflects light emitted from the lamp 311 toward the incident face 308 .
- the reflection module 390 faces the reflective face 306 .
- the reflection module 390 includes a first substrate 320 , a plurality of lower electrodes 330 , a plurality of switch elements 340 and a plurality of upper electrodes 350 .
- the reflection module 390 is substantially the same as the reflection module 290 shown in FIG. 9 except for the shape of the second insulation layer 365 and the shape of the upper electrode 350 . Thus, further description may be omitted.
- FIG. 16 is an enlarged view illustrating the seventh region ‘K’ shown in FIG. 15 .
- the second insulation layer 365 is supported by the spacer 370 and faces the first insulation layer 360 .
- the second insulation layer 365 includes a fixing portion 365 a fixed to an upper portion of the spacer 370 and a free portion 365 b opposite to the fixing portion 365 a.
- each of the upper electrodes 350 makes contact with an interface 316 in the “off” state, but includes at least a portion that is spaced apart from the interface 316 in the “on” state.
- the on signal When the on signal is applied to the lower electrode 330 and thus the upper electrode 350 is spaced apart from the interface 316 , a first portion of the light that is incident onto the reflective face 306 is reflected from the reflective face 306 , and a second portion of the light that is incident onto the reflective face 306 is refracted to advance in the optical member 315 . Then, the second portion of the light advancing the second optical member 315 is partially reflected on the interface 316 between the second optical member 315 and an air layer, and partially refracted at the interface 316 to exit the second optical member 315 to the air layer.
- the light from the optical member 315 advances between two upper electrodes 350 that make contact with the interface 316 (in the “off” state).
- the two upper electrodes 350 that make contact with the interface 316 may thus form a single slit.
- the light that advances between the two upper electrodes 350 is diffracted, so that optical paths of the diffracted light have a number of different directions.
- the light is reflected on the upper electrodes 350 spaced apart from the interface 316 (in the “on” state), and the reflected light is incident into the optical member 315 to exit the light guide unit 305 through the exiting face 307 .
- FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II′ in FIG. 17 .
- a display device 700 includes a light guide unit 105 , a light source 110 , a reflection module 190 and a display module 750 .
- the light guide unit 105 , the light source 110 and the reflection module 190 are substantially the same as the light guide unit 105 , the light source 110 and the reflection module 190 shown in FIGS. 1 through 8 , respectively.
- elements that are substantially the same will be represented by the same reference numerals, and further description may be omitted.
- the display module 750 is disposed over the light guide unit 105 to display an image using light from the light guide unit 105 .
- the display module 750 includes a second substrate 720 and a plurality of color pixels 730 .
- the second substrate 720 is disposed over an exiting face 107 of the light guide unit 105 .
- the second substrate 720 has, for example, a plate shape, and may include glass.
- a plurality of the pixel regions 721 are formed on the second substrate 720 .
- the pixel regions 721 are positioned corresponding to one or more of the reflection regions 121 formed on the first substrate 120 .
- More than one of the reflection regions 121 may correspond to one of the pixel regions 721 .
- Each of the color pixels 730 is formed in one of the pixel regions 721 .
- the color pixels 730 include, for example, red, green and blue color pixels.
- Each of the color pixels 730 receives light from the exiting face 107 to emit one of red, green and blue colored light.
- the display module 750 optionally includes a light-blocking portion 725 .
- the light-blocking portion 725 is disposed between the pixel regions 721 .
- the light-blocking portion 725 increases a contrast ratio between on-stated color pixels 730 in which light is received and off-stated color pixels 730 in which light is not received.
- Color brightness for the color pixels 730 is controlled by controlling the amount of time during which an on signal is applied to the lower electrode 130 .
- the upper electrode 150 becomes close to the reflective face 106 .
- light exits the light guide unit 105 through a portion of the exiting face 107 , the portion corresponding to the reflective face 106 close to the upper electrode 150 .
- the display device 700 displays an image.
- Display device 700 includes a liquid crystal display panel where a simple structure (including reflection module 190 and display module 750 ) replace previous, complex designs.
- Reflection module 190 serves as a light shutter, selectively supplying light to display an image.
- FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- a display device includes a light guide unit 205 , a light source 210 , a reflection module 290 and a display module 850 .
- the light guide unit 205 , the light source 210 and the reflection module 290 are substantially the same as the light guide unit 205 , the light source 210 and the reflection module 290 shown in FIGS. 9 through 14 , respectively.
- substantially similar elements will be represented by the same reference numerals, and further description may be omitted.
- the display module 850 includes a second substrate 820 and a plurality of color pixels 830 .
- the display module 850 in FIG. 19 is substantially the same as the display module 750 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 except for pixel regions. Thus, further description of substantially similar elements may be omitted.
- the second substrate 820 is disposed over the exiting face 207 .
- a plurality of pixel regions 821 are formed on the second substrate 820 .
- the pixel regions 821 are positioned corresponding to one or more reflection regions 221 formed on the first substrate 220 . More than one of the reflection regions 221 may correspond to one of the pixel regions 821 . In FIG. 19 , one of the pixel regions 821 is positioned over four of the reflection regions 121 .
- FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- a display device includes a light guide unit 305 , a light source 310 , a reflection module 390 and a display module 950 .
- the light guide unit 305 , the light source 310 and the reflection module 390 are substantially the same as the light guide unit 305 , the light source 310 and the reflection module 390 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 , respectively.
- substantially similar elements will be represented by the same reference numerals, and further description may be omitted.
- the display module 950 includes a second substrate 920 and a plurality of color pixels 930 .
- the display module 950 in FIG. 20 is substantially the same as the display module 750 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 except for pixel regions. Thus, further description of substantially similar elements may be omitted.
- the second substrate 920 is disposed over the exiting face 307 .
- a plurality of pixel regions 921 are formed on the second substrate 920 .
- the pixel regions 921 are positioned corresponding to one or more reflection regions 321 formed on the first substrate 320 . More than one of the reflection regions 321 may correspond to one of the pixel regions 921 . In FIG. 20 , one of the pixel regions 921 is positioned over four of the reflection regions 321 .
- the backlight assembly functions as a light shutter, which selectively emits light in each reflection region.
- each reflection region makes contact with or is spaced apart from a reflective face of a light guide unit (or an optical member)
- light inside the light guide unit may be totally reflected on the reflective face of the light guide unit, may be partially reflected on the reflective face of the light guide unit or may exit the light guide unit through the reflective face.
- Light that exits the light guide unit through the reflective face is reflected on the upper electrode to exit the light guide unit through an exiting face of the light guide unit.
- display modules described herein include a color pixel for displaying a color based on light exiting the light guide unit through the exiting face, and a reflection unit for selectively reflecting light from a light source.
- the display module thus serves as a simple and effective light shutter to display images.
Abstract
A backlight assembly may include a light guide unit, a light source and a reflection module. The light source provides light onto an incident face of the light guide unit. The reflection module may include a first substrate having reflection regions, a lower electrode disposed in each reflection region, a switch element applying an on or off signal to the lower electrode, and an upper electrode. The upper electrode makes contact with or is spaced apart from a reflective face of the light guide unit in accordance with the on or off signal. Thus, light selectively exits the light guide unit through an exiting face of the light guide unit corresponding to each reflection region. A display device has a display module disposed on the exiting face of the light guide unit to display an image. Therefore, the display device has a simplified structure.
