TW201326685A - Illumination module and its light guide plate - Google Patents

Abstract

An illumination module and a light guide plate are provided in this invention. The illumination module includes the light guide plate and light sources. The light guide plate includes a plate body having an external surface, a polygonal opening defined and surrounded by a plurality of internal light incident surfaces oppositely arranged with the external surface, and optical microstructures arranged on the internal light incident surfaces, respectively. The light sources are arranged in the polygonal opening and emit lights towards the optical microstructures of the internal light incident surfaces, respectively, thus, the optical microstructures are capable of leading some of the lights towards an imaginary angle bisector between any two of the internal light incident surfaces.

Description

Lighting module and its light guide

The invention relates to a light guide plate, in particular to a light guide plate with a polygonal opening and a lighting module.

A general lighting module includes a light guide plate and a light source having an internal opening. For electronic products with thinner body thickness, a light-emitting diode (LED) is usually used as a light source, and the light source is disposed on the inner opening side of the light guide plate. Therefore, the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate from the light incident surface on the side of the inner opening, so that the light is sequentially emitted from the two light exit surfaces of the larger area.

However, the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate often produces a dark zone with insufficient brightness when the light-emitting surface is away from the inner opening, so that the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate cannot exhibit a relatively uniform brightness. In this way, the industry must use a higher power or a larger number of light-emitting diodes to improve the dark band phenomenon, that is, the use of a higher power or a larger number of light-emitting diodes will increase the cost of materials and the labor required for maintenance replacement. And working hours.

It can be seen that the above existing lighting modules obviously have inconveniences and defects, and need to be further improved. Therefore, how to effectively solve the above inconveniences and defects is one of the current important research and development topics, and it has become an urgent need for improvement in related fields.

The invention discloses a lighting module and a light guide plate for improving an unexpected dark band of the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate and uniformizing the light-emitting brightness of the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate.

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a light guide plate. The light guide plate comprises a plate body and a plurality of optical microstructures. The plate body has at least one outer side surface and a plurality of light incident surfaces. The outer side surrounds the plate body, and the light incident surfaces are located on the plate body, adjoin each other, and define and define a polygonal opening. These light-incident surfaces are arranged corresponding to the outer side surfaces. The optical microstructures are located on each of the light incident surfaces.

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a lighting module. The lighting module comprises a light guide plate and a plurality of light sources. The light sources are disposed within the polygonal opening to project light toward the optical microstructures, respectively. The optical microstructures respectively direct the light entering the panel to move in the direction of an imaginary angular line at an inner angle between its light incident faces.

In summary, the technical solution of the present invention has obvious advantages and beneficial effects compared with the prior art. With the above technical solution, considerable technical advancement and practicability can be achieved, and the industrial use value is widely used. The illumination module and the light guide plate of the present invention can be used at least to reduce or even eliminate the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate. The dark band phenomenon can evenly reduce the amount of light emitted from the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate, thereby avoiding the use of a light-emitting diode having a relatively high power or a large amount, thereby avoiding material cost, maintenance manpower, and man-hour improvement.

The above description and the following embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments, and further explanation of the invention.

The present invention will be apparent from the following description and the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, which may be modified and modified by the teachings of the present invention without departing from the invention. The spirit and scope.

In view of the fact that the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate is often away from the inner opening portion, a dark zone of insufficient brightness is often generated, so that the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate cannot exhibit a relatively uniform brightness. Thus, the present invention provides a lighting module and a light guide plate.

Please refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B , wherein FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of the illumination module 100 of the present invention in an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 1A .

The lighting module 100 includes a light guide plate 200 and a plurality of light sources 400. The light guide plate 200 includes a plate body 210. The plate body 210 has a polygonal opening 214 therein. The polygonal opening 214 may be located at a center of one of the plates 210 or not at a center of the plate 210. The plate body 210 has one or more outer side surfaces 211 (depending on the profile shape, as described later), two opposite light exiting surfaces 212, and a plurality of inner side surfaces 213. The outer side surface 211 surrounds the plate body 210 therein. The inner side surfaces 213 abut each other and are defined and defined as the polygonal opening 214. Each of the light-emitting surfaces 212 is adjacent between the inner side surface 213 and the outer side surface 211, that is, the inner side surface 213 is disposed corresponding to the outer side surface 211.

