Tiled light guide with deflection structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10012784-B1
Application number	US-201715474930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2017
Priority date	Mar 30, 2017
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

Techniques and mechanisms for providing illumination of a display. In an embodiment, a light guide includes a first portion to receive light, a second portion to output some or all of the light, and a third portion configured to propagate the light between the first portion and the second portion. The third portion forms a first deflection structure which adjoins, and extends between, respective surface regions of the first portion and the second portion. A light source is coupled to provide edgewise illumination of the light guide via the first portion. In another embodiment, the light propagates through the third portion and into a region, between two parallel planes, in which the second portion is located.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
one or more light sources; and
a light guide optically coupled to the one or more light sources, the light guide including:
a first portion configured to receive light from the one or more light sources;
a second portion configured to output from the light guide at least a portion of the light; and
a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the third portion forms a first deflection structure which adjoins and extends between a first surface region of the first portion and a second surface region of the second portion, wherein a first direction of a first vector normal to the first surface region is oblique to, or opposite to, a second direction of a second vector normal to the second surface region.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the third portion forms a second deflection structure which adjoins and extends between a third surface region of the first portion and a fourth surface region of the second portion, wherein a third direction of a third vector normal to the third surface region is oblique to, or opposite to, a fourth direction of a fourth vector normal to the fourth surface region.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first deflection structure includes a first corner which forms an obtuse angle.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first deflection structure includes a first curve.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the first curve forms a one hundred and eighty degree (180°) bend.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein one or more surface regions of the first portion each have a respective reflective coating disposed thereon.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein one or more surface regions of third portion each have a respective reflective coating disposed thereon.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second surface region extends in a first plane and a third surface region of the second portion extends in a second plane parallel to the first plane, wherein a sidewall surface of the second portion extends between the first plane and the second plane, wherein the sidewall surface is curved or oblique to the first plane.

10. A method comprising:
forming a light guide including a first portion, a second portion and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the third portion forms a first deflection structure which adjoins and extends between a first surface region of the first portion and a second surface region of the second portion, wherein a first direction of a first vector normal to the first surface region is oblique to, or opposite to, a second direction of a second vector normal to the second surface region; and
optically coupling a light source to the light guide via the first portion, wherein the second portion is optically coupled to output from the light guide light which is provided by the light source.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the third portion forms a second deflection structure which adjoins and extends between a third surface region of the first portion and a fourth surface region of the second portion, wherein a third direction of a third vector normal to the third surface region is oblique to, or opposite to, a fourth direction of a fourth vector normal to the fourth surface region.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first deflection structure includes a first corner which forms an obtuse angle.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first deflection structure includes a first curve.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising optically coupling the light guide to a display stack including a pixel array.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
providing light from the light source to the light guide; and
operating the pixel array to generate an image with light output from the second portion of the light guide.

17. A system comprising:
multiple light sources including a first light source;
multiple light guides each optically coupled to a respective one of the light sources, the multiple light guides including a first light guide comprising:
a first portion configured to receive light from the first light source;
a second portion to output from the first light guide at least a portion of the light; and
a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the third portion forms a first deflection structure which adjoins and extends between a first surface region of the first portion and a second surface region of the second portion, wherein a first direction of a first vector normal to the first surface region is oblique to, or opposite to, a second direction of a second vector normal to the second surface region; and
a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen optically coupled to receive the portion of the light.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the third portion forms a second deflection structure which adjoins and extends between a third surface region of the first portion and a fourth surface region of the second portion, wherein a third direction of a third vector normal to the third surface region is oblique to, or opposite to, a fourth direction of a fourth vector normal to the fourth surface region.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first deflection structure includes a first corner which forms an obtuse angle.

21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first deflection structure includes a first curve.

Assignees

• Wooster Roland P
• Jiang Jun
• Zhuang Zhiming
• Glendinning Duncan
• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Wooster Roland P
• Jiang Jun
• Zhuang Zhiming
• Glendinning Duncan

Classifications

• G02B6/0056

  for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements · CPC title

• G02F1/1333

  Constructional arrangements; {Manufacturing methods}(G02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/0055

  Reflecting element, sheet or layer · CPC title

• G02B6/0045 Primary

  by shaping at least a portion of the light guide · CPC title

• G02B6/0091

  of the light source relative to the light guide (G02B6/0021 takes precedence) · CPC title