EP0372525A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Illumination system for a display device
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1989-12-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-12-06
Abstract
Abstract An illumination system for a display device (10) includes a plurality of lenslets (17,17a,27) which provide partially collimated light with respect to at least one axis (21,29) of the display. A light box (11) provides uncollimated light to the lenslets. The light box includes a reflector (13) having apertures (19,28) which transmit light from the light box to the lenslets. The internal surfaces of the light box and the reflector are highly and diffusely reflective, and a high percentage of the light reaches the lenslets.
Inventors
- 👤 French Physcist Park
- 👤 Clarence Stewart Wilber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:22
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133526
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
An illumination system for a display device having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns substantially parallel to the axes of said display device, characterized by a plurality of juxtaposed elongated lenslets (17,17a) having a generally elliptical cross section arranged substantially parallel to one of said axes (21) for providing light, partially collimated along one of said axes (21) to said pixels; a light box (11) for providing uncollimated light to said lenslets, said light box being internally highly and diffusively reflective, said light box housing at least one light source (12a,12b) arranged in the proximity of one edge of said light box, said light box having a light opaque reflector (13) coincident with said lenslets, said reflector including a plurality of elongated light transmissive slots (19) having a width (S) substantially less than the width (D) of said lenslets, and arranged substantially parallel to said lenslets, and centered with respect to said lenslets for individually transmitting uncollimated light from said light box to said lenslets; and first (26R), second (26G) and third (26B) interference filters sequentially arranged in said slots in a repetitive pattern, said first filters transmitting the first (R) primary light color and reflecting the second (G) and third (B) primary light colors back into said box, said second filters transmitting the second primary light color and reflecting the other two primary light colors back into said box, and said third filters transmitting the third primary light color and reflecting the outer two primary light colors back into said box.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
An illumination system for a display device having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns substantially parallel to the axes of said display device, characterized by a plurality of juxtaposed elongated lenslets (17,17a) having a generally elliptical cross section arranged substantially parallel to one of said axes (21) for providing light, partially collimated along one of said axes (21) to said pixels; a light box (11) for providing uncollimated light to said lenslets, said light box being internally highly and diffusively reflective, said light box housing at least one light source (12a,12b) arranged in the proximity of one edge of said light box, said light box having a light opaque reflector (13) coincident with said lenslets, said reflector including a plurality of elongated light transmissive slots (19) having a width (S) substantially less than the width (D) of said lenslets, and arranged substantially parallel to said lenslets, and centered with respect to said lenslets for individually transmitting uncollimated light from said light box to said lenslets; and first (26R), second (26G) and third (26B) interference filters sequentially arranged in said slots in a repetitive pattern, said first filters transmitting the first (R) primary light color and reflecting the second (G) and third (B) primary light colors back into said box, said second filters transmitting the second primary light color and reflecting the other two primary light colors back into said box, and said third filters transmitting the third primary light color and reflecting the outer two primary light colors back into said box.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The illumination system of claim 1, characterized in that said lenslets (17,17a) are an integral lenticular lens (14,14a) having a smooth surface (18) facing said light box (11), and said reflector (13) is permanently affixed to said smooth surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The illumination system of claim 2, characterized in that said slots (19) are displaced from said smooth surface (18).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The illumination system of claim 3, characterized in that the width (S) of said slots (19) is less than approximately 15% of the thickness (t) of said lenslets (17,17a), as measured along the optical axis (21) of said lenslets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The illumination system of claim 4, characterized in that each of said pixels is composed of a plurality of pixel elements (16R,16G,16B), and the width (D) of said lenslets (17,17a) is substantially equal to the width (W) of said pixel elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The illumination system of claim 5, characterized in that said light source includes at least one elongated tube (12a,12b) arranged substantially parallel to the edge of said light box (11) and outside the area of said lenticular lens (14,14a).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The illumination system of claim 1, characterized in that each of said pixels is composed of a plurality of pixel elements (16R,16G,16B), and the width (D) of said lenslets (17,17a) is substantially equal to the width (W) of said pixel elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The illumination system of claim 7, characterized in that said lenslets (17,17a) are an integral lenticular lens (14,14a) having a smooth surface (18) facing said light box (11), and said slots (19) are displaced from said smooth surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The illumination system of claim 8, characterized in that the width (S) of said slots (19) is less than approximately 15% of the thickness (t) of said lenslets (17,17a), as measured along the optical axis (21) of said lenslets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