In addition, since the inner side surfaces 213 abut each other to enclose the polygonal opening 214, any two adjacent inner side surfaces 213 have an inner angle (α) and an outer angle (θ), and the outer angle (θ) and The sum of the inner angles (α) is 360 degrees. A plurality of optical microstructures 300 (Fig. 1B) are disposed on the inner side surfaces 213.

The light sources 400 are disposed in the polygonal opening 214 and respectively project light toward the inner side surfaces 213. Therefore, the inner side surfaces 213 are also referred to as light surfaces. Further, the light sources 400 project light in the polygonal openings 214 toward the optical microstructures 300 of the inner side surfaces 213 (light incident surfaces).

As such, the optical microstructures 300 direct the light entering the panel 210 via the inner side 213 (light incident surface) to spread out to the sides of one of the main light-emitting axes of the corresponding light source 400. In other words, if it is imagined that the inner angle (α) of each of the polygonal openings 214 has an imaginary angle bisector that can be equally divided (α), and the imaginary angle line BI is from this When the two inner side surfaces 213 are adjacent to each other to the outer side surface 211 of the light guide plate 200, the portion of the light entering the board 210 via the inner side surface 213 (light incident surface) will be guided by the optical microstructures 300. The optical microstructures 300 are moved in the direction of the imaginary angular line BI adjacent thereto.

Therefore, when the light-emitting surface 212 of the light guide plate 200 is viewed, the dark zone generated by the light-emitting surface 212 at the position corresponding to the imaginary angular line BI can be improved or even eliminated, so that the light-emitting plate 200 emits light. Face 212 exhibits a relatively uniform brightness.

Specifically, the plate body 210 is not limited to its outer contour. In one variation of the present invention, the outer shape of the plate body 210 may be circular or elliptical, such that the plate body 210 has a single outer side surface 211 (such as a circumferential surface or Elliptical circumference). However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In another variation of the present invention, the outline of the plate body 210 may also be a polygon, such as a triangle, a quadrangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, or an octagon. This type of push. Therefore, the board body 210 has a plurality of adjacent outer side surfaces 211 to surround the light exiting surfaces 212. Polygons can also be regular polygons or irregular polygons in this specification.

The above-mentioned light guide plate 200 of the present invention is not limited to the thickness thereof, the degree of softness and hardness, or the change in material selection. The material of the light guide plate 200 may be transparent, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). material.

Each light source 400 is not limited to its form, and may be, for example, a technical field of a Light Emitting Diode (LED), an Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLED), a lamp or a bulb. Further, when the light source 400 is in the field of light emitting diodes, each light source 400 includes one or more circuit boards 410 and a plurality of light emitting diode groups 420. Each of the light-emitting diode groups 420 includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (Fig. 1B). The light emitting diodes are respectively disposed on the circuit board 410, and the light emitting diodes of each of the light emitting diode groups 420 are illuminated toward the optical microstructures 300 of one of the inner side surfaces 213 (light incident surfaces).

Specifically, the light-emitting diode can be classified into a one-shot type light-emitting diode 421 (Fig. 1B) or a one-side type light-emitting diode 422 (Fig. 2).

In a variation of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the light-emitting diodes are the surface-emitting diodes 421, a plurality of circuit boards 410 are disposed in parallel on one of the inner side surfaces 213, respectively. The surface-emitting LEDs 421 of each of the light-emitting diode groups 420 are located on the same circuit board 410, and emit light toward the optical microstructures 300 corresponding to the inner side surface 213 (light-incident surface).

In another variation of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, when the light emitting diode is the side-emitting type LED 422, one or more circuit boards 411 are located on one of the light-emitting surfaces of the board 210. The side-emitting LEDs 422 of each of the light-emitting diode groups 420 are located on the circuit board 411 and emit light toward the optical microstructures 300 corresponding to the inner side surface 213 (light-incident surface).

As shown in FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D, FIGS. 3A to 3D are schematic diagrams showing changes in the appearance of the lens of the illumination module 100 of the present invention in other embodiments.

With respect to the outer shape of the single optical microstructure 300, each of the optical microstructures 300 described above is a lens. The lens is not limited to have a concave or convex shape. In other embodiments of the present invention, the cross-sectional shape of the lens 310 may be a hemisphere (Fig. 3A), and the cross-sectional shape of the lens 311 may be a semi-ellipsoid (Fig. 3B). The cross-sectional shape of the lens 312 may be a pyramid (Fig. 3C), and the cross-sectional shape of the lens 313 may be a double pyramid (Fig. 3D) or a combination thereof.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance change of the optical microstructure 300 of the illumination module 100 of the present invention in other embodiments.