Description
- This application is a Continuation Application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/431,355 filed on May 9, 2006, which claims priority to corresponding Korean Patent Application No. 2005-38472 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, Republic of Korea, on May 9, 2005, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a backlight assembly and a display device having the backlight assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a backlight assembly capable of selectively emitting light in each reflection region and a display device having the backlight assembly.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Generally, a display device is an interface device converting electrical format data from an input device into an image. Examples of display devices include cathode ray tube (CRT) type display devices, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, plasma display panel (PDP) devices, field emission display (FED) devices, etc.
- CRT type display devices have a number of benefits, such as a low price, a rapid input/output speed, a large viewing angle, etc. However, CRT type display devices also have a number of drawbacks, such as a large volume, a high power consumption, etc. In order to overcome many of the drawbacks of CRT type display devices, flat panel display devices have recently been developed.
- Flat panel display devices such as LCD devices, PDP devices and FED devices have many merits; for example, they are lightweight and thin. As a result, flat panel display devices are widely used for television receivers, a portable computers, cellular phones, etc.
- However, flat panel display devices include complex and high priced parts. For example, LCD devices generally include an LCD panel and a backlight assembly. The LCD panel has two glass substrates and a liquid crystal installed between the two glass substrates. The backlight assembly provides light for the LCD panel. The LCD panel is manufactured using a complex process, and includes high priced optical components such as a polarized film, a prism sheet, etc. It is also relative difficult and expensive to manufacture a large LCD device. In addition, a single defective cell formed on the glass substrates of the LCD panel may render the entire LCD panel defective.
- PDP devices display an image using light that is generated by applying a high voltage to a gas mixture contained in a cell, to induce collisions of electrons in the mixture gas. PDP devices are very expensive, and include cooling devices to dissipate the significant heat generated by the high power consumption of the PDP device.
- In an FED device, vacuum is formed between a pair of glass substrates. An electromagnetic wave is discharged from the one of the glass substrates, and passes through a fluorescent material. The electromagnetic wave strikes the other of the glass substrates to display an image. FED devices are very expensive, and very sensitive to the surface of the glass substrates. Technically complex vacuum equipment is required for the manufacturing process of FED devices.
- Therefore, development of a display device with a simple structured display panel and/or a simple structured backlight assembly, with few defects and low price is required.
- To address the above problems, embodiments of the present invention provide a backlight assembly functioning as a light shutter to selectively reflect light in each of a plurality of reflection regions.
- Embodiments of the present invention also provide for a display device having the above-mentioned backlight assembly and a simplified display module.
- In one aspect of the present invention, a backlight assembly includes a light guide unit, a light source and a reflection module. The light source provides light onto an incident face of the light guide unit. The reflection module is disposed under the light guide unit to reflect or scatter the light from the light guide unit.
- The reflection module optionally includes a first substrate, a lower electrode, a switch element and an upper electrode. The first substrate has a surface facing a reflective face of the light guide unit and a plurality of reflection regions formed over the surface. The lower electrode is disposed in each of the reflection regions. The switch element is disposed on the first substrate to apply an on signal or an off signal to the lower electrode. The upper electrode is positioned corresponding to the lower electrode. The upper electrode makes contact with or is spaced apart from the reflective face of the light guide unit in accordance with the on signal or the off signal so as to emit the light that is incident onto the reflective face of the light guide unit through an exiting face of the light guide unit.
- The lower electrode may allow the upper electrode to be spaced apart from the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to the off signal so as to totally reflect the light that is incident onto the reflective face and totally reflect the reflected light on the exiting face of the light guide unit. The lower electrode may allow the upper electrode to make contact with the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to the on signal so as to reflect the light that is incident onto the reflective face and emit the reflected light through the exiting face of the light guide unit.
- The backlight assembly may further include an optical member. The optical member is disposed between the light guide unit and the reflection module, and has a refractive index greater than that of the light guide unit. The optical member may make contact with the reflective face of the light guide unit. The lower electrode may allow the upper electrode to make contact with the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to the off signal so as to reflect the light that is incident onto the reflective face of the light guide unit and emit the reflected light through the exiting face of the light guide unit. The lower electrode may allow the upper electrode to be spaced apart from the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to the on signal so as to totally reflect the light that is incident onto the reflective face of the light guide unit and totally reflect the reflected light on the exiting face of the light guide unit.
- The reflection module optionally includes a first insulation layer, a second insulation layer and a plurality of spacers. The first insulation layer is formed on the lower electrode to insulate the lower electrode from outside. The second insulation layer faces the first insulation layer, and the upper electrode is disposed on the second insulation layer. The spacers are formed between the first and second insulation layers to support the second insulation layer. The spacers correspond to a peripheral portion of the lower electrode.
- The second insulation layer optionally includes a fixing portion fixed to an upper portion of each of the spacers and a free portion opposite to the fixing portion. The upper electrode is spaced apart from the reflective face of the light guide unit when the free portion is bent toward a central portion of the lower electrode.
- The reflection module optionally includes a plurality of first signal lines and a plurality of second signal lines. The first signal lines are arranged on the first substrate in a first direction to apply a control signal to the switch element. The control signal controls whether the on signal or the off signal is applied to the lower electrode. The second signal lines are arranged on the first substrate in a second direction crossing the first direction to apply the on signal or the off signal to the lower electrode.
- In another aspect of the present invention, a display device includes a light guide unit, a light source, a reflection module and a display module.
- The display module is disposed over the light guide unit to display an image using the light from the light guide unit. The display module may include color pixels formed in a plurality of pixel regions.
- In general, in another aspect, a display apparatus includes a light guide including an optical interface surface and a light exit surface different than the optical interface surface. The apparatus further includes a plurality of optical reflector elements configured to reflect incident light and a first actuator configured to selectively position a first optical reflector element in a first position away from the optical interface surface or a second position proximate to the optical interface surface. The apparatus is further configured so that in response to an “on” control signal, the first actuator is configured to selectively position the first optical reflector element in one of the first position or the second position to reflect light to be transmitted through a first associated region of the light exit surface of the light guide.
- The first actuator may comprises a first electrode configured to generate an electric field in response to a first control voltage, and the first optical reflector may comprise a second electrode on a flexible material. The light guide includes an incident surface positioned to receive light from a light source. In response to an “off” control signal, the first actuator may be configured to selectively position the first optical reflector element in the other of the first position and the second position so that light is substantially not transmitted through the first associated region of the light exit surface of the light guide.
- The apparatus may include a plurality of actuators each configured to position an associated optical reflector elements in a first position away from the optical interface surface or a second position proximate to the optical interface surface in response to an associated “on” control signal, and configured to position the associated optical reflector in the other of the first position and the second position in response to an associated “off” control signal.
- Each of the plurality of optical reflectors may be associated with a region of the light exit surface of the light guide, and the display apparatus may be configured to totally internally reflect light from each region of the light exit surface of the light guide associated with an optical reflector positioned in the other of the first position and the second position in response to the associated “off” control signal.
- The light guide may comprise a material with an index of refraction n1 greater than the index of refraction of air. In response to an “on” control signal, the first actuator may be configured to selectively position the first optical reflector element in the second position.
- The light guide may include a first material having an index of refraction n1 greater than the index of refraction of air, and a second material having an index of refraction n2 greater than n1, and the optical interface surface may be a surface of the second material.
- The apparatus may further comprise a display module including a plurality of pixels, each pixel positioned to receive light from at least one associated region of the light exit surface of the light guide.
- According to the above, a display device having simplified structure and fewer defects as an LCD device, a PDP device, and so on may be provided.
