Apple LED backlight patent

Apple has sought to patent an LED backlighting scheme which could make the technology more practical for monitors in general, and possibly the company's own computers. While Apple notes that LED improves the color, life, brightness and power efficiency of monitors, the most recent 24-inch Cinema Display is said to have created unique design issues, demanding a way around problems with thermal control and area-to-perimeter ratios.

The Apple solution involves a collection of tiled LED lights, operating together in a "thermally and mechanically structurally integrated" matrix. The result is described as simple to implement and cost-effective, ideal for mass-producing larger displays. Apple may thus be ready to bring LED to different sizes of Cinema Display, or even the iMac, which does not use any form of LED backlighting at present.

by MacNN Staff