The optical microstructures 300 on the inner side surfaces 213 (light incident surfaces) are a lens 314 as far as the overall shape of the optical microstructures 300 on the adjacent side surfaces 213 (light incident surfaces). For example, a lens with a pyramidal cone). Each of the lenses 314 includes a peak portion 315, and the peak portions 315 of the two inner side surfaces 213 (light incident surfaces) extend away from the imaginary angular line BI to form a light guiding slope 316. The light guiding slopes 316 of the two inner side surfaces 213 (light incident surfaces) face each other, and can guide a part of the light to move toward the position of the board body 210 corresponding to the imaginary angle line BI.

In addition, in the case of the arrangement of the optical microstructures 300 on the inner side surface 213 (light incident surface), the optical microstructures 300 are each a lens, and the lenses are arranged continuously or at intervals on the inner side. 213 (light entrance surface) surface.

Further, the optical microstructure 300 can be formed by a chemical etching process, a sand blasting process, a laser process, a biting process, or a trowel process. Further, the method of fabricating the optical microstructure 300 described above is not limited thereto, and other examples are, for example, chemical etching (Etching), precision mechanical characterization (V-cut), photolithography (Stamper), internal diffusion, etc., or The dots can be printed on the inner side 213 (light entrance surface) in a printed manner.

The polygonal opening of the present invention is not intentionally limited, for example, the polygonal opening presents a type of triangle, quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon (as shown), heptagonal, octagonal, octagonal, decagon, ...., nineteen-sided, twenty-sided, .., twenty-four, and so on. This polygonal opening may also be a regular polygon or an irregular polygon in this specification. In summary, in one variation of the present invention, the outer angle (θ) of any two adjacent inner side surfaces 213 (light incident surface) is between 300 degrees and 180 degrees, however, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Please refer to FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C. FIG. 5A is a partial schematic view showing the light distribution of the light guide plate 200 without the optical microstructure 300 on the light emitting surface thereof; FIG. 5B is a view showing the illumination of the present invention. A partial schematic view of the light distribution of the light guide plate 200 of the module 100 viewed from the light emitting surface thereof; and FIG. 5C is a comparison diagram of the light distribution of the 5A and 5B drawings.

The inventors respectively perform a light distribution test by using one illumination module X and another illumination module Y, and extract an imaginary angle line BI between two adjacent inner side surfaces 213 (light incident surfaces) corresponding to the light exit surface. A partial schematic diagram of the light distribution at position 212 (Fig. 5A, Fig. 5B) and comparison (Fig. 5C).

The illumination module X, such as the inner side surface 213 (light incident surface) of the light guide plate 200 of the illumination module 100 of the present invention, has the characteristics of the optical microstructure 300, and the two adjacent inner side surfaces 213 (light entrance surface) The outer angle (θ) is 270 degrees. The inner side surface 213 (light incident surface) of the light guide plate 200 of the other illumination module Y does not have the optical microstructure 300, and the outer angle (θ) of the two adjacent inner side surfaces 213 (light incident surface) is 270 degrees.

In addition, the inventor's partial schematic diagram of the two light distributions can be divided into 13 equidistances from one side L1 of the proximity light source 400 to one side L2 away from the light source 400, wherein the "+12" mark is closer to one side of the light source 400. The "-12" mark is located farther from one side of the light source 400, and the "0" mark is between the "+12" mark and the "-12" mark.

From the partial diagram of the light distribution of the illumination module Y in FIG. 5A, it can be seen that the partial distribution of the light distribution of the illumination module Y has a fairly obvious dark band phenomenon between the "+12" mark and the "-12" mark. D, that is, the brightness of the light-emitting surface 212 at the position corresponding to the imaginary angular line BI is only slightly closer to the 20,000 illuminance (such as above the "+12" mark) on the side L1 closer to the light source 400. The rest are less than 20,000 illuminance (such as between the "-12" mark and the "+12" mark).