- The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detailed exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a backlight assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating the first region ‘A’ shown inFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 4 is a layout illustrating a portion of the reflection module shown inFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating the second region ‘B’ shown inFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an incident angle ‘P’ onto the incident face inFIG. 5 and an amount of light; -
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating the third region ‘C’ shown inFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an incident angle ‘Q’ onto the exiting face inFIG. 7 and an amount of light; -
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a backlight assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view illustrating the fourth region ‘G’ shown inFIG. 9 ; -
FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating a diffraction of a wave passing through a single slit; -
FIG. 12 is an enlarged view illustrating the fifth region ‘H’ shown inFIG. 9 ; -
FIG. 13 is an enlarged view illustrating the sixth region ‘I’ shown inFIG. 12 ; -
FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an incident angle ‘S’ onto the exiting face inFIG. 9 and an amount of light; -
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a backlight assembly according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 16 is an enlarged view illustrating the seventh region ‘K’ shown inFIG. 15 ; -
FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II′ inFIG. 17 ; -
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. - The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully describe the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to similar or identical elements throughout.
- Backlight Assembly
-
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a backlight assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ inFIG. 1 . - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , abacklight assembly 100 includes a light guide such as alight guide unit 105, alight source 110 and areflection module 190. - The
light guide unit 105 changes an optical path. Thelight guide unit 105 includes areflective face 106, an exitingface 107 and anincident face 108. Thelight guide unit 105 in the illustrated example has a plate shape. Thereflective face 106 and the exitingface 107 face each other. Theincident face 108 connects an edge portion of thereflective face 106 to an edge portion of the exitingface 107 corresponding to the edge portion of thereflective face 106. - The
light guide unit 105 includes, for example, a material having various characteristics such as a high optical transmissivity, a high heat resistance, a high chemical resistance, a large mechanical strength, etc. Thelight guide unit 105 may include, for example, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). - The
light source 110 faces theincident face 108 of thelight guide unit 105 to irradiate light onto theincident face 108. Thelight source 110 may be disposed such that light incident into thelight guide unit 105 is totally internally reflected on thereflective face 106 and the exitingface 107. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , thebacklight assembly 100 may include a light reflector such as light-reflectingmember 111. The light-reflectingmember 111 partially encloses a housing of thelight source 110, and reflects light generated by thelight source 110 toward theincident face 108. Thelight source 110, for example, includes a light emitting diode. Alternatively, thelight source 110 may include a fluorescent lamp. - The light transmitted into the
light guide unit 105 advances in thelight guide unit 105, and is totally reflected from thereflective face 106. Thereflection module 190 scatters the light on a portion of thereflective face 106, and totally reflects on another portion of thereflective face 106. - The
reflection module 190 is disposed to face thereflective face 106. Thereflection module 190 includes afirst substrate 120, a plurality oflower electrodes 130, a plurality ofswitch elements 140, and a plurality ofupper electrodes 150. - In one embodiment, each of the
lower electrodes 130 is associated with one of theswitch elements 140 and one of theupper electrodes 150. In this embodiment, each of thelower electrodes 130 have substantially same function and structure as the otherlower electrodes 130, each of theswitch elements 140 have substantially same function and structure as theother switch elements 140, and each of theupper electrodes 150 have substantially same function and structure as the otherupper electrodes 150. Thus, one lower electrode, one switch element, and one upper electrode will be described in detail hereinafter. - The
first substrate 120 has, for example, a plate shape, and may include glass. Thefirst substrate 120 has a plurality ofreflection regions 121 facing thereflective face 106 and selectively reflecting light. As shown inFIG. 1 , thereflection regions 121 are arranged in a matrix shape. - The
lower electrode 130 is formed in each of thereflection regions 121. Thelower electrode 130 may include one or more metal materials having a high electrical conductivity. Thelower electrode 130, for example, includes aluminum (Al). Thelower electrode 130 may be formed in a thin film form, and may have a micrometer-sized width and a micrometer-sized thickness. An on signal or an off signal is applied to thelower electrode 130 fromoutside reflection module 190. - The
reflection module 190 optionally includes afirst insulation layer 160 to insulate thelower electrode 130 fromoutside reflection module 190. Thefirst insulation layer 160 is formed on thefirst substrate 120 having thelower electrode 130. Thefirst insulation layer 160 may be formed on an entire surface of thefirst substrate 120. Thefirst insulation layer 160 may include a material having a high permittivity, for example, such as aluminum oxide (Al2O3). - The
reflection module 190 may further include aspacer 170 to space thelower electrode 130 apart from theupper electrode 150 that will be described later. Thespacer 170 is disposed on thefirst insulation layer 160. Thespacer 170 is positioned corresponding to a peripheral portion of thelower electrodes 130. Thespacer 170 includes, for example, silicon carbide (SiC). - Referring again to
FIG. 2 , thereflection module 190 may further include asecond insulation layer 165 that insulates theupper electrode 150 from thelower electrode 130, and moves theupper electrode 150 up and down. Thesecond insulation layer 165 is supported by thespacer 170, and is formed to face thefirst insulation layer 160. Thesecond insulation layer 165 includes, for example, a material having a good insulation property and a high permittivity. Thesecond insulation layer 165 may be flexible so as to move up and down relatively easily. Thesecond insulation layer 165, for example, includes silicon dioxide (SiO2). - The
upper electrode 150 is formed on thesecond insulation layer 165 to face the associatedlower electrode 130. Thus, theupper electrode 150 is formed in each of thereflection regions 121. Theupper electrode 150 may include a metal having a high electrical conductivity. Theupper electrode 150 includes, for example, aluminum (Al). Theupper electrode 150 may be formed in a thin film form, and may have a few to tens of micrometer-sized width and a few to tens of micrometer-sized thickness. A common voltage is applied to theupper electrode 150 fromoutside reflection module 190. -
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating the first region ‘A’ shown inFIG. 2 . - Referring to
FIG. 3 , theswitch element 140 is formed on thefirst substrate 120 before thelower electrode 130 is formed. Theswitch element 140 applies the externally provided on or off signal to thelower electrode 130. The on or off signal may have the same polarity as that of a common signal applied to theupper electrode 150 shown inFIG. 2 . The other of the on or off signal may have a different polarity from that of the common signal applied to theupper electrode 150 shown inFIG. 2 . In one embodiment, the one of the on and off signals which has the same polarity as that of the common signal corresponds to the on signal, while the other of the on and off signals which has the different polarity from that of the common signal corresponds to the off signal. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 , 2 and 3, a repulsive force from thelower electrode 130 acts on theupper electrode 150 facing thelower electrode 130 to which the on signal is applied. Thus, thesecond insulation layer 165 moves up toward thereflective face 106 of thelight guide unit 105. As thesecond insulation layer 165 moves up, theupper electrode 150 becomes closer to thereflective face 106. - In contrast, an attractive force from the
lower electrode 130 acts on theupper electrode 150 facing thelower electrode 130 to which the off signal is applied. Thus, thesecond insulation layer 165 moves down toward thelower electrode 130. Hence, theupper electrode 150 moves farther from thereflective face 106 of thelight guide unit 105. - The
switch element 140 includes agate electrode 141, asemiconductor layer 143, adata electrode 145 and adrain electrode 147 to apply the on or off signal to thelower electrode 130. - The
