TWI860841B - Backlight apparatus and multimedia backlight touchsystem including such backlight apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A backlight apparatus includes a light-guiding plate, a plurality of micro-srtuctures, a first light-emitting device, a second light-emitting device and a light-attenuating structure. The light-guiding plate has a first through hole and a second through hole. The plurality of micro-structures are formed on the light-guiding plate, and constitute a light-extracting symbol. The first through hole is located at a first side relative to a central axis defined by the light-extracting symbol. The second through hole is located at a second side opposite to the first side relative to the central axis. A distribution density of the plurality of micro-structures gradually decreases from the second side to the first side. When the first light-emitting device placed in the first through hole does not emit a first color light and the second light-emitting device placed in the second through hole emits a second color light, the second color light emitted by the second light-emitting device passes through the light-attenuating structure and then is guided to the plurality of micro-structures such that the light-extracting symbol uniformly exhibit the second color light.

Description

Backlight device and multimedia backlight touch system including the backlight device

The present invention relates to a backlight device with light extraction symbols and a multimedia backlight touch system including the backlight device, and in particular to a backlight device whose light extraction symbols can uniformly present the color light when switching different color lights and a multimedia backlight touch system including the backlight device.

The touch panel used for input in current data processing systems (e.g., notebook computers, etc.) is already equipped with a backlight device. Such a backlight device has light extraction symbols thereon, for example, light extraction symbols representing functions such as photography and microphone. Such a backlight device also includes the function of emitting different colors of light, so that the light extraction symbols can present different colors of light, so that the light extraction symbols can display the status of the functions they represent. For example, if the light extraction symbol representing the photography function presents red light, it means that the photography function of the display data processing system is in the off state, and if the light extraction symbol representing the photography function presents white light, it means that the photography function of the display data processing system is in the on state. For another example, if the light extraction symbol representing the microphone function displays red light, it means that the photography function of the display data processing system is in a closed state, and if the light extraction symbol representing the microphone function displays white light, it means that the photography function of the display data processing system is in an opened state.

However, the light extraction symbols of the backlight device in the prior art cannot be uniformly displayed when displaying different colors of light.

Therefore, one technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a backlight device with a light extraction symbol. When the backlight device according to the present invention switches between different colored lights, the light extraction symbol can uniformly present the colored light. In addition, another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a multimedia backlight touch system including the backlight device according to the present invention.

According to a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, a backlight device includes a light guide plate, a plurality of first microstructures, a first light-emitting element, a second light-emitting element and a light attenuation structure. The light guide plate has a front side, a back side, a first through hole and a second through hole. The plurality of first microstructures are formed on the light guide plate. The plurality of first microstructures constitute a light extraction symbol. The light extraction symbol defines a central axis. The first through hole is located at a first side relative to the central axis. The second through hole is located at a second side relative to the central axis and opposite to the first side. The first through hole has a first light entrance surface close to the light extraction symbol. The second through hole has a second light entrance surface close to the light extraction symbol. The distribution density of the plurality of first microstructures gradually decreases from the second side toward the first side. The first light-emitting element is placed in the first through hole, and is used to emit a first color light toward the light extraction symbol. The second light-emitting element is placed in the second through hole, and is used to emit a second color light toward the light extraction symbol. The light attenuation structure is formed on the light guide plate, and is located between the second through hole and the second side of the light extraction symbol. When the first light-emitting element emits the first color light and the second light-emitting element does not emit light, the first color light emitted by the first light-emitting element is guided to a plurality of first microstructures, so that the light extraction symbol uniformly presents the first color light. When the first light-emitting element does not emit the first color light and the second light-emitting element emits the second color light, the second color light emitted by the second light-emitting element first passes through the light attenuation structure and then is guided to a plurality of first microstructures, so that the light extraction symbol uniformly presents the second color light.

In a specific embodiment, the light attenuation structure may be composed of a plurality of second microstructures.

In another embodiment, the light attenuating structure may be formed by a dark coating.

In a specific embodiment, a first angle between a first normal direction of a first light incident surface of the first through hole and the central axis is a sharp angle.

