AMBIENT LIGHT DEVICE

Abstract

A back cover assembly for a device having an ambient light source is provided. The back cover assembly comprises a back cover which comprises an opening for allowing light emitted from the ambient light source to propagate therethrough and a reflective surface for deflecting light emitted from the ambient light source.

Claims

1. A back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) for a device having an ambient light source (12) for emitting ambient light towards a surface behind the device [p.1, II 19-21: literal basis for display device; p. 7 II. 4-8 application in other devices], comprising: a back cover (31) for protecting the device, comprising: a back side (31a) and a side (31b) [FIGS. 3-7, implicit in 8-9, also claim 5]]; an opening for allowing light emitted from the ambient light source (12) to propagate therethrough; and a reflective surface (311) for deflecting light emitted from the ambient light source (12) towards the surface behind the device, wherein the reflective surface (311) is formed as part of the back side (31a) [FIG. 8] or the side (31b) [FIGS. 3-7].

2. The back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface (311) is formed as a part of the back side (31a) [FIG. 8] and arranged between the ambient light source (12) and the opening.

3. The back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface (311) is formed as a part of the side (31b) [FIGS. 3-7] and arranged so that the light emitted from the ambient light source (12) propagates through the opening before reaching the reflective surface (311).

4. The back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface (311) is a bent surface.

5. The back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 1, wherein the back side (31a) of the back cover (31) and the side (31b) of the back cover (31) are connected by means of a connecting bridge (32), positioned between two adjacent ambient light sources (12).

6. The back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 1, further comprising a side cover (41, 51) for protecting the reflective surface (311).

7. The back cover assembly (80) according to claim 1, wherein the back cover (31) comprises cut out and bent flaps forming the reflective surface (311).

8. The back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 1 or 7, wherein the reflective surface is painted, 2k molded, or provided with a reflector tape, to allow for increased reflectance.

9. The back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 1 or 7, wherein the back cover (31) is made of metal, and the reflective surface or flaps (311) is polished to allow for increased reflectance.

10. The back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 1, wherein the back cover (31) comprises two, three, four, or more reflective surfaces (311).

11. The back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 1, wherein at least one ambient light source is a side or a top emitting LED.

12. The back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board (11) onto which the ambient light source (12) is provided.

13. The back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 12, wherein the ambient light source (12) is positioned adjacent to the edge of the printed circuit board (11).

14. The back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the printed circuit board (11) is a backlight printed circuit board (11) for a display device.

15. A display device (90) having ambient light capability comprising the back cover assembly (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] These and other aspects, features and advantages of which the invention is capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a LED backlight PCB having integrated side emitting LEDs according to an embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the LED backlight PCB of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional side view of a part of the back cover assembly according to an embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross sectional side view of a part of the back cover assembly according to an embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross sectional side view of a part of the back cover assembly according to an embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates the back cover assembly according to an embodiment, seen from an angle;

[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates the back cover assembly according to an embodiment, seen from an angle;

[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates the back cover assembly according to an embodiment, seen from an angle; and

[0021] FIG. 9 illustrates a part of an ambient display device according to an embodiment, seen from behind.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The following description focuses on embodiments applicable to an ambient display device wherein the ambient light sources, such as side emitting Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), are integrated into a printed circuit board (PCB), such as the backlight PCB of the display device. The backlight PCB may e.g. be a LED backlight PCB. As is well known in the art, backlight PCBs are commonly used as the light source in TV-sets.

[0023] An idea of the present invention is to integrate or mount side emitting diodes into or onto the backlight PCB, to reduce the number of components and the required space for the ambient light functionality.

[0024] Side emitting LEDs, even though they have slightly poorer optical performance than top emitting LEDs, are well suited as ambient light sources, since they are compact and needs a smaller reflector than top emitting diodes. However, a problem which is overcome by the present invention is that, since the most logical position of the side emitting LEDs would be at the back of the LED backlight PCB, the side emitting LEDs do not emit light in the direction towards the wall behind the TV set, due to their side emitting construction.