In contrast, a partial schematic diagram of the light distribution of the illumination module X in FIG. 5B and a partial schematic diagram of the light distribution of the illumination module X are quite sparse and traced by the dark band phenomenon D between the mark "+12" and the mark of "-12". That is, the brightness of the light-emitting surface 212 at the position corresponding to the imaginary angular line BI is only lower than the 40000 illuminance (such as above the "+12" mark) on the side L1 of the light source 400, and the rest is far more than 40,000. The illuminance is even higher than 100,000 illuminance (such as between the "-6" mark and the "-4" mark).

Therefore, when the angle (θ) of the two adjacent inner side surfaces 213 (light incident surface) is also 270 degrees, the inner side surface 213 (light incident surface) of the light guide plate 200 of the illumination module X has an optical microstructure 300. Compared with the inner side surface 213 (light incident surface) of the light guide plate 200 of the other illumination module Y, the optical light structure 300 of the light guide plate 200 can solve the dark band phenomenon of insufficient brightness of the light exit surface 212 of the light guide plate 200.

Please refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the brightness improvement efficiency of the outer angle (θ) angle of the illumination module 100 of the present invention from 270 degrees to 190 degrees.

Further, the inventors performed a test, recording, and drawing of the brightness improvement efficiency of the plurality of illumination modules 100 of the present invention and the illumination modules of the plurality of control panels one by one (Fig. 6). The variation of the external angle (θ) between the two adjacent inner side surfaces 213 (light incident surfaces) of the light guide plate 200 of the illumination module 100 of the present invention is from 270 degrees to 190 degrees; the control group has no optical microstructure. The other lighting module has a corresponding external angle change.

It can be seen from the trend line M of FIG. 6 that the two adjacent inner side surfaces 213 of the light guide plate 200 of the illumination module 100 of the present invention are another illumination module that does not have an optical microstructure. When the outer angle (θ) of the (light-incident surface) is 270 degrees, the luminance improvement efficiency of the imaginary angle line BI corresponding to the position of the light-emitting surface 212 is the highest, and can be as high as 300%.

And the imaginary, when the angle (θ) of the inner side surface 213 (light incident surface) of the adjacent light guide plate 200 of the illumination module 100 of the present invention is 260 degrees, 250 degrees, 240 degrees, and 230 degrees. The brightness improvement efficiency of the corner line BI corresponding to the position of the light exit surface 212 can be 225%, 135%, 90%, and 60%, respectively.

Since the angle (θ) outside the two adjacent inner side surfaces 213 (light incident surface) is gradually reduced, the light coverage area provided by the light source 400 facing the inner side surface 213 (light incident surface) on both sides will gradually Close to each other, even if the inner side surface 213 (light incident surface) of the light guide plate 200 has the characteristics of the optical microstructure 300, the brightness improvement efficiency will gradually decrease.

Thus, if the angle (θ) of any two adjacent inner side surfaces 213 (light incident surface) of the light guide plate 200 of the illumination module 100 of the present invention is larger, the inner side surface 213 (light incident surface) of the light guide plate 200 is used. The optical microstructure 300 having the above-described functions of the present invention can improve the maximum brightness improvement efficiency of the imaginary angle line BI corresponding to the position of the light-emitting surface 212, thereby improving the dark band phenomenon generated by the corresponding position, so that the light guide plate 200 is The light exit surface 212 exhibits a relatively uniform brightness.

In summary, the illumination module and the light guide plate of the present invention can at least reduce or even eliminate the dark band phenomenon generated by the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate, and uniformize the light output amount of the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate, thereby eliminating the need for power consumption. Strong or large number of light-emitting diodes can avoid material cost, maintenance manpower and man-hours.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments of the present invention, and various modifications and refinements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. This is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application.

100, X, Y. . . Lighting module

200. . . Light guide

210. . . Plate body

211. . . Outer side

212. . . Glossy surface

213. . . Inner side

214. . . Polygon opening

300. . . Optical microstructure

310～314. . . lens

315. . . Peak

316. . . Light guiding bevel

400. . . light source

410, 411. . . Circuit board

420. . . Light-emitting diode group

421. . . Surface-emitting diode

422. . . Side-emitting type light-emitting diode

α. . . Inner angle

θ. . . Outer corner

BI. . . Imaginary corner line

L1. . . Near one side of the light source

L2. . . Aside from one side of the light source

M. . . Trendline

D. . . Dark band phenomenon

The above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent and understood.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of an illumination module of the present invention in an embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view of another embodiment of the lighting module of the present invention.

