Abstract

We present a new type of total-internal-reflection (TIR) lens, which collimates the light from a monochrome, or RGB, LED array. This new design enables the fabrication of a miniature LED backlight suitable for the next generation of cell-phone and pager displays, as well as in digital cameras and video recorders. Their full-page VGA resolution and long eye relief daylight viewing demand high brightness, while their small size and low power budget demand high efficiency over a narrow solid angle of LCD illumination. The design presented here fulfills these requirements cost-effectively, and is suitable for large-scale manufacturing.

© 1998 Optical Society of America