[0025] A further idea is to integrate or mount top emitting LEDs into or onto the backlight PCB, since although they require more space, provides for a slightly better optical performance than the side emitting LEDs.

[0026] Hence, the present invention provides embodiments using both side emitting LEDs or top emitting LEDs.

[0027] In order to deflect the light towards the wall behind the TV set a reflector is needed. The common solution for the embodiments disclosed herein is to utilize a part of a back cover of the device having ambient light functionality as a reflector for deflecting the light emitted from the ambient light sources e.g. towards a wall behind the back cover. In this way no separate mechanical reflector is needed, which saves both components, and costs. Furthermore, this solution allows for a less thick TV set, as well as reduced labor for mounting the reflector.

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a LED backlight PCB 11 for a TV set according to an embodiment. The LED backlight PCB is observed from the back side 13, i.e. the back side 13 of the backlight PCB 11 is in use facing the wall behind the TV set. The LED backlight PCB is provided with a number of side emitting LEDs 12 on its left and right side, for 2-channel or 2-sided ambient lighting. These side emitting LEDs 12 are mounted directly onto the backlight PCB 11, i.e. by soldering. The side emitting LEDs emit light as illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the LED backlight PCB 11 of FIG. 1, wherein the back side 13 of the LED backlight PCB 11 is provided with side emitting LEDs, which in use faces the wall behind the TV set.

[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of a back cover assembly 30 according to an embodiment wherein the right edge of the LED backlight PCB 11 is assembled with a back cover 31. A part of the back cover 31 comprises a reflective section 311, such as a bent section, wherein the surface of the reflective section 311 of the back cover acts as a reflector. The reflector will deflect the ambient light emitted from the side emitting LEDs away from the reflector surface, as is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3, e.g. towards a wall 39. The dashed structure in FIG. 3 indicates that the back side 31a of the back cover 31 and the side 31b of the back cover 31 are connected at least between two side emitting LEDs by means of a connecting bridge 32, as indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The function of the bridges is to provide for suitable mechanical strength to the back cover 31. Furthermore the bridges 32 provide for improved mechanical strength between the back side 31a and the side 31b of the back cover 31.

[0031] It should be appreciated that the side 31b and the back 31a of the back cover 31 can be one mechanical part, with openings for enabling ambient light to pass there through. Hence, no separate bridges 32 are required in such an embodiment.

[0032] It should further be appreciated that the reflective surface 311 may be arranged between the ambient light source 12 and the opening. Furthermore, the reflective surface 311 may be arranged so that the light emitted from the ambient light source 12 propagates through the opening before reaching the reflective surface 311. Thus, the light may pass through the opening both before or after it is deflected by the reflective surface 311.

[0033] It should also be understood that the back cover 31 preferably at least partly houses or covers the ambient light source 12, and that the light emitted from the ambient light source 12 propagates at least partly in an interior portion of the device under the back cover 31 before it is deflected by the reflective surface 311. The configuration in FIG. 3 should also allow for such an interpretation.

[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross sectional view of a back assembly 40 according to an embodiment. The back assembly 40 comprises in addition to the back cover assembly of FIG. 3 a second side cover 41 for protecting the reflective surface 311. The second side cover is also shown in FIG. 5.

[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross sectional view of a back assembly 50 according to an embodiment. The back assembly 50 comprises in addition to the back cover assembly of FIG. 4 a third side cover 51. The third side cover 51 may be attached to the second side cover 41, as is shown in FIG. 5 to allow for an alternative design. The third side cover 51 is also shown in FIG. 7. The third side cover 51 may be made of a material which provides protection, such as from mechanical forces, for the TV set, such as the back assembly 50.

[0036] In an embodiment, according to FIG. 6, a back cover assembly 60 is provided. FIG. 6 illustrates a part of the back cover assembly 60, wherein the LED backlight PCB 11, is seen from an angle, wherein the bridges 32 are provided between the side emitting LEDs 12, connecting the backside of the back cover 31a with the side 31b of the back cover.