gate electrode 141 is formed on thefirst substrate 120 in a first direction. A control signal (a gate on signal or a gate off signal) is applied to thegate electrode 141 of theswitch element 140. The control signal controls which of the on and off signals is applied to thelower electrode 130. - The
switch element 140 may further include athird insulation layer 142 formed on thegate electrode 141. Thethird insulation layer 142 may be formed on an entire surface of thefirst substrate 120 facing thereflective face 106 of thelight guide unit 105. Thesemiconductor layer 143 is formed on thethird insulation layer 142. - The data electrode 145 is formed on the
semiconductor layer 143 in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A portion of thedata electrode 145 is overlaid on thegate electrode 141. The on or off signal is applied to thedata electrode 145. - The
drain electrode 147 is formed on thesemiconductor layer 143 and is substantially symmetrical to thedata electrode 145. As shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 3 , thereflection module 190 may further include afourth insulation layer 149 formed on the entire surface of thefirst substrate 120 having thedata electrode 145 anddrain electrode 147 formed thereon. A contact hole is formed through thefourth insulation layer 149, and thedrain electrode 147 may be electrically connected to thelower electrode 130 via acontact portion 147 a formed by filling the contact hole. - When the gate on signal is applied to the
gate electrode 141, the on or off signal applied to thedata electrode 145 is applied to thelower electrode 130 through thedrain electrode 147. -
FIG. 4 is a layout illustrating a portion of the reflection module shown inFIG. 2 .FIG. 4 illustrates thefirst substrate 120 having thelower electrode 130 formed thereon. - Referring to
FIGS. 2 to 4 , thereflection module 190 may further include a plurality offirst signal lines 181 and a plurality of second signal lines 185. - The
first signal lines 181 are arranged on thefirst substrate 120 in the first direction. Thefirst signal lines 181 are substantially parallel to each other. Thefirst signal lines 181 are formed with thegate electrode 141, and thegate electrode 141 protrudes from the first signal lines 181. Thefirst signal lines 181 apply the control signal to thegate electrode 141. - The
second signal lines 185 are arranged on thefirst substrate 120 in a second direction crossing the first direction. Thesecond signal lines 185 are substantially parallel to each other. Thesecond signal lines 185 are formed with thedata electrode 145 and thedrain electrode 147, and the data electrode 145 protrudes from the second signal lines 185. Thesecond signal lines 185 apply the on or off signal to thedata electrode 145. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , consecutivefirst signal lines 181 and consecutivesecond signal lines 185 define one of thereflection regions 121. -
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating a second region ‘B’ shown inFIG. 2 .FIG. 5 illustrates an optical path of light at a portion oflight guide unit 105 adjacent to theincident face 108.FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an incident angle ‘P’ onto the incident face inFIG. 5 and an amount of light received at the incident face fromlight source 110. - Referring to
FIGS. 5 and 6 , light incident on theincident face 108 from thelight source 110 forms an incident angle that ranges from a negative first angle −P1 to a positive first angle +P1 with respect to a virtual line that is substantially perpendicular to thelight incident face 108. - The amount of incident light increases as the incident angle decreases. First light L1 is defined as light that is incident onto the
incident face 108 at an incident angle of the first angle P1, and second light L2 is defined as light that is incident onto theincident face 108 at an incident angle of a second angle P2. The second angle P2 is smaller than the first angle P1. - The first light L1 is incident onto the
incident face 108 of thelight guide unit 105, and then refracted at theincident face 108. The refracted first light L1 is incident onto thereflective face 106 at an incident angle referred to as third angle θ. The second light L2 is incident onto theincident face 108 of thelight guide unit 105, and then refracted at theincident face 108. The refracted second light L2 is incident onto thereflective face 106 at an incident angle that is larger than the third angle θ. - When the
upper electrode 150 is spaced apart from thereflective face 106, thereflective face 106 corresponds to an interface between thelight guide unit 105 and an air layer. A refractive index of the light guide unit 105 (hereinafter, a refractive index indicates a relative index of refraction with respect to air, that is, an absolute index of refraction) is larger than that of the air layer. - Thus, according to Snell's law, when light in the
light guide unit 105 is incident onto thereflective face 106 at an incident angle that is greater than a critical angle, the light is totally reflected (i.e., none is transmitted through the interface into the air layer). The critical angle indicates an incident angle at above which a wave is totally internally reflected, for a configuration in which the wave is traveling in a more dense medium and is incident on an interface with a less dense medium. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , the first angle P1 at which the first light L1 is incident onto theincident face 108 is the largest angle of incidence for light received atincident face 108 fromlight source 110. Other incident angles corresponding to light having a different optical path from the first light L1 are smaller than P1 (e.g., angle P2 which corresponds to light L2). However, the third angle θ at which the first light L1 is incident onto thereflective face 106 is smaller than incident angles for light fromlight source 110 having a different optical path from the first light L1 (e.g., light L2). Thus, when the system is configured so that the first light L1 is totally reflected on thereflective face 106, it is obvious that light received fromlight source 110 having other optical paths is also totally internally reflected on thereflective face 106, since its incident angle is also greater than the critical angle. - In addition, it is clear that the totally reflected light is totally reflected again on the exiting
face 107 that is substantially parallel to thereflective face 106. - Accordingly, when the incident angle (the third angle θ) of the first light L1 onto the
reflective face 106 is greater than a critical angle for thereflective face 106, the light that is incident into thelight guide unit 105 from thelight source 110 through theincident face 108 is totally reflected on thereflective face 106 and the exitingface 107 of thelight guide unit 105, so that the light is confined within thelight guide unit 105. - According to Snell's law, a sine value of the critical angle for the
reflective face 106 is given by sin(the critical angle)=1/n. The ‘n’ indicates a refractive index of thelight guide unit 105 with respect to air. When the critical angle is equal to the incident angle (the third angle θ) at which the first light L1 is incident onto thereflective face 106, the refractive index of thelight guide unit 105 is determined by an equation of sin(θ)=1/n. - As explained in more detail below, the current systems and techniques allow for a material of a higher index of refraction than air (e.g., the material of upper electrode 150) to be selectively brought to
reflective face 106 to change the local optical characteristics of the interface withreflective face 106. At least a portion of the light incident on the interface betweenlight guide 105 andfirst electrode 150 is scattered at an angle such that it exits thelight guide unit 105 through exitingface 107 rather than continuing to be totally internally reflected in light guide unit. - That is, the light that is incident into the
light guide unit 105 from thelight source 110 does not arbitrarily exit thelight guide unit 105 through the exitingface 107, but selectively may exit thelight guide unit 105 through the exitingface 107 by a predetermined action on thereflective face 106. As a result, thebacklight assembly 100 may function as a light shutter to control the selective exit fromlight guide unit 105 of light incident on thereflective face 106, in each of thereflection regions 121. - When the
light guide unit 105 has the refractive index greater than the refractive index determined by the equation of sin(θ)=1/n, the critical angle for thereflective face 106 decreases, so that an amount of the light that is totally reflected on thereflective face 106 increases. Thus, thelight guide unit 105 may have the refractive index greater than the refractive index determined by the equation of sin(θ)=1/n. -
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating the third region ‘C’ shown inFIG. 2 .FIG. 5 illustrates an optical path of light at a portion of thereflective face 106 of thelight guide unit 105, the portion making contact with theupper electrode 150.FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an incident angle ‘Q’ onto the exiting face inFIG. 7 and an amount of light incident on the exiting surface at that angle. - Referring to
