Planar illumination device with local dimming

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12504659-B2
Application number	US-202218836913-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2022
Priority date	Feb 16, 2022
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

A planar illumination device according to an embodiment includes a plurality of light sources, a condenser lens, and a field lens. The plurality of light sources are disposed two-dimensionally on a substrate and light emission of the plurality of light sources is individually controlled. The condenser lens is disposed at an exit side of the light sources in parallel with the substrate and configured to condense light exiting from the light sources. The field lens is disposed at an exit side of the condenser lens, disposed inclined in at least one direction orthogonal to a plane parallel to the substrate, configured to spread light incident from the condenser lens outward, and disposed along a liquid crystal panel attached externally.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A planar illumination device, comprising:
a plurality of light sources disposed two-dimensionally on a substrate, wherein the plurality of light sources allow for local dimming and are separately controlled; a reflector disposed at an exit side of the substrate, the reflector having reflection surfaces surrounding each light source of the plurality of light sources; a condenser lens disposed at an exit side of the plurality of light sources in parallel with the substrate and configured to condense light exiting from the plurality of light sources; and a field lens disposed at an exit side of the condenser lens, disposed inclined in at least one direction orthogonal to a plane parallel to the substrate, formed with a plurality of linear prisms configured to spread light incident from the condenser lens outward, and disposed along a liquid crystal panel attached externally.

2 . The planar illumination device according to claim 1 , wherein
the field lens is provided in vicinity to the liquid crystal panel.

3 . The planar illumination device according to claim 1 , wherein
the condenser lens is formed with linear Fresnel lenses including grooves forming unevenness at an incident side and at an exit side, directions of the grooves being orthogonal to each other, and the field lens is formed with linear prisms including grooves forming unevenness at an incident side and at an exit side, directions of the grooves being orthogonal to each other.

4 . The planar illumination device according to claim 1 , comprising
another field lens provided between the condenser lens and the field lens and in parallel with the substrate, the other field lens is formed with lenticular lenses including grooves forming unevenness at an incident side and at an exit side, directions of the grooves being orthogonal to each other.

5 . The planar illumination device according to claim 1 , comprising
an optical sheet composed of a polarization reflective sheet or a diffusion sheet, the optical sheet being disposed at an exit side of the field lens disposed inclined.

6 . A planar illumination device illuminating a liquid crystal panel disposed inclined with respect to an optical axis, the planar illumination device comprising:
a plurality of light sources disposed two-dimensionally on a substrate, wherein the plurality of light sources allow for local dimming and are separately controlled; a reflector disposed at an exit side of the substrate, the reflector having reflection surfaces surrounding each light source of the plurality of light sources; a condenser lens disposed at an exit side of the plurality of light sources and configured to condense light exiting from the plurality of light sources; and a field lens disposed at an exit side of the condenser lens and formed with a plurality of linear prisms configured to spread light incident from the condenser lens outward, wherein the field lens is disposed along the liquid crystal panel attached externally.

7 . The planar illumination device according to claim 6 , wherein
the field lens is disposed in vicinity to the liquid crystal panel.

8 . The planar illumination device according to claim 7 , wherein
the field lens is in vicinity to the liquid crystal panel by 3 mm or less.

9 . The planar illumination device according to claim 6 , wherein
the field lens is disposed in parallel with the liquid crystal panel.

10 . The planar illumination device according to claim 6 , wherein
the substrate is disposed perpendicular to the optical axis.

11 . The planar illumination device according to claim 6 , wherein
the field lens is configured such that, among the light entered from the condenser lens, light incident on a center part of the entire width is emitted in a direction of the optical axis, and light incident on an outside of the center part is spread outward from the center part.

12 . The planar illumination device according to claim 6 , wherein
the plurality of linear prisms includes: a plurality of first linear prisms that are formed adjacent to each other on an exit side of the field lens, and allow light distribution of light incident from the condenser lens to spread outward in a first direction, and a plurality of second linear prisms that are formed adjacent to each other on a side of the field lens opposite the plurality of first linear prisms, and allow light distribution of light incident from the condenser lens to spread outward in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

13 . The planar illumination device according to claim 6 , wherein
the condenser lens is formed with linear Fresnel lenses.

14 . The planar illumination device according to claim 6 , wherein
the condenser lens is formed with linear Fresnel lenses including grooves forming unevenness at an incident side and at an exit side, directions of the grooves being orthogonal to each other, and the field lens is formed with linear prisms including grooves forming unevenness at an incident side and at an exit side, directions of the grooves being orthogonal to each other.

15 . The planar illumination device according to claim 6 , comprising
another field lens provided between the condenser lens and the field lens and in parallel with the substrate, the other field lens is formed with lenticular lenses.

16 . A planar illumination device illuminating a liquid crystal panel disposed inclined with respect to an optical axis, the planar illumination device comprising:
a plurality of light sources disposed two-dimensionally on a substrate, wherein the plurality of light sources allow for local dimming and are separately controlled; a reflector disposed at an exit side of the substrate, the reflector having reflection surfaces surrounding each light source of the plurality of light sources; a condenser lens disposed at an exit side of the plurality of light sources and formed with a plurality of linear prisms configured to condense light exiting from the plurality of light sources; and a field lens disposed at an exit side of the condenser lens and configured to spread light incident from the condenser lens outward, wherein the field lens is disposed in vicinity to the liquid crystal panel attached externally.

17 . The planar illumination device according to claim 16 , wherein the field lens is in vicinity to the liquid crystal panel by 3 mm or less.

Assignees

• Minebea Mitsumi Inc

Inventors

• MUKUMOTO Suguru
• Suzuki Shogo

Classifications

• G02F1/133605

  including specially adapted reflectors · CPC title

• G02F1/133603

  with LEDs · CPC title

• G02B2027/0118

  comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility · CPC title

• G02B27/0101

  characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title