In a specific embodiment, a second angle between a second normal direction of a second light incident surface of the second through hole and the central axis is a sharp angle.

In a specific embodiment, the first through hole is connected to the second through hole.

According to one preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, a multimedia backlight touch system includes a backlight device according to the present invention, a touch panel, a light-transmitting protective layer, and a data processing device. The touch panel is disposed below the backlight device. The light-transmitting protective layer is attached to the backlight device. The light-transmitting protective layer has a light-transmitting symbol. The light-transmitting symbol of the light-transmitting protective layer corresponds to its light extraction symbol, and its shape corresponds to the light extraction symbol. The data processing device is capable of communicating with the backlight device and the touch panel. The data processing device is used to selectively execute or not execute multimedia applications. When the user touches the light-transmitting symbol of the light-transmitting protective layer to trigger the touch panel and instruct the data processing device to execute the multimedia application, the first light-emitting element emits the first color light. When the user touches the light-transmitting symbol of the light-transmitting protective layer again to trigger the touch panel and instruct the computer not to execute the multimedia application, the second light-emitting element emits the second color light.

In a specific embodiment, the multimedia application may be a microphone function or a photography function.

Different from the prior art, the backlight device according to the present invention uses different light-emitting elements to emit different colored lights respectively, and includes a structure that is not taught or implied by the backlight device of the prior art, so that when the backlight device according to the present invention switches different colored lights, its light extraction symbols can uniformly present the colored lights. The multimedia backlight touch system according to the present invention allows users to intuitively operate the functions represented by the light extraction symbols, and allows the light extraction symbols to uniformly present different colored lights to display the status of the functions represented by them.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be further understood through the following detailed description of the invention and the attached drawings.

Please refer to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, which schematically depict a backlight device 1 according to a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 schematically depicts a backlight device 1 according to a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention in a top view. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the backlight device 1 along line A-A in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the backlight device 1 along line B-B in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a deformed backlight device 1 according to one of the preferred specific embodiments of the present invention along line B-B in Figure 1. The backlight device 1 according to the preferred specific embodiment of the present invention can be set on a touch panel to display the status of certain functions of a data processing system, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the backlight device 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a light guide plate 10 , a plurality of first microstructures 12 , a first light emitting element 14 , a second light emitting element 16 and a light attenuation structure 18 .

The light guide plate 10 has a front surface 100, a back surface 102, a first through hole 104 and a second through hole 106. If the backlight device 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disposed on a touch panel, the formation positions of the first through hole 104 and the second through hole 106 must avoid the sensing electrode of the touch panel.

In a specific embodiment, the light guide plate 10 can be made of acrylic, silicone, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or other commercial light-guiding polymer materials. The thickness of the light guide plate 10 can be determined as needed without any special limitation.

The plurality of first microstructures 12 are formed on the light guide plate 10. In one embodiment, the plurality of first microstructures 12 can be formed on the back surface 102 of the light guide plate 10, as shown in FIG2 and FIG3. In another embodiment, the plurality of first microstructures 12 can be formed on the front surface 100 of the light guide plate 10.

As shown in FIG1 , a plurality of first microstructures 12 form a light extraction symbol 122. The light extraction symbol 122 defines a central axis 124. The first through hole 104 is located at a first side 126 relative to the central axis 124. The second through hole 106 is located at a second side 128 relative to the central axis 124 and opposite to the first side 126. In particular, the distribution density of the plurality of first microstructures 12 gradually decreases from the second side 128 toward the first side 126. The light extraction symbol 122 can represent certain functions of the data processing system to which it is connected, for example, representing functions such as photography and microphone.

The first through hole 104 has a first light incident surface 1042 close to the light extraction symbol 122. The second through hole 106 has a second light incident surface 1062 close to the light extraction symbol 122. The first light emitting element 14 is disposed in the first through hole 104, and is used to emit a first color light L1, for example, white light, toward the light extraction symbol 122. The first color light L1 emitted by the first light emitting element 14 is incident on the light guide plate 10 from the first light incident surface 1042. The second light emitting element 16 is disposed in the second through hole 106, and is used to emit a second color light L2 toward the light extraction symbol 122. The second color light L2 emitted by the second light emitting element 16 is incident on the light guide plate 10 from the second light incident surface 1062.