233 words
An illumination system for a display device having a matrix of pixel elements arranged in rows and columns substantially parallel to the axes of said display device, characterized by a matrix of substantially circular lenslets (27) aligned with said pixel elements (16R,16G,16B) for providing partially collimated light to said pixel elements; a light box (11) for providing uncollimated light to said lenslets, said light box being internally highly and diffusely reflective, said light box housing at least one light source (12a,12b) arranged in the proximity of one edge of said light box, said light box having a light opaque reflector (13) coincident with said lenslets, said reflector including a matrix of light transmissive apertures (28) centered with respect to said lenslets for individually transmitting uncollimated light from said light box to said lenslets; said apertures having a radius substantially less than the radius of said lenses; and first (26R), second (26G) and third (26B) interference filters sequentially arranged in said apertures in a repetitive pattern, said first filters transmitting the first (R) primary light color and reflecting the second (G) and third (B) primary light colors back into said box, said second filter transmitting the second primary light color and reflecting the other two primary light colors back into said box, and said third filters transmitting the third primary light color and reflecting the other two primary light colors back into said box.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
233 words
An illumination system for a display device having a matrix of pixel elements arranged in rows and columns substantially parallel to the axes of said display device, characterized by a matrix of substantially circular lenslets (27) aligned with said pixel elements (16R,16G,16B) for providing partially collimated light to said pixel elements; a light box (11) for providing uncollimated light to said lenslets, said light box being internally highly and diffusely reflective, said light box housing at least one light source (12a,12b) arranged in the proximity of one edge of said light box, said light box having a light opaque reflector (13) coincident with said lenslets, said reflector including a matrix of light transmissive apertures (28) centered with respect to said lenslets for individually transmitting uncollimated light from said light box to said lenslets; said apertures having a radius substantially less than the radius of said lenses; and first (26R), second (26G) and third (26B) interference filters sequentially arranged in said apertures in a repetitive pattern, said first filters transmitting the first (R) primary light color and reflecting the second (G) and third (B) primary light colors back into said box, said second filter transmitting the second primary light color and reflecting the other two primary light colors back into said box, and said third filters transmitting the third primary light color and reflecting the other two primary light colors back into said box.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The illumination system of claim 10, characterized in that said circular lenslets (27) form an integral lens (146) having a smooth surface (18) facing said light box (11), and said reflector (13) is permanently affixed to said smooth surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The illumination system of claim 11, characterized in that said apertures (28) are displaced from said smooth surface (18).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The illumination system of claim 12, characterized in that the radius of said apertures (28) is less than approximately 15% of the radius of said lenslets (27).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The illumination system of claim 13, characterized in that said light source includes at least one elongated tube (12a,12b) arranged substantially parallel to the edge of said light box (11) and outside the area of said lens (14b).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
210 words
An illumination system for a display device having a plurality of pixel elements arranged in rows and columns substantially parallel to the axes of said display device, characterized by a plurality of juxtaposed elongated lenslets (17,17a) having a width (D) substantially equal to the width (W) of said pixel elements (16R,16G,16B) and a generally elliptical cross section arranged substantially parallel to one of said axes (21) for providing light, partially collimated along one of said axes (21) to said pixels, said lenslets being an integral lenticular lens (14,14a) having a smooth surface (18); a light box (11) for providing uncollimated light to said lenslets, said light box being internally highly and diffusely reflective, said light box housing at least one light source (12a,12b) arranged in the proximity of one edge of said light box, said light box having a light opaque reflector (13) coincident with said lenslets, said reflector including a plurality of elongated light transmissive slots (19) having a width (S) substantially less than the width of said lenslets and arranged substantially parallel to said lenslets and centered with respect to said lenslets for individually transmitting uncollimated light from said light box to said lenslets, said lenslets, said light box and said slots being displaced from said smooth surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
210 words