FIGS. 7 and 8 , the light in thelight guide unit 105 is incident onto the portion of thereflective face 106 of thelight guide unit 105 with which theupper electrode 150 makes contact, and then scattered. - The
upper electrode 150 may include a metal. In one embodiment, theupper electrode 150 is in an aluminum (Al) thin film form. Since light does not pass through metal in general, refraction of incident light onto metal does not occur. In addition, total reflection may be generated only when light goes from a more dense to a less dense medium. - Thus, light incident on the portion of reflected
face 106 with which theupper electrode 150 makes contact is not totally internally reflected (because if its relatively large density), but instead is reflected or scattered based on surface characteristics of theupper electrode 150. Theupper electrode 150 has a microscopically nonflat surface on which various convex and concave portions are formed. Thus, light that is incident onto the portion of thereflective face 106 with which theupper electrode 150 makes contact is scattered toward the exitingface 107. - As shown in
FIG. 8 , most of the scattered light is incident onto the exitingface 107 at an incident angle that is smaller than a critical angle for the exiting face 107 (which is equal to the critical angle for an air interface with the reflective face 106). Thus, most of the scattered light may exit thelight guide unit 105 through thelight exiting face 107. -
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a backlight assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. - Referring to
FIG. 9 , abacklight assembly 200 includes alight guide unit 205, alight source 210 and areflection module 290. InFIG. 9 , thebacklight assembly 200 is substantially the same as thebacklight assembly 100 shown inFIGS. 1 through 3 except for anoptical member 215, a shape of thelight guide unit 205, and thereflection module 290. Thus, further description of similar elements may be omitted. - The
light guide unit 205 includes areflective face 206, an exitingface 207 and anincident face 208. Thereflective face 206 and the exitingface 207 face each other. Theincident face 208 connects one end portion of thereflective face 206 to one end portion of the exitingface 207, which faces the one end portion of thereflective face 206. InFIG. 9 , thelight guide unit 205 has a substantially flat plate shape. Alternatively, thelight guide unit 205 may have a wedge shape. When thelight guide unit 205 has a wedge shape, a thickness of thelight guide unit 205 gradually decreases from the one end portion of thereflective face 206 to another end portion of thereflective face 206, which corresponds to the one end portion of thereflective face 206. - The
optical member 215 is adjacent to thereflective face 206. Theoptical member 215 may include a material having a greater refractive index than thelight guide unit 205. InFIG. 9 , theoptical member 215 includes, for example, a reflective film adhered to thereflective face 206. Alternatively, theoptical member 215 may include a thin film deposited on thereflective face 206. - The
reflection module 290 faces thereflective face 206. Thereflection module 290 includes afirst substrate 220, a plurality oflower electrodes 230, a plurality ofswitch elements 240 and a plurality ofupper electrodes 250. - Each of the
lower electrodes 230 have substantially same function and structure, each of theswitch elements 240 have substantially same function and structure, and each of theupper electrodes 250 have substantially same function and structure. Thus, one lower electrode, one switch element, and one upper electrode will be described in detail hereinafter. - The
reflection module 290 is substantially the same as thereflection module 190 shown inFIG. 3 except for driving modes (on and off modes). Thus, further descriptions similar elements may be omitted. - The
switch element 240 applies the externally provided on or off signal to thelower electrode 230. The on or off signal may have the same polarity as that of a common signal applied to theupper electrode 250. The other of the on or off signal may have a different polarity from that of the common signal applied to theupper electrode 250. In one embodiment, the one of the on and off signals which has the same polarity as that of the common signal corresponds to the off signal, while the other of the on and off signals which has the different polarity from that of the common signal, corresponds to the on signal. - A repulsive force from the
lower electrode 230 acts on theupper electrode 250 facing thelower electrode 230 to which the off signal is applied. Thus, thesecond insulation layer 265 moves up toward thereflective face 206 of thelight guide unit 205. As thesecond insulation layer 265 moves up, theupper electrode 250 becomes close to thereflective face 206. - In contrast, an attractive force from the
lower electrode 230 acts on theupper electrode 250 facing thelower electrode 230 to which the on signal is applied. Thus, thesecond insulation layer 265 moves down toward thelower electrode 230. Hence, theupper electrode 250 moves farther from thereflective face 206 of thelight guide unit 205. -
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view illustrating the fourth region ‘G’ shown inFIG. 9 . - Referring to
FIGS. 9 and 10 , light incident on theincident face 208 from thelight source 210 forms an incident angle that ranges from a negative first angle −r1 to a positive first angle +r1 with respect to a virtual line that is substantially perpendicular to thelight incident face 208. - The amount of incident light increases as the incident angle decreases. First light F1 is defined as light that is incident onto the
incident face 208 at an incident angle of the first angle r1, and second light F2 is defined as light that is incident onto theincident face 208 at an incident angle of a second angle r2. The second angle r2 is smaller than the first angle r1. - The first light F1 is incident onto the
incident face 208 of thelight guide unit 205, and then refracted at theincident face 208. The refracted first light F1 is incident onto thereflective face 206 at an incident angle of a third angle φ1. A refractive index n2 of theoptical member 215 is greater than a refractive index n1 of thelight guide unit 205. Thus, a first portion F1′ of the first light F1 that is incident onto thereflective face 206 is refracted at thereflective face 206 to travel through theoptical member 215, while a second portion F1″ of the first light F1 that is incident onto thereflective face 206 is reflected at thereflective face 206. - When the off signal is applied to the
lower electrode 230 and thus theupper electrode 250 makes contact with thereflective face 206, the first portion F1′ of the first light F1 that travels through theoptical member 215 is reflected on aninterface 216 between theoptical member 215 and theupper electrode 250. The reflected first portion of the first light F1 enters thelight guide unit 205 again, and is refracted at thereflective face 206. - The second portion F″ of the first light F1 that is reflected on the
reflective face 206 and the first portion F′ of the first light F1 that reenters thelight guide unit 205 from theoptical member 215 are incident onto the exitingface 207 substantially the same incident angle, designated as φ2. In one embodiment, thelight guide unit 205 may have a wedge shape, so that the incident angle φ2 onto the exitingface 207 may be smaller than the incident angle φ1 onto thereflective face 206. - In
backlight assembly 200, light selectively exits thelight guide unit 205 through the exitingface 207 in each of thereflection regions 221, depending on whether one or more of thefirst electrodes 250 areadjacent interface 216. Thus, thebacklight assembly 200 may serve as a light shutter. In eachreflection region 221 receiving an “off” signal, light that is incident onto the exitingface 207 may preferably be totally reflected from the exitingface 207. The refractive index n1 of thelight guide unit 205 may be determined by an equation of sin (a critical angle for the exiting face 207)=1/n1 for the total internal reflection. - Light received in
light guide 205 with an angle of incidence between +r1 and −r1 (e.g., light F2) is incident onto the exitingface 207 at an incident angle that is greater than the incident angle φ2 of the first light F1. Thus, with respect to the first light F1, a condition for a total reflection on the exitingface 207 is given by an equation of sin(φ2)=1/n1. That is, in order for the light received from thelight source 210 to be totally internally reflected from an air interface (for example), the refractive index (with respect to air) for the material oflight guide 205 needs to be equal to or greater than n1 in the equation above (since the critical angle decreases as the refractive index increases). -
FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating a diffraction of a wave passing through a single slit. - Referring to
FIG. 11 , a solid line indicates a direction in which a wave advances, and a dotted line indicates a wavefront that is a surface joining all points of substantially equal phase of the wave. The direction in which the wave advances is substantially perpendicular to the wavefront. - As shown in