According to the backlight device 1 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first light emitting element 14 and the second light emitting element 16 emit the first color light L1 and the second color light L2 respectively, so that the light extraction symbol 122 can present different first color light L1 and second color light L2, so that the light extraction symbol 122 can display the state of the function it represents. For example, the light extraction symbol 122 representing the photography function presents red light to indicate that the photography function of the display data processing system is in a closed state, and the light extraction symbol 122 representing the photography function presents white light to indicate that the photography function of the display data processing system is in an open state. For another example, the light extraction symbol 122 representing the microphone function presents red light, indicating that the photography function of the data processing system is in a closed state, and the light extraction symbol 122 representing the microphone function presents white light, indicating that the photography function of the data processing system is in an opened state.

In a specific embodiment, the first light emitting element 14 and the second light emitting element 16 may be light emitting diode elements or organic light emitting diode elements, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The light attenuation structure 18 is formed on the light guide plate 10 and is located between the second through hole 106 and the second side 128 of the light extraction symbol 122 .

As shown in FIG2 , when the first light emitting element 14 emits the first color light L1 and the second light emitting element 16 does not emit light, the first color light L1 emitted by the first light emitting element 14 is guided to the plurality of first microstructures 12, so that the light extraction symbol 122 uniformly presents the first color light L1. This result is caused because the light intensity of the first color light L1 emitted by the first light emitting element 14 located at the first side 126 guided to the first side 126 of the light extraction symbol 122 is higher than the light intensity of the first color light L1 guided to the second side 128 of the light extraction symbol 122. However, since the distribution density of the plurality of first microstructures 12 gradually decreases from the second side 128 toward the first side 126, the light intensity of the first color light L1 guided to the first side 126 of the light extraction symbol 122 and reflected by the first microstructures 12 with a smaller number located at the first side 126 is equal to the light intensity of the second color light L2 guided to the second side 128 of the light extraction symbol 122 and reflected by the first microstructures 12 with a larger number located at the second side 128.

As shown in FIG3 , when the first light emitting element 14 does not emit the first color light L1 and the second light emitting element 16 emits the second color light L2, the second color light L2 emitted by the second light emitting element 16 first passes through the light attenuation structure 18 and is then guided to the plurality of first microstructures 12, so that the light extraction symbol 122 uniformly presents the second color light L2. This result is caused because the light intensity of the second color light L2 emitted by the second light emitting element 16 located at the second side 128 and guided to the first side 126 of the light extraction symbol 122 is lower than the light intensity of the second color light L2 guided to the second side 128 of the light extraction symbol 122. However, since the distribution density of the plurality of first microstructures 12 gradually decreases from the second side 128 toward the first side 126, the light intensity of the first color light L1 guided to the first side 126 of the light extraction symbol 122 and reflected by the first microstructures 12 with a smaller number located on the first side 126 is equal to the light intensity of the light that is first attenuated by the light attenuation structure 18 and then guided to the second side 128 and reflected by the plurality of first microstructures 12 with a larger number.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in FIG3 , the light attenuation structure 18 may be formed of a plurality of second microstructures 182. In the example shown in FIG3 , the plurality of second microstructures 182 are formed on the back surface 102 of the light guide plate 10. The plurality of second microstructures 182 may also be formed on the front surface 100 of the light guide plate 10.

In another specific embodiment, as shown in FIG4 , the light attenuation structure 18 can be composed of a dark coating 184. In the example shown in FIG4 , the dark coating 184 is formed on the back surface 102 of the light guide plate 10. The dark coating 184 can also be formed on the front surface 100 of the light guide plate 10. The dark coating 184 can be formed by a coating process, an evaporation process, or the like. The components in FIG4 with the same number marks as those in FIG3 have the same or similar structures and functions, and will not be described in detail here.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , a first angle between a first normal direction 1044 of a first light incident surface 1042 of the first through hole 104 and the central axis 124 is a sharp angle.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , a second angle between a second normal direction 1064 of a second light incident surface 1062 of the second through hole 106 and the central axis 124 is a sharp angle.

