Flexible Backlight Illumination Carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016291244-A1
Application number	US-201514676808-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 1, 2015
Priority date	Apr 1, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A display includes a light guide plate, a plurality of light sources disposed along an edge of the light guide plate, and a flexible carrier to which the plurality of light sources are secured. The flexible carrier includes a plurality of flexures, each flexure of the plurality of flexures disposed between a respective pair of adjacent light sources of the plurality of light sources to allow a spacing between the pair of adjacent light sources to change.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A display comprising:
a light guide plate; a plurality of light sources disposed along an edge of the light guide plate; and a flexible carrier to which the plurality of light sources are secured; wherein the flexible carrier comprises a plurality of flexures, each flexure of the plurality of flexures disposed between a respective pair of adjacent light sources of the plurality of light sources to allow a spacing between the pair of adjacent light sources to change.

2 . The display of claim 1 , wherein:
the edge of the light guide comprises a plurality of notches along the edge of the light guide plate; and the flexible carrier comprises a plurality of projections, each projection engaging a respective notch of the plurality of notches.

3 . The display of claim 2 , wherein:
each light source of the plurality of light sources is disposed between a respective pair of adjacent projections of the plurality of projections; and the plurality of notches define a set of optical input terminals, each optical input terminal aligned with, and abutting, a respective light source of the plurality of light sources.

4 . The display of claim 3 , wherein each optical input terminal of the set of optical input terminals comprises sidewalls shaped to control an extent to which light emitted from the respective light source laterally spreads within the light guide plate.

5 . The display of claim 4 , wherein the sidewalls are tapered and in contact with the adjacent projections of the flexible carrier.

6 . The display of claim 1 , wherein the flexible carrier is configured as a circuit board to provide electrical connectivity to the plurality of light sources.

7 . The display of claim 1 , further comprising a frame, the frame comprising a shelf on which the light guide plate and the flexible carrier are disposed, such that the flexible carrier slides along the shelf with thermal expansion of the light guide plate.

8 . The display of claim 7 , wherein:
the frame comprises a wall extending upward from the shelf; and the flexible carrier comprises a plurality of springs that engage the wall to bias the flexible carrier and the plurality of light sources toward the light guide plate.

9 . The display of claim 1 , wherein:
the flexible carrier comprises a strip; and each flexure of the plurality of flexures comprises a slot in the strip such that the flexure expands and contracts within a plane of the strip.

10 . The display of claim 1 , wherein the flexible carrier comprises:
a plurality of rigid printed circuit board (PCB) sections, each rigid PCB section having a respective light source of the plurality of light sources is disposed thereon; and a plurality of flexible circuit strip sections, each flexible circuit strip section disposed between a respective pair of adjacent rigid PCB sections of the plurality of rigid PCB sections.

11 . A display comprising:
a light guide plate comprising an edge, the edge comprising a plurality of notches to define a set of optical input terminals along the edge; a plurality of light sources disposed along the edge of the light guide plate, each light source aligned with a respective optical input terminal of the set of optical input terminals; and a flexible carrier to which the plurality of light sources are secured, the flexible carrier engaging the plurality of notches along the edge of the light guide plate; wherein the flexible carrier comprises a plurality of flexures, each flexure of the plurality of flexures disposed between a respective pair of adjacent light sources of the plurality of light sources to allow a spacing between the pair of adjacent light sources to change.

12 . The display of claim 11 , wherein the flexible carrier comprises a plurality of projections, each projection engaging a respective notch of the plurality of notches.

13 . The display of claim 12 , wherein:
each light source of the plurality of light sources is disposed between a respective pair of adjacent projections of the plurality of projections; and the plurality of notches define a set of optical input terminals, each optical input terminal aligned with, and abutting, a respective light source of the plurality of light sources.

14 . The display of claim 13 , wherein each optical input terminal of the set of optical input terminals comprises sidewalls shaped to control an extent to which light emitted from the respective light source laterally spreads within the light guide plate.

15 . The display of claim 11 , wherein the flexible carrier is configured as a circuit board to provide electrical connectivity to the plurality of light sources.

16 . The display of claim 11 , further comprising a frame, the frame comprising a shelf on which the light guide plate and the flexible carrier are disposed, such that the flexible carrier slides along the shelf with thermal expansion of the light guide plate, wherein:
the frame comprises a wall extending upward from the shelf; and the flexible carrier comprises a plurality of springs that engage the wall to bias the flexible carrier and the plurality of light sources toward the light guide plate.

17 . An electronic device comprising:
a shell; a frame disposed within the shell; a light guide plate disposed within the frame, the light guide plate comprising an edge, the edge comprising a plurality of notches to define a set of optical input terminals along the edge; and a plurality of light sources disposed along the edge of the light guide plate, each light source aligned with a respective optical input terminal of the set of optical input terminals; and a flexible carrier to which the plurality of light sources are secured, the flexible carrier engaging the plurality of notches along the edge of the light guide plate; wherein the flexible carrier comprises a plurality of flexures, each flexure of the plurality of flexures disposed between a respective pair of adjacent light sources of the plurality of light sources to allow a spacing between the pair of adjacent light sources to change.

18 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein:
the flexible carrier comprises a plurality of projections, each projection engaging a respective notch of the plurality of notches; each light source of the plurality of light sources is disposed between a respective pair of adjacent projections of the plurality of projections; and the plurality of notches define a set of optical input terminals, each optical input terminal aligned with, and abutting, a respective light source of the plurality of light sources.

19 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the flexible carrier is configured as a circuit board to provide electrical connectivity to the plurality of light sources.

20 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein:
the frame comprises a shelf on which the light guide plate and the flexible carrier are disposed, such that the flexible carrier slides along the shelf with thermal expansion of the light guide plate; the frame comprises a wall extending upward from the shelf; and the flexible carrier comprises a plurality of springs that engage the wall to bias the flexible carrier and the plurality of light sources toward the light guide plate.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Trutna Tristan Thomas
• Burress Edward Francis

Classifications

• G02B6/0068

  Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources · CPC title

• G02B6/002

  by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces · CPC title

• G02B6/0083

  Details of electrical connections of light sources to drivers, circuit boards, or the like · CPC title

• G02B6/0091 Primary

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

• G02F1/133615 Primary

  Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side · CPC title