FIG. 11 , when the wave passes through a small aperture, the wave is diffracted at the small aperture. Thus, after passing through the small aperture, the wave advances in various directions. Light passing through a narrow slit conforms to the principle of diffraction. -
FIG. 12 is an enlarged view illustrating the fifth region ‘H’ shown inFIG. 9 .FIG. 13 is an enlarged view illustrating the sixth region ‘I’ shown inFIG. 12 . - Referring to
FIGS. 12 and 13 , when the off signal is applied to thelower electrode 230 and thus theupper electrode 250 is spaced apart from thereflective face 206, a first portion of the light that is incident onto thereflective face 206 at the incident angle φ2 is reflected from thereflective face 206, and a second portion of the light that is incident onto thereflective face 206 at the incident angle φ2 is refracted at a first refractive angle φ3 and is transmitted into theoptical member 215. - In order for the light to selectively exit the
light guide unit 205 through the exitingface 207, the light may exit thelight guide unit 205 through theoptical member 215 to the air layer and thus the light is reflected on theupper electrode 250. The light advances from theoptical member 215 that is a more dense medium to the air layer that is a less dense medium, so that total internal reflection may occur at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle. However, when an incident angle φ3 (that is equal to the first refractive angle φ3) of the light is smaller than a critical angle for theinterface 216 between the air layer and theoptical member 215, a portion of the light is reflected at theinterface 216, while another portion of the light is refracted at a second refractive angle φ4 and exits theoptical member 215 to the air layer. - According to Snell's law, with respect to the
reflective face 206, an equation of sin(φ2)/sin(φ3)=n2/n1 is satisfied. In addition, with respect to theinterface 216 between theoptical member 215 and the air layer, an equation of sin(φ3)/sin(φ4)=(a refractive index of the air layer)/n2=1/n2 is satisfied (for the case where n2 and n1 are the indexes of refraction with respect to air). From the above equations, the refractive index n2 of theoptical member 215 is given by an equation of n2=√{square root over (n1 sin(φ2)sin(φ4))}{square root over (n1 sin(φ2)sin(φ4))}/sin(φ3). - Thus, when the incident angle φ3 onto the
interface 216 is set smaller than the critical angle for theinterface 216, the refractive index n2 of theoptical member 215 is determined by the equation of n2√{square root over (=n1 sin(φ2)sin(φ4))}{square root over (=n1 sin(φ2)sin(φ4))}/sin(φ3). - Referring again to
FIGS. 11 to 13 , the light from theoptical member 215 advances between twoupper electrodes 250 that make contact with thereflective face 206. Each of theupper electrodes 250 has a micrometer-sized width. Thus, the twoupper electrodes 250 that make contact with thereflective face 206 may form a single slit. - As a result, the light that advances between the two
upper electrodes 250 adjacent thereflective face 206 is diffracted, so that optical paths of the diffracted light transmitted throughinterface 216 into the air gap and then incident on theupper electrode 250 in the “on” state have different directions (as shown inFIG. 12 ). Thus, the light is reflected from theupper electrodes 250 in the “on” state (spaced apart from the reflective face 206), and the reflected light is incident into theoptical member 215 to exit thelight guide unit 205 through the exitingface 207. -
FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an incident angle ‘S’ onto the exiting face inFIG. 12 and an amount of light incident on the exiting face having the associated angle. - Referring to
FIG. 14 , most of the light that is incident onto the exitingface 207 after being reflected on the on-statedupper electrodes 250 has a smaller incident angle than the critical angle for the exitingface 207. Thus, most of the light exits thelight guide unit 205 through the exitingface 207. -
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a backlight assembly according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. - Referring to
FIG. 15 , thebacklight assembly 300 includes alight guide unit 305, alight source 310 and areflection module 390. InFIG. 15 , thebacklight assembly 300 is substantially the same as thebacklight assembly 200 shown inFIG. 9 except for thelight source 310 and thereflection module 390. Thus, further descriptions of substantially similar elements may be omitted. - The
light guide unit 305 includes areflective face 306, an exitingface 307 and anincident face 308. - The
light source 310 includes alamp 311 and alamp reflector 312. Thelamp reflector 312 reflects light emitted from thelamp 311 toward theincident face 308. - The
reflection module 390 faces thereflective face 306. Thereflection module 390 includes afirst substrate 320, a plurality oflower electrodes 330, a plurality ofswitch elements 340 and a plurality ofupper electrodes 350. - The
reflection module 390 is substantially the same as thereflection module 290 shown inFIG. 9 except for the shape of thesecond insulation layer 365 and the shape of theupper electrode 350. Thus, further description may be omitted. -
FIG. 16 is an enlarged view illustrating the seventh region ‘K’ shown inFIG. 15 . - Referring to
FIGS. 15 and 16 , thesecond insulation layer 365 is supported by thespacer 370 and faces thefirst insulation layer 360. Thesecond insulation layer 365 includes a fixingportion 365 a fixed to an upper portion of thespacer 370 and afree portion 365 b opposite to the fixingportion 365 a. - When an on signal is applied to the
lower electrode 330, an attractive force acts on each of theupper electrodes 350 from corresponding one of thelower electrodes 330, so that thefree portion 365 a is bent toward a central portion of the correspondinglower electrode 330. Thus, each of theupper electrodes 350 makes contact with aninterface 316 in the “off” state, but includes at least a portion that is spaced apart from theinterface 316 in the “on” state. - When the on signal is applied to the
lower electrode 330 and thus theupper electrode 350 is spaced apart from theinterface 316, a first portion of the light that is incident onto thereflective face 306 is reflected from thereflective face 306, and a second portion of the light that is incident onto thereflective face 306 is refracted to advance in theoptical member 315. Then, the second portion of the light advancing the secondoptical member 315 is partially reflected on theinterface 316 between the secondoptical member 315 and an air layer, and partially refracted at theinterface 316 to exit the secondoptical member 315 to the air layer. - The light from the
optical member 315 advances between twoupper electrodes 350 that make contact with the interface 316 (in the “off” state). The twoupper electrodes 350 that make contact with theinterface 316 may thus form a single slit. - As a result, the light that advances between the two
upper electrodes 350 is diffracted, so that optical paths of the diffracted light have a number of different directions. Thus, the light is reflected on theupper electrodes 350 spaced apart from the interface 316 (in the “on” state), and the reflected light is incident into theoptical member 315 to exit thelight guide unit 305 through the exitingface 307. - Display Device
-
FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II′ inFIG. 17 . - Referring to
FIGS. 17 and 18 , adisplay device 700 includes alight guide unit 105, alight source 110, areflection module 190 and adisplay module 750. Thelight guide unit 105, thelight source 110 and thereflection module 190 are substantially the same as thelight guide unit 105, thelight source 110 and thereflection module 190 shown inFIGS. 1 through 8 , respectively. Thus, elements that are substantially the same will be represented by the same reference numerals, and further description may be omitted. - The
display module 750 is disposed over thelight guide unit 105 to display an image using light from thelight guide unit 105. Thedisplay module 750 includes asecond substrate 720 and a plurality ofcolor pixels 730. - The
second substrate 720 is disposed over an exitingface 107 of thelight guide unit 105. Thesecond substrate 720 has, for example, a plate shape, and may include glass. A plurality of thepixel regions 721 are formed on thesecond substrate 720. Thepixel regions 721 are positioned corresponding to one or more of thereflection regions 121 formed on thefirst substrate 120. - More than one of the
reflection regions 121 may correspond to one of thepixel regions 721. InFIG. 17 , one of thepixel regions 721 positioned over one of thereflection regions 121. - Each of the
color pixels 730 is formed in one of thepixel regions 721. Thecolor pixels 730 include, for example, red, green and blue color pixels. Each of thecolor pixels 730 receives light from the exitingface 107 to emit one of red, green and blue colored light. - In
FIGS. 17 and 18 , thedisplay module 750 optionally includes a light-blockingportion 725. The light-blockingportion 725 is disposed between thepixel regions 721. The light-blockingportion 725 increases a contrast ratio between on-statedcolor pixels 730 in which light is received and off-statedcolor pixels 730 in which light is not received. - Color brightness for the
color pixels 730 is controlled by controlling the amount of time during which an on signal is applied to thelower electrode 130. - When an on signal is applied to the