An illumination system for a display device having a plurality of pixel elements arranged in rows and columns substantially parallel to the axes of said display device, characterized by a plurality of juxtaposed elongated lenslets (17,17a) having a width (D) substantially equal to the width (W) of said pixel elements (16R,16G,16B) and a generally elliptical cross section arranged substantially parallel to one of said axes (21) for providing light, partially collimated along one of said axes (21) to said pixels, said lenslets being an integral lenticular lens (14,14a) having a smooth surface (18); a light box (11) for providing uncollimated light to said lenslets, said light box being internally highly and diffusely reflective, said light box housing at least one light source (12a,12b) arranged in the proximity of one edge of said light box, said light box having a light opaque reflector (13) coincident with said lenslets, said reflector including a plurality of elongated light transmissive slots (19) having a width (S) substantially less than the width of said lenslets and arranged substantially parallel to said lenslets and centered with respect to said lenslets for individually transmitting uncollimated light from said light box to said lenslets, said lenslets, said light box and said slots being displaced from said smooth surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The illumination system of claim 15, characterized in that the width (S) of said slots (19) is less than approximately 15% of the thickness (t) of said lenslets (17,17a), as measured along the optical axis (21) of said lenslets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
192 words
An illumination system for a display device having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns substantially parallel to the axes of said display device, characterized by a plurality of juxtaposed elongated lenslets (17,17a) having a generally elliptical cross section arranged substantially parallel to one of said axes (21) for providing light, partially collimated along one of said axes (21) to said pixels; a light box (11) for providing uncollimated light to said lenslets, said light box being internally highly and diffusely reflective, said light box housing at least one light source (12a,12b) arranged in the proximity of one edge of said light box, said light box having a light opaque reflector (13) coincident with said lenslets, said reflector including a plurality of elongated light transmissive slots (19) arranged substantially parallel to said lenslets and centered with respect to said lenslets for individually transmitting uncollimated light from said light box to said lenslets; and first (26R), second (26G) and third (26B) filters sequentially arranged in said slots in a repetitive pattern, said first, second and third filters transmitting only the first (R), second (G) and third (B) primary light colors, respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
192 words
An illumination system for a display device having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns substantially parallel to the axes of said display device, characterized by a plurality of juxtaposed elongated lenslets (17,17a) having a generally elliptical cross section arranged substantially parallel to one of said axes (21) for providing light, partially collimated along one of said axes (21) to said pixels; a light box (11) for providing uncollimated light to said lenslets, said light box being internally highly and diffusely reflective, said light box housing at least one light source (12a,12b) arranged in the proximity of one edge of said light box, said light box having a light opaque reflector (13) coincident with said lenslets, said reflector including a plurality of elongated light transmissive slots (19) arranged substantially parallel to said lenslets and centered with respect to said lenslets for individually transmitting uncollimated light from said light box to said lenslets; and first (26R), second (26G) and third (26B) filters sequentially arranged in said slots in a repetitive pattern, said first, second and third filters transmitting only the first (R), second (G) and third (B) primary light colors, respectively.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
189 words
An illumination system for a display device having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns substantially parallel to the axes of said display device, characterized by a plurality of juxtaposed elongated lenslets (17,17a) having a generally elliptical cross section arranged substantially parallel to one of said axes (21) for providing light, partially collimated along one of said axes (21) to said pixels; a light box (11) for providing uncollimated light to said lenslets, said light box being internally highly and diffusely reflective, said light box housing at least one light source (12a,12b) arranged in the proximity of one edge of said light box, said light box having a light opaque reflector (13) coincident with said lenslets, said reflector including a plurality of elongated light transmissive slots (19) arranged substantially parallel to said lenslets and centered with respect to said lenslets for individually transmitting uncollimated light from said light box to said lenslets, said lenslets being an integral lenticular lens (14,14a) having a smooth surface (18) facing said light box, said reflector being permanently affixed to said smooth surface, and said slots being displaced from said smooth surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
189 words
An illumination system for a display device having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns substantially parallel to the axes of said display device, characterized by a plurality of juxtaposed elongated lenslets (17,17a) having a generally elliptical cross section arranged substantially parallel to one of said axes (21) for providing light, partially collimated along one of said axes (21) to said pixels; a light box (11) for providing uncollimated light to said lenslets, said light box being internally highly and diffusely reflective, said light box housing at least one light source (12a,12b) arranged in the proximity of one edge of said light box, said light box having a light opaque reflector (13) coincident with said lenslets, said reflector including a plurality of elongated light transmissive slots (19) arranged substantially parallel to said lenslets and centered with respect to said lenslets for individually transmitting uncollimated light from said light box to said lenslets, said lenslets being an integral lenticular lens (14,14a) having a smooth surface (18) facing said light box, said reflector being permanently affixed to said smooth surface, and said slots being displaced from said smooth surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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