Microsoft patents screen backlight that bounces light to save space
Microsoft describes a display backlight that uses a transparent waveguide to carry light from LEDs placed along the edge. It adds a reflective layer and extra lights behind the waveguide to bounce more light into the screen, potentially making displays thinner.
In the filing’s own words
Display devices, display systems, backlight assemblies, and methods described herein provide compound backlights with edge lighting. In an aspect, the backlight includes a waveguide, first lights, and an array layer. The first lights are arranged along an edge of the waveguide. Each of the first lights transmits light into the waveguide. The array layer is coupled to the waveguide and comprises a reflective layer and second lights. The reflective layer reflects the light transmitted by the first lights into the waveguide. The second lights are arranged between the waveguide and the reflective layer. Each of the second lights transmits light into the waveguide layer through the first surface. In a further aspect, the second lights are oriented away from the waveguide and toward the reflective surface. In another aspect, a compound backlight includes a reflective surface, arranged between a waveguide and second lights, that reflects a portion of received light.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A backlight assembly comprising: a transparent waveguide layer having a first surface; an array layer coupled to the first surface of the transparent waveguide layer, the array layer comprising: a transparent sublayer, and a first light source mounted to the transparent sublayer and oriented away from the first surface; and a first reflective layer coupled to the array layer and configured to reflect light transmitted by the first light source into the waveguide layer through the first surface.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
- Official title
- COMPOUND BACKLIGHT WITH A REFLECTIVE LAYER
- Publication number
- US20260259450A1
- Application number
- 19655090
- Filed
- Apr 22, 2026
- Published
- Sep 3, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G02F 1/133555 Physics & computingG02B 6/0031 Physics & computingG02B 6/0036 Physics & computingG02B 6/0068 Physics & computingG02B 6/0091 Physics & computingG02F 1/133603 Physics & computingMore from Microsoft in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.