In a specific embodiment, the first through hole 104 is connected to the second through hole 106.

Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, which schematically depict a multimedia backlight touch system 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the backlight device 1 and the touch panel 20, which are essential components of the multimedia backlight touch system 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cross-sectional position of the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 5 is the same as the cross-sectional view along the A-A line shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is another cross-sectional view of the backlight device 1 and the touch panel 20, which are essential components of the multimedia backlight touch system 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cross-sectional position of the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 6 is the same as the cross-sectional view along the B-B line shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , a multimedia backlight touch system 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a backlight device 1 according to the present invention, a touch panel 20, a light-transmissive protective layer 22, and a data processing device (not shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 ).

The touch panel 20 is disposed below the backlight device 1. The light-transmitting protective layer 22 is attached to the backlight device 1. The light-transmitting protective layer 22 has a light-transmitting symbol 222. The light-transmitting symbol 222 of the light-transmitting protective layer 22 corresponds to the light extraction symbol 122, and its shape corresponds to the light extraction symbol 122. In a specific embodiment, the light-transmitting protective layer 22 can be a light-transmitting film element or a glass sheet.

The data processing device can communicate with the backlight device 1 and the touch panel 20. In one embodiment, the data processing device is physically and electrically connected to the backlight device 1 and the touch panel 20. In another embodiment, the data processing device communicates with the backlight device 1 and the touch panel 20 wirelessly.

The data processing device is used to selectively execute or not execute the multimedia application. As shown in FIG5 , when the user 3 touches the light-transmitting symbol 222 of the light-transmitting protective layer 22 to trigger the touch panel 20 and further instruct the data processing device to execute the multimedia application, the first light-emitting element emits the first color light L1. In FIG5 , the user 3 is represented by a finger.

As shown in FIG. 6 , when the user 3 touches the light-transmitting symbol 222 of the light-transmitting protective layer 22 again to trigger the touch panel 20 again, thereby instructing the computer not to execute the multimedia application, the second light-emitting element emits the second color light L2.

In one specific embodiment, the backlight device 1 and the touch panel 20 can be integrated into an independent electronic device. In another specific embodiment, the backlight device 1 and the touch panel 20 can be installed on a data processing device, for example, the data processing device is a notebook computer, and the backlight device 1 and the touch panel 20 can be installed on the keyboard of the notebook computer. In another specific embodiment, the backlight device 1 and the touch panel 20 can be installed on a peripheral device of the data processing device, for example, the data processing device is a desktop computer, a tablet computer, etc., and the backlight device 1 and the touch panel 20 can be installed on a wireless keyboard of the desktop computer, a tablet computer, etc. Thus, the multimedia backlight touch system 2 according to the present invention allows the user 3 to intuitively operate the function represented by the light extraction symbol 122. For example, the data processing device is a notebook computer, and the backlight device 1 and the touch panel 20 are installed on the keyboard of the notebook computer. When the user 3 uses the multimedia backlight touch system 2 according to the present invention to conduct a video conference, he or she can directly touch (click) the transparent symbol 222 to turn on or off the function represented by the light extraction symbol 122, without the trouble of operating the mouse to click the image on the display of the notebook computer.

In a specific embodiment, the multimedia application may be a microphone function or a photography function.

Through the above detailed description of the present invention, it can be clearly understood that the backlight device according to the present invention uses different light-emitting elements to emit different colored lights respectively, and includes a structure that is not taught or implied by the backlight device of the prior art, so that when the backlight device according to the present invention switches different colored lights, its light extraction symbols can uniformly present the colored lights. According to the multimedia backlight touch system of the present invention, the user can intuitively operate the function represented by the light extraction symbol, and the light extraction symbol can uniformly present different colored lights to display the status of the function represented by it.

The above detailed description of the preferred specific embodiments is intended to more clearly describe the features and spirit of the present invention, but is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the preferred specific embodiments disclosed above. On the contrary, the purpose is to cover various changes and arrangements with equivalents within the scope of the patent application for the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the patent application for the present invention should be interpreted in the broadest sense based on the above description, so as to cover all possible changes and arrangements with equivalents.