[0037] FIG. 7 illustrates a part of a back cover assembly 70 according to an embodiment, similar to the construction of FIG. 4.

[0038] In another embodiment, according to FIG. 8, a part of a back cover assembly 80 is provided. The back cover assembly 80 comprises a back cover 31, wherein the back 31a of the back cover 31 comprises cut out reflective flaps 311 forming the reflector for the ambient light sources 12 mounted on a LED backlight PCB 11. The formed flaps 311 deflects the ambient light emitted from the side emitting LEDs away from the back side 31a of the back cover as is indicated with the arrows in FIG. 8. The bridges 32 are in this embodiment a part of the back side 31a of the back cover 31. In similarity to the previous embodiments, a part of the back cover is bent to form a reflector surface for the ambient light, however in this embodiment the reflector surface 311 is made integral with the back side 31a of the back cover. This alternative still creates an acceptable halo performance of ambient light, in use. A further advantage is that the edge of the TV set might be made a little bit thinner. In some cases, when there is no possibility or desire of mounting the ambient light sources 12 close to the edge of the LED backlight PCB 11, but instead the ambient light sources 12 are mounted further away from the LED backlight PCB 11 edge, this embodiment is advantageous.

Reflector Surface

[0039] The reflective surface 311 or flap 311 forming a reflector surface may be processed to allow for high reflectance, thus effectively deflecting the ambient light emitted from the ambient light sources 12. Generally, the back cover of current TV-sets is black. Since black color does not provide for a high reflectance, the back cover may according to some embodiments be painted with a commonly known high reflectance paint.

[0040] The reflector surface 311 may also be 2k molded, or provided with a reflector tape (not shown).

[0041] In case the back cover is a metallic back cover, the metal itself could be used as a reflector, optionally after polishing, and hence no further processing may be needed.

[0042] It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to 2-sided ambient lighting. 3-sided ambient lighting, i.e. ambient side emitting LEDs on the left, right and upper side of the backlight PCB, or 4-sided ambient lighting, i.e. ambient side emitting LEDs on all sides of the backlight PCB are, is also included within the gist of the present invention.

[0043] In an embodiment, according to FIG. 9, part of an ambient display device 90 comprising the back cover assembly 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 is provided, wherein the ambient light sources 12, the LED backlight PCB 11, connecting bridge 32 and the reflective surface 311 are visible. The ambient light sources 12 may be top emitting LEDs. The top emitting LEDs may be provided on the side surface of the LED backlight PCB 11. This is advantageous when side lit backlights are used in the TV set, since by putting the ambient light sources 12 on the side of the side lit backlight PCB 11 it is possible to reuse the backlight PCB for the ambient light.

[0044] The ambient light sources may be controlled by any commonly known means, such as by a control unit incorporated in the TV set, or optionally integrated in the LED backlight PCB 11. The controlling of the ambient light sources is not relevant for the present invention, since it may function independently of how the ambient light sources are controlled.

[0045] It should be appreciated that the PCB on which the ambient light sources are provided, need not be the backlight PCB of the display device, as has been described in the embodiments above. Optionally the ambient light sources may be provided on a PCB, different from the backlight PCB, such as an Aluminum (Al) PCB, which in use is mounted next to or on top of the backlight PCB of the display device. Even though the use of two separate PCBs, i.e. one backlight PCB and one PCB with ambient light sources provided thereon, increases the thickness or depth of the display device, at least from a manufacturing point of view it may be cheaper to produce a separate PCB having the ambient light sources provided thereon, than integrating the ambient light sources on the backlight PCB.

[0046] It should be appreciated that the back cover assembly according to some embodiments is not limited merely to TV set applications, but may be utilized in any back cover assembly, for any device, for which ambient light is desired. Hence the back cover assembly according to some embodiments could be utilized in e.g. a hifi system, on a receiver, telephone, etc. Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims and, other embodiments than the specific above are equally possible within the scope of these appended claims.

[0047] In the claims, the term comprises/comprising does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms a, an, first, second etc do not preclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way.