Array Substrate with Wire Grid Polarizer for Brightness Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transflective LCDs face challenges with poor brightness uniformity and complex manufacturing processes, especially in outdoor environments where contrast and viewing angle are critical.
Innovation Solution
An array substrate with alternately arranged transmissive and reflective regions, incorporating a wire grid polarizer with parallel metal wires that transmit and reflect polarized light, and multiplexed as pixel or common electrodes, reduces manufacturing complexity and enhances brightness uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If single-cell-gap ECB mode is used to achieve transflective technology, then the structure is simplified, but brightness uniformity deteriorates and viewing angle is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides each subpixel area into multiple transmissive regions and reflective regions that are alternately arranged. This segmentation allows different regions to contribute differently to light transmission and reflection, improving brightness uniformity while maintaining the simplified single-cell-gap structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions within the subpixel are assigned different optical properties: transmissive regions allow light to pass through while reflective regions reflect light. This local differentiation of optical quality enables the display to maintain good brightness uniformity and viewing angle characteristics without requiring complex additional structures.
2Illumination intensity
If double-cell-gap transflective mode is used to achieve transflective technology, then brightness uniformity is improved, but manufacturing process complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of transmissive and reflective regions within a single cell gap structure. By integrating both transmissive and reflective areas in the same subpixel using a wire grid polarizer, the design achieves the brightness uniformity benefits of double-cell-gap mode while avoiding its manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire grid polarizer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the reflective element, the polarizing filter, and the structural support. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate compensating films and complex multi-gap structures, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining good brightness uniformity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional compensating film is added to improve viewing angle, then viewing angle is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wire grid polarizer inherently provides wide viewing angle characteristics without requiring additional compensating films. The metallic wire grid structure naturally maintains polarization and optical properties across different viewing angles, making the display self-sufficient in achieving wide viewing angle performance.
4Illumination intensity
If wire grid polarizer with multiple metal wires is used, then brightness uniformity is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a periodic array of thin metal wires that can be manufactured using standard photolithography and deposition processes. While individual wire precision is required, the periodic nature and self-aligning properties of the grid structure make the manufacturing feasible with conventional precision levels, avoiding the need for ultra-precise positioning.
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 achieves more uniform brightness and improved viewing angles, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining good contrast both indoors and outdoors without the need for additional compensating films.
Implementation Method 1
the plurality of metal wires in parallel arrangement in the WGP are configured to transmit linearly polarized light with a polarization direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the metal wires and reflect linearly polarized light with a polarization direction parallel to the extension direction of the metal wires
Implementation Method 2
a liquid crystal layer filled between the array substrate and the counter substrate
Data Source
AI summary
An array substrate, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a display device are provided. The array substrate (10) includes a base substrate (100) and a plurality of subpixels (103) disposed on the base substrate (100), wherein an area of each of the subpixels (103) includes a plurality of transmissive regions (105) and a plurality of reflective regions (104).