lower electrode 130, theupper electrode 150 becomes close to thereflective face 106. Thus, light exits thelight guide unit 105 through a portion of the exitingface 107, the portion corresponding to thereflective face 106 close to theupper electrode 150. As a result, thedisplay device 700 displays an image. -
Display device 700 includes a liquid crystal display panel where a simple structure (includingreflection module 190 and display module 750) replace previous, complex designs.Reflection module 190 serves as a light shutter, selectively supplying light to display an image. -
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. - Referring to
FIG. 19 , a display device includes alight guide unit 205, alight source 210, areflection module 290 and adisplay module 850. Thelight guide unit 205, thelight source 210 and thereflection module 290 are substantially the same as thelight guide unit 205, thelight source 210 and thereflection module 290 shown inFIGS. 9 through 14 , respectively. Thus, substantially similar elements will be represented by the same reference numerals, and further description may be omitted. - The
display module 850 includes asecond substrate 820 and a plurality ofcolor pixels 830. Thedisplay module 850 inFIG. 19 is substantially the same as thedisplay module 750 shown inFIGS. 17 and 18 except for pixel regions. Thus, further description of substantially similar elements may be omitted. - The
second substrate 820 is disposed over the exitingface 207. A plurality ofpixel regions 821 are formed on thesecond substrate 820. Thepixel regions 821 are positioned corresponding to one ormore reflection regions 221 formed on thefirst substrate 220. More than one of thereflection regions 221 may correspond to one of thepixel regions 821. InFIG. 19 , one of thepixel regions 821 is positioned over four of thereflection regions 121. -
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. - Referring to
FIG. 20 , a display device includes alight guide unit 305, alight source 310, areflection module 390 and adisplay module 950. Thelight guide unit 305, thelight source 310 and thereflection module 390 are substantially the same as thelight guide unit 305, thelight source 310 and thereflection module 390 shown inFIGS. 15 and 16 , respectively. Thus, substantially similar elements will be represented by the same reference numerals, and further description may be omitted. - The
display module 950 includes asecond substrate 920 and a plurality ofcolor pixels 930. Thedisplay module 950 inFIG. 20 is substantially the same as thedisplay module 750 shown inFIGS. 17 and 18 except for pixel regions. Thus, further description of substantially similar elements may be omitted. - The
second substrate 920 is disposed over the exitingface 307. A plurality ofpixel regions 921 are formed on thesecond substrate 920. Thepixel regions 921 are positioned corresponding to one ormore reflection regions 321 formed on thefirst substrate 320. More than one of thereflection regions 321 may correspond to one of thepixel regions 921. InFIG. 20 , one of thepixel regions 921 is positioned over four of thereflection regions 321. - According to embodiments of the present invention, the backlight assembly functions as a light shutter, which selectively emits light in each reflection region.
- In particular, as an upper electrode disposed in each reflection region makes contact with or is spaced apart from a reflective face of a light guide unit (or an optical member), light inside the light guide unit may be totally reflected on the reflective face of the light guide unit, may be partially reflected on the reflective face of the light guide unit or may exit the light guide unit through the reflective face. Light that exits the light guide unit through the reflective face is reflected on the upper electrode to exit the light guide unit through an exiting face of the light guide unit.
- Thus, the systems and techniques provided herein provide for a simplified display device structure. Rather than including separate elements such as liquid crystal layers and the associated structure, display modules described herein include a color pixel for displaying a color based on light exiting the light guide unit through the exiting face, and a reflection unit for selectively reflecting light from a light source. The display module thus serves as a simple and effective light shutter to display images.
- Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims (19)
1. A backlight assembly comprising:
a light guide unit having an incident face and a reflective face;
a light source configured to provide light onto the incident face of the light guide unit; and
a reflection module disposed under the light guide unit and including a plurality of reflection parts movable in response to an electric signal so as to selectively reflect or scatter the light incident on the reflective face.
2. The backlight assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the reflection parts is formed on a first substrate and comprises:
a lower electrode;
an associated switch element disposed on the first substrate to apply an on signal or an off signal to an associated lower electrode; and
an upper electrode positioned on the lower electrode, the upper electrodes configured to contact the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to one of the on signal and the off signal received at the associated lower electrodes and to be separated from the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to the other of the on signal and the off signal received at the associated lower electrode.
3. The backlight assembly of claim 2 , wherein each of the upper electrodes comprise a protrusion configured to scatter incident light.
4. The backlight assembly of claim 2 , further comprising an optical member disposed between the light guide unit and the reflection module, the optical member having a refractive index greater than that of the light guide unit.
5. The backlight assembly of claim 4 , wherein the optical member makes contact with the reflective face of the light guide unit.
6. The backlight assembly of claim 4 , wherein the reflection module comprises:
a first insulation layer formed on the lower electrode;
a second insulation layer supporting the upper electrode; and
a plurality of spacers formed between the first and second insulation layers to support the second insulation layer, the spacers positioned between adjacent lower electrodes.
7. The backlight assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second insulation layer comprises:
a plurality of fixing portions each fixed to an upper portion of an associated spacer; and
a plurality of free portions, each of the free portions disposed between adjacent fixing portions so that the second insulation layer is bendable such that the upper electrode is capable of moving upwardly or downwardly.
8. The backlight assembly of claim 2 , wherein the reflection module further comprises:
a plurality of first signal lines arranged on the first substrate in a first direction to apply a control signal to the switch elements, the control signal for each switch element configured to control the application of the on signal or the off signal to the associated lower electrode; and
a plurality of second signal lines arranged on the first substrate in a second direction crossing the first direction to apply the on signal or the off signal to the associated lower electrode.
9. The backlight assembly of claim 2 , wherein the light guide further includes an exiting face through which the light reflected or scattered by reflection module is capable of passing.
10. A display device comprising:
a light guide unit having an incident face and a reflective face;
a light source configured to provide light onto the incident face of the light guide unit;
a reflection module disposed under the light guide unit and including a plurality of reflection parts movable in response to an electric signal so as to selectively reflect or scatter the light incident on the reflective face; and
a display module disposed over the light guide unit to display an image using light from the light guide unit.
11. The display device of claim 10 , wherein the display module comprises color pixels formed in a plurality of pixel regions.
12. The display device of claim 10 , wherein each of the reflection parts is formed on a first substrate and comprises:
a lower electrode;
an associated switch element disposed on the first substrate to apply an on signal or an off signal to an associated lower electrode; and
an upper electrode positioned on the lower electrode, the upper electrodes configured to contact the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to one of the on signal and the off signal received at the associated lower electrodes and to be separated from the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to the other of the on signal and the off signal received at the associated lower electrode.
13. The display device of claim 12 , wherein the reflection module comprises:
a first insulation layer formed on the lower electrode;
a second insulation layer supporting the upper electrode; and
a plurality of spacers formed between the first and second insulation layers to support the second insulation layer, the spacers positioned between adjacent lower electrodes.
