CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/CN2018/079593, filed Mar. 20, 2018, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201710840999.4, filed Sep. 18, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in the entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to display technology, more particularly, to a back light module, a display apparatus, and a method of fabricating an optical modulating device.

BACKGROUND

Typically, a back light module is required in a liquid crystal display apparatus. The back light module includes one or more light sources and a light guide plate for receiving light from the one or more light sources and guiding the light along a transmission direction. The light guide plate enhances the brightness and ensures the light is evenly distributed in a display panel. Typically, a light guide plate includes numerous light guide points (a.k.a., light guide pattern or light guide dots), which disrupt light total reflection locally and reflect light into the display panel along a direction perpendicular to the incident light direction.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present invention provides an optical modulating device having a light transmissive region and a light blocking region, comprising a base substrate; a plurality of protrusions on the base substrate in the light transmissive region and configured to allow light emitting out of a side of the optical modulating device; and a reflective layer on the base substrate in the light blocking region and configured to block light from emitting out of the side of the optical modulating device.

Optionally, each of the plurality of protrusions has a first surface on which the reflective layer is absent and a second surface on which the reflective layer is present; the second surface connecting the first surface with the base substrate; the first surface is in the light transmissive region; and the second surface is in the light blocking region.

Optionally, an orthographic projection of the plurality of protrusions on the base substrate is at least partially non-overlapping with an orthographic projection of the reflective layer on the base substrate; and an orthographic projection of the first surface of the plurality of protrusions on the base substrate is substantially non-overlapping with the orthographic projection of the reflective layer on the base substrate.

Optionally, the optical modulating device further comprises a plurality of recesses in the light transmissive region, each of which on a side of one of the plurality of protrusions distal to the base substrate; wherein an orthographic projection of the plurality of recesses on the base substrate is substantially non-overlapping with an orthographic projection of the reflective layer on the base substrate.

Optionally, the optical modulating device further comprises an insulating layer on a side of the plurality of protrusions distal to the base substrate; wherein the insulating layer comprises a plurality of insulating blocks, each of which in one of the plurality of recesses and in the light transmissive region.

Optionally, the base substrate and the plurality of protrusions are formed as an integral light transmission layer.

Optionally, the plurality of protrusions are a plurality of nanoscale protrusions.

Optionally, the optical modulating device is a light guide plate.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a back light module comprising the optical modulating device described herein and one or more light sources.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a display apparatus comprising the back light module described herein.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of fabricating an optical modulating device having a light transmissive region and a light blocking region, comprising forming a light transmission layer comprising a plurality of protrusions on a base substrate in the light transmissive region and configured to allow light emitting out of a side of the plurality of protrusions; and forming a reflective layer on the base substrate in the light blocking region and configured to block light from emitting out of the light transmission layer.

Optionally, prior to forming the reflective layer, further comprising forming an insulating layer having a plurality of insulating blocks, each of which on a side of one of the plurality of protrusions distal to the base substrate.

Optionally, forming the reflective layer comprises forming a reflective material layer on the base substrate in a region outside the plurality of insulating blocks.

Optionally, forming the reflective layer comprises forming a reflective material layer throughout the light transmission layer, the reflective material layer being formed to cover a region having the plurality of insulating blocks and a region outside the plurality of insulating blocks; and removing the insulating layer; wherein a portion of the reflective material layer on a side of the plurality of insulating blocks distal to the base substrate is removed together with the insulating layer, thereby forming a reflective layer.

Optionally, the method further comprises forming a mold; embossing a light transmission main body using the mold; and separating the mold from the light transmission main body to form the light transmission layer having the plurality of protrusions on the base substrate.

Optionally, forming the mold comprises forming a replication master layer on a second base substrate, the replication master layer is formed to include a plurality of replication masters corresponding to the plurality of protrusions to be formed in the optical modulating device; forming a conductive surface on an exposed surface of the replication master layer and the second base substrate; forming a metal layer on the conductive surface; and separating the metal layer from the replication master layer and the second base substrate, thereby forming the mold.

Optionally, embossing the light transmission main body comprises embossing the light transmission main body using the mold, thereby forming a light transmission layer having a plurality of protrusions on a base substrate, and a plurality of recesses, each of which on a side of one of the plurality of protrusions distal to the base substrate.

Optionally, prior to forming the reflective layer, further comprising forming an insulating layer having a plurality of insulating blocks, each of which on a side of one of the plurality of protrusions distal to the base substrate; wherein forming the insulating layer comprises printing an ink in the plurality of recesses on a side of the plurality of protrusions distal to the base substrate; and curing the ink in the plurality of recesses on a side of the plurality of protrusions distal to the base substrate, thereby forming the insulating layer having a plurality of insulating blocks, each of which in one of the plurality of recesses.

Optionally, forming the light transmission layer comprises forming the plurality of protrusions and the base substrate as an integral structure.

Optionally, forming the reflective layer comprises forming a reflective material layer throughout the light transmission layer, the reflective material layer being formed to cover a region having the plurality of protrusions and a region outside the plurality of protrusions; and removing a portion of the reflective material layer on a side of the plurality of insulating blocks distal to the base substrate thereby forming the reflective layer.