3A-3D are schematic diagrams showing changes in the appearance of the lens of the illumination module of the present invention in other embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance change of the optical microstructure of the illumination module of the present invention in other embodiments.

FIG. 5A is a partial view showing a light distribution of a light guide plate without an optical microstructure observed on a light emitting surface thereof.

FIG. 5B is a partial schematic view showing the light distribution of the light guide plate of the illumination module of the present invention viewed on the light emitting surface thereof.

Fig. 5C is a graph showing a comparison of the light distributions of Figs. 5A and 5B.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the brightness improvement efficiency of the outer angle angle of the illumination module of the present invention from 270 degrees to 190 degrees.

100. . . Lighting module

200. . . Light guide

210. . . Plate body

211. . . Outer side

212. . . Glossy surface

213. . . Inner side

214. . . Polygon opening

400. . . light source

α. . . Inner angle

θ. . . Outer corner

BI. . . Imaginary corner line

Claims (18)

A lighting module includes: a light guide plate, comprising: a plate body having at least one outer side surface and a plurality of light incident surfaces, the outer side surface surrounding the board body, wherein the light incident surfaces are located on the board body, and each other Adjacent to each other, and surrounding and defining a polygonal opening, wherein the light incident surfaces are disposed corresponding to the outer side surface; and a plurality of optical microstructures are located on each of the light incident surfaces; and a plurality of light sources are disposed And illuminating light toward the optical microstructures, respectively, wherein the optical microstructures respectively guide the light entering the plate body to move in a direction of an imaginary angular line on an inner angle between the light incident surfaces thereof. The illumination module of claim 1, wherein an angle of an outer corner of the two adjacent light incident surfaces is less than or equal to 300 degrees and greater than 180 degrees. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises: at least one circuit board; and a plurality of light emitting diode groups, each of the light emitting diode groups comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes, the light emitting The diodes are respectively disposed on the at least one circuit board, and the light emitting diodes of each of the light emitting diode groups emit light toward the optical microstructures of one of the light incident surfaces. The lighting module of claim 3, wherein the circuit board is located on a side of the board adjacent to the light incident surface and the outer side surface, and each of the light emitting diodes is a side emitting light emitting diode The side-emitting LEDs of each of the light-emitting diode groups protrude into the polygonal opening, and the optical microstructures of one of the light-incident surfaces are illuminated. The illumination module of claim 3, wherein a plurality of the at least one circuit board are respectively disposed in parallel on one side of the light incident surfaces, and each of the plurality of light emitting diode groups The pole body is disposed on each of the circuit boards, and the optical microstructures facing one of the light incident surfaces emit light. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein each of the optical microstructures is a lens. The lighting module of claim 6, wherein each of the lenses is a half sphere, a semi-ellipsoid, a pyramid or a double pyramid. The lighting module of claim 6, wherein each of the lenses comprises a peak portion, wherein the peak portions of the two light incident surfaces are respectively extended away from the imaginary angular line. The lighting module of claim 6, wherein the lenses are arranged continuously or intermittently on each of the light incident surfaces. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the plate body has a polygonal shape, and a plurality of the at least one outer side surface collectively surround the plate body. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the plate body has a circular or elliptical shape, and the single outer side surrounds the plate body. A light guide plate comprising: a plate body; at least one outer side surface surrounding the plate body; and a plurality of light incident surfaces, the light incident surfaces abut each other, and surrounding the light guide plate to define a polygon An opening, and the light incident surfaces are disposed corresponding to the outer side surface, wherein each of the light incident surfaces has a plurality of optical microstructures. The light guide plate of claim 12, wherein an outer angle of one of the adjacent light incident surfaces is less than or equal to 300 degrees and greater than 180 degrees. The light guide plate of claim 12, wherein each of the optical microstructures is a lens. The light guide plate of claim 14, wherein the lens is a half sphere, a semi-ellipsoid, a pyramid or a double pyramid. The light guide plate of claim 14, wherein the lenses are arranged continuously or intermittently on each of the light incident surface. The light guide plate of claim 14, wherein each of the lenses comprises a peak portion, wherein the angle between the two of the light incident surfaces has an imaginary angle line, and the two intersect with each other The peaks of the lenses of the glossy surface respectively extend away from the imaginary angular line. The light guide plate of claim 12, wherein the plate body is circular or polygonal.