14. The display device of claim 13 , wherein the second insulation layer comprises:
a plurality of fixing portions each fixed to an upper portion of an associated spacer; and
a plurality of free portions, each of the free portions disposed between adjacent fixing portions so that the second insulation layer is bendable such that the upper electrode is capable of moving upwardly or downwardly.
15. The display device of claim 9 , wherein the light guide unit comprises a first layer and a second layer disposed between the first layer and the reflection module, the second layer having a refractive index greater than that of the first layer.
16. The display device of claim 9 , wherein the light guide further includes an exiting face through which the light reflected or scattered by reflection module is capable of passing.
17. A method of displaying an image, the method comprising:
providing a light to a light guide unit having an incident face, a reflective face and an exiting face;
moving a reflection module so that the reflection part contacts the reflective face; and
reflecting or scattering the light incident onto the reflective face contacting the reflection module so that the light reflected or scattered by the reflection module passes through the exiting face.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the light incident onto the reflective face is reflected by an interface between the light guide unit and an air when the reflection module is spaced apart from the light guide unit.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the light reflected at the interface is incident onto the exiting face, and an incident angle of the light reflected by the interface is different from an incident angle of the light reflected or scattered by the reflection module when the lights are incident onto the exiting face.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US12/263,340 US20090059619A1 (en) | 2005-05-09 | 2008-10-31 | Backlight Assembly And Display Device Having The Same |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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KR1020050038472A KR20060116102A (en) | 2005-05-09 | 2005-05-09 | Back light assembly and display device having the same |
KR2005-38472 | 2005-05-09 | ||
US11/431,355 US7447417B2 (en) | 2005-05-09 | 2006-05-09 | Backlight assembly and display device having the same |
US12/263,340 US20090059619A1 (en) | 2005-05-09 | 2008-10-31 | Backlight Assembly And Display Device Having The Same |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US11/431,355 Continuation US7447417B2 (en) | 2005-05-09 | 2006-05-09 | Backlight assembly and display device having the same |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20090059619A1 true US20090059619A1 (en) | 2009-03-05 |
Family
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Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US11/431,355 Active US7447417B2 (en) | 2005-05-09 | 2006-05-09 | Backlight assembly and display device having the same |
US12/263,340 Abandoned US20090059619A1 (en) | 2005-05-09 | 2008-10-31 | Backlight Assembly And Display Device Having The Same |
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US11/431,355 Active US7447417B2 (en) | 2005-05-09 | 2006-05-09 | Backlight assembly and display device having the same |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US7447417B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2006318900A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20060116102A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1862341A (en) |
TW (1) | TW200639529A (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140254140A1 (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2014-09-11 | GE Lighting Solutions, LLC | Led backlight system for cabinet sign |
US11243428B2 (en) * | 2011-04-04 | 2022-02-08 | Lg Innotek Co., Ltd. | Lighting apparatus |
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DE602006015901D1 (en) * | 2006-02-27 | 2010-09-16 | Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd | A liquid crystal display device displaying colored segments and a clock equipped with such a device |
US20080117151A1 (en) * | 2006-11-06 | 2008-05-22 | Nokia Corporation | Reflectors for display pixels |
US7286196B1 (en) * | 2006-12-29 | 2007-10-23 | Vitera Llc | LCD with complimentary heterogeneous polarizers for polarization light recycling |
US8548289B2 (en) | 2007-12-14 | 2013-10-01 | Rambus Delaware Llc | Apparatus and method for reducing pixel operational voltage in MEMS-based optical displays |
WO2010073186A1 (en) * | 2008-12-23 | 2010-07-01 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | A light guide system, and reflector for controlling out-coupling of light |
TWI405102B (en) * | 2009-10-07 | 2013-08-11 | Radiant Opto Electronics Corp | Backlight module and optical touch panel |
KR101614463B1 (en) | 2009-11-05 | 2016-04-22 | 삼성디스플레이 주식회사 | Display device using mems element and manufacturing method thereof |
CN104583844B (en) | 2012-08-10 | 2019-04-30 | 杜比实验室特许公司 | Light orients modulation display |
KR102247510B1 (en) * | 2014-08-22 | 2021-05-03 | 삼성디스플레이 주식회사 | Liquid crystal lens panel |
KR102244074B1 (en) * | 2014-10-15 | 2021-04-26 | 삼성디스플레이 주식회사 | Organic light-emitting illumination apparatus and method for manufacturing the same |
DE102016013330A1 (en) * | 2016-11-10 | 2018-05-17 | Bergische Universität Wuppertal | Waveguide, method for decoupling light from a waveguide and display |
EP3819898B1 (en) | 2018-07-28 | 2023-08-30 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | Display screen and terminal |
CN111273390A (en) * | 2020-03-24 | 2020-06-12 | 杭州矽能新材料有限公司 | Light guide strip and light guide device with same |
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EP0867747A3 (en) * | 1997-03-25 | 1999-03-03 | Sony Corporation | Reflective display device |
TW523627B (en) * | 1998-07-14 | 2003-03-11 | Hitachi Ltd | Liquid crystal display device |
JP2002082772A (en) * | 2000-06-28 | 2002-03-22 | Hitachi Ltd | Touch panel, its manufacturing method and screen input type display device using the same touch panel |
BR0116437A (en) * | 2000-12-21 | 2004-02-03 | Procter & Gamble | Biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers with improved crystallization properties |
JP3698097B2 (en) * | 2001-12-11 | 2005-09-21 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Electro-optical device substrate, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus |
JP3726900B2 (en) * | 2002-06-24 | 2005-12-14 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Display device and electronic apparatus equipped with the same |
-
2005
- 2005-05-09 KR KR1020050038472A patent/KR20060116102A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2006
- 2006-04-07 TW TW095112310A patent/TW200639529A/en unknown
- 2006-05-02 JP JP2006128051A patent/JP2006318900A/en active Pending
- 2006-05-09 US US11/431,355 patent/US7447417B2/en active Active
- 2006-05-09 CN CNA2006100783149A patent/CN1862341A/en active Pending
-
2008
- 2008-10-31 US US12/263,340 patent/US20090059619A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (2)
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US5636072A (en) * | 1994-04-01 | 1997-06-03 | Ngk Insulators, Ltd. | Display element and display apparatus |
US5771321A (en) * | 1996-01-04 | 1998-06-23 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Micromechanical optical switch and flat panel display |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140254140A1 (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2014-09-11 | GE Lighting Solutions, LLC | Led backlight system for cabinet sign |
US20150007469A1 (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2015-01-08 | GE Lighting Solutions, LLC | Led backlight system for cabinet sign |
US9836999B2 (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2017-12-05 | GE Lighting Solutions, LLC | LED backlight system for cabinet sign |
US10223944B2 (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2019-03-05 | GE Lighting Solutions, LLC | LED backlight system for cabinet sign |
US11243428B2 (en) * | 2011-04-04 | 2022-02-08 | Lg Innotek Co., Ltd. | Lighting apparatus |
US11586069B2 (en) | 2011-04-04 | 2023-02-21 | Lg Innotek Co., Ltd. | Lighting apparatus |
US11754877B2 (en) | 2011-04-04 | 2023-09-12 | Lg Innotek Co., Ltd. | Lighting apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20060251377A1 (en) | 2006-11-09 |
JP2006318900A (en) | 2006-11-24 |
TW200639529A (en) | 2006-11-16 |
US7447417B2 (en) | 2008-11-04 |
CN1862341A (en) | 2006-11-15 |
KR20060116102A (en) | 2006-11-14 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA, DEMOCRATIC P Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:UEMOTO, TSUTOMU;REEL/FRAME:021933/0381 Effective date: 20060316 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |