Patent attributes
A backlighting apparatus for a flat panel LCD display includes an elongate light guide having a front wall through which travels polarized light in a direction toward the LCD display. An RGB LED set is positioned adjacent a first end wall of the light guide so that light enters the light guide from the first end wall. A retardation and reflection film covers respective external surfaces of the bottom wall and a second end wall. Microlenses are formed in the front wall along its extent and each microlens is filled with a birefringent material. Light emitted by the LED set travels through a collimated light coupling module and exits the light guide through the birefringent microlenses in polarized form toward the LCD display. The viewing angles and angular light distributions of the LCD display in vertical and horizontal directions are optimized for enhancing the brightness without involving DBEF and BEF.