Anisotropic Polymer Optical Element for Viewing Angle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid crystal display devices require louver-based viewing angle control sheets, which increase costs and lead to brightness reduction, and often result in defects like diagonal line spots due to non-uniform roller pressure during lamination.
Innovation Solution
An optical element comprising a resin with a refractive index n1 and an anisotropic polymer with a refractive index n2, arranged in a predetermined direction, is used to control viewing angles without a louver pattern, enhancing front brightness by controlling light diffusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a louver-based viewing angle control sheet is used, then viewing angle control is achieved, but front brightness is reduced and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the refractive index parameter of the resin material to achieve viewing angle control. By selecting a resin with a specific refractive index (n1) that differs from the anisotropic polymer (n2), the optical element controls light diffusion and viewing angles without requiring complex louver structures, thereby maintaining high front brightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite material consisting of a resin and an anisotropic polymer to create the optical element. This composite structure achieves viewing angle control through the optical properties of the material combination rather than through geometric louver structures, simplifying the device while maintaining brightness.
2Device complexity
If a louver-based viewing angle control sheet is used, then viewing angle control is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies manufacturing by changing from a geometric louver structure to a material-based solution using refractive index parameters. This approach eliminates complex lamination processes and roller pressure control requirements, reducing manufacturing costs while achieving the same viewing angle control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function of viewing angle control from the complex louver structure and implements it through the optical properties of the resin-anisotropic polymer composite. This removes the need for expensive louver manufacturing and assembly processes.
3Ease of manufacture
If lamination is performed with non-uniform roller pressure, then the viewing angle control sheet is assembled, but diagonal line spots and defects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves homogeneous optical properties throughout the optical element by ensuring uniform distribution of the anisotropic polymer within the resin. This homogeneous structure eliminates the need for precise lamination control and roller pressure uniformity, preventing diagonal line spots and manufacturing defects.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively blocks upper and lower viewing angles, increasing front brightness by up to 30% without the need for additional brightness enhancement films, thus reducing manufacturing costs and preventing defects like diagonal line spots.
Implementation Method 1
a resin 120a having a refractive index n1 and an anisotropic polymer 120b having a refractive index n2 different from n1
Implementation Method 2
anisotropic polymer arranged in a predetermined direction in the resin
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an optical element which offers certain direction of light diffusion by disposing, in a resin having a refractive index n1, an anisotropic polymer having a refractive index n2 different from n1 in a predetermined direction, and a display device including the same. Such control of viewing angles is possible without using any louver pattern and eliminates the necessity of an additional brightness enhancement film, thus advantageously decreasing manufacturing costs and preventing defects such as diagonal line spots.