1: Backlight device

10: Light guide plate

100: Positive

102: Back

104: First hole

1042: First light incident surface

1044: First normal direction

106: Second through hole

1062: Second light incident surface

1064: Second normal direction

12: First microstructure

122: Light extraction symbol

124: Middle axis

126: First side

128: Second side

14: First light emitting element

16: Second light emitting element

18: Light attenuation structure

182: Second microstructure

184: Dark coating

L1: First color light

L2: Second color light

2: Multimedia backlight touch system

20: Touch panel

22: Translucent protective layer

222: Translucent symbol

FIG. 1 is a top view of a backlight device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the backlight device along line A-A in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the backlight device along line B-B in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a backlight device along line B-B in FIG. 1 according to a modified preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a backlight device and a touch panel, which are necessary components of a multimedia backlight touch system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is another cross-sectional view of a backlight device and a touch panel, which are necessary components of a multimedia backlight touch system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1: Backlight device

10: Light guide plate

100: Positive

104: First hole

1042: First light incident surface

1044: First normal direction

106: Second through hole

1062: Second light-entering surface

1064: Second normal direction

12: The first microstructure

122: Light extraction symbol

124: Middle axis

126: First side

128: Second side

14: First light-emitting element

16: Second light-emitting element

18: Light attenuation structure

182: Second microstructure

L1: First color light

L2: Second color light

Claims (7)

A backlight device comprises: a light guide plate having a front surface, a back surface, a first through hole and a second through hole; a plurality of first microstructures formed on the light guide plate, the plurality of first microstructures forming a light extraction symbol, the light extraction symbol defining a central axis, wherein the first through hole is located at a first side relative to the central axis, the second through hole is located at a first side relative to the central axis, The first through hole has a first light incident surface close to the light extraction symbol, the second through hole has a second light incident surface close to the light extraction symbol, and a distribution density of the plurality of first microstructures gradually decreases from the second side toward the first side; a first light emitting element is disposed in the first through hole and is used to emit a first light toward the light extraction symbol. color light; a second light-emitting element is disposed in the second through hole and is used to emit a second color light toward the light extraction symbol; and a light attenuation structure is formed on the light guide plate and is located between the second through hole and the second side of the light extraction symbol, wherein when the first light-emitting element emits the first color light and the second light-emitting element does not emit light, the first color light emitted by the first light-emitting element is guided to the plurality of first microstructures so that the light extraction symbol uniformly presents the first color light, and when the first light-emitting element does not emit the first color light and the second light-emitting element emits the second color light, the second color light emitted by the second light-emitting element first passes through the light attenuation structure and then is guided to the plurality of first microstructures so that the light extraction symbol uniformly presents the second color light. A backlight device as described in claim 1, wherein the light attenuation structure is composed of a plurality of second microstructures or a dark coating layer. A backlight device as described in claim 1, wherein a first angle between a first normal direction of the first light incident surface and the central axis is an acute angle. The backlight device as described in claim 1, wherein a second angle between a second normal direction of the second light incident surface and the central axis is an acute angle. A backlight device as described in claim 1, wherein the first through hole is connected to the second through hole. A multimedia backlight touch system, comprising: a backlight device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5; a touch panel, which is arranged below the backlight device; a light-transmitting protective layer, which is attached to the backlight device, and the light-transmitting protective layer has a light-transmitting symbol, the light-transmitting symbol is opposite to the light extraction symbol and its shape corresponds to the light extraction symbol; and a data processing device, which can communicate with the backlight device and the touch panel, the data The processing device is used to selectively execute or not execute a multimedia application; when a user touches the light-transmitting symbol to trigger the touch panel and then instructs the data processing device to execute the multimedia application, the first light-emitting element emits a first color light; when the user touches the light-transmitting symbol again to trigger the touch panel again and then instructs the computer not to execute the multimedia application, the second light-emitting element emits a second color light. A multimedia backlight touch system as described in claim 6, wherein the multimedia application is a microphone function or a photography function.