Edge-Light Backlight Unit Using Optically Patterned Film

摘要

A novel edge-light backlight unit using an optically patterned film (OPF backlight unit) for liquid crystal displays (LCDs) is composed of a light guide plate bonded to the top of fine lenses formed on the OPF, a diffusive sheet, a reflective sheet and a light source. A viewing-angle-dependent luminance distribution of the OPF backlight unit was controllable by changing the shape of a fine lens used for the extraction of light propagating through a light guide plate and the direction control of radiating light, and a luminance distribution in a radiation plane suitable for LCDs was realized by adjusting the interval between lenses. Moreover, the extraction efficiency of the OPF backlight unit was greater than that of a conventional backlight unit. Thus, the OPF backlight unit was shown to be promising for the realization of a brighter, lower power consumption, slimmer and lighter LCD than conventional LCDs.