Anti-Parallel LED Control in Transparent Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light output devices, such as 'LED in glass' systems, face challenges in independently controlling individual LEDs and dynamically adjusting their color due to high electrical losses and incompatibility with AC drive voltages, which complicates the creation of dynamic patterns and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
The integration of light source devices with anti-parallel electrical contacts into a light transmissive substrate structure, allowing for independent control using shared control lines and AC power with adjustable DC offset, reduces resistive losses and enables efficient color control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individual wires are used for each LED to enable independent control, then individual LED control is achieved, but wire resistance increases leading to high electrical losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple LED control paths into shared transparent electrode patterns. Instead of using separate wires for each LED, the invention uses a common transparent electrode structure that can be selectively activated through voltage control, merging the control function into the substrate itself and reducing resistive losses in individual control lines
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces transparent conductive coatings (such as ITO) as an intermediary between the control electronics and the LEDs. This intermediary layer allows for distributed control across the substrate while maintaining low resistance, as the transparent electrode acts as a mediator that can be selectively biased to control individual LED regions without requiring high-resistance individual wires
2Loss of energy
If a two-dimensional pattern of transparent electrodes is used to reduce wire resistance, then electrical losses are reduced, but it becomes difficult to avoid crossovers and control individual LEDs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from planar wire-based control to a multi-layer electrode structure with transparent conductive coatings deposited on substrates. By adding the dimension of transparent electrode layers sandwiched between glass plates, the system achieves both low resistance and individual LED control through selective voltage application to different electrode regions without physical wire crossovers
3Adaptability or versatility
If extra wires are added to dynamically control LED color, then color control capability is achieved, but wire thickness must be reduced leading to increased electronic losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the transparent electrode structure multi-functional by using the same electrode pattern for both individual LED control and color control. By selectively biasing different regions of the transparent electrodes, the system can control both which LEDs are active and what color they emit, eliminating the need for separate control wires and reducing overall resistive losses
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
This solution allows for independent control of light source devices with reduced electrical losses and compatibility with AC power, enabling dynamic pattern creation and color adjustment while maintaining transparency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
each light source device comprising first and second electrical contacts and providing an electrical conduction path in a forward bias direction from the first to the second contact
Implementation Method 2
blocking electrical conduction in an opposite, reverse bias, direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A light output device comprises a substrate arrangement with a plurality of light source device arrangements integrated into the structure of the substrate arrangement. The plurality of light source device arrangements comprise at least first and second light source devices (4a,4b) which are arranged in anti-parallel. This arrangement mounts at least two light source devices in anti-parallel within an integrated light source structure, so that they can be controlled independently from shared control lines