Backlight Reflector Cavity Layout to Eliminate Display Grid Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current matrix backlights in display devices for transportation systems create a grid structure in illumination that is perceived as disturbing by viewers due to the regular arrangement of light sources and reflectors, leading to non-uniform and aesthetically unpleasing display panels.

Innovation Solution

A display device with a reflector having irregularly shaped cavities and laterally emitting light sources, where the cavity walls are designed to avoid forming regular grid structures, ensuring that the light is directed uniformly and homogeneously to the display panel without visible grid patterns, using materials like plastic or silicone for the reflector.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a regular grid arrangement of light sources and reflectors is used in the backlight, then the manufacturing and alignment are simplified, but a visible grid structure appears in the illumination which is perceived as disturbing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidgrid structure visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The reflector cavities are designed with asymmetric, irregular shapes instead of regular geometric forms. The cavity walls have varying curvatures and angles that prevent the formation of a regular grid pattern, thereby eliminating the visible grid structure in the illumination while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through injection molding or similar processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Each cavity in the reflector is designed with locally optimized wall shapes and orientations tailored to its specific position in the matrix. This local customization of cavity geometry ensures that no two cavities are identical, preventing the emergence of a repeating grid pattern while still achieving uniform light distribution across the display panel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If irregularly shaped cavities are used in the reflector to eliminate grid structures, then the visual appearance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrid structure visibilityVSAvoidreflector complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reflector is designed as a single integrated component where multiple irregular cavities are merged into one continuous structure. This unified design, despite its complex geometry, can be manufactured as a single piece using injection molding or similar processes, avoiding the need for multiple separate components and reducing assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Illumination intensity

If the cavity walls are designed to break up the lattice structure, then the illumination uniformity is improved, but the design and manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination uniformityVSAvoidcavity wall precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity walls are designed with curved surfaces instead of flat or sharply angled geometries. These curved surfaces, while irregular, are easier to manufacture with standard molding techniques and provide effective light redirection. The curvature helps diffuse light in multiple directions, contributing to illumination uniformity without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 provides a more aesthetically pleasing and uniformly illuminated display panel, reducing the visibility of grid structures and enhancing the overall display quality in transportation systems such as motor vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft.

Implementation Method 1

a reflector having a plurality of reflective cavities, wherein walls of the cavities are configured such that a lattice structure of the reflector resulting from the arrangement of the cavities is broken up; and a plurality of light sources arranged in each of the cavities

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4488749A1Display device and means of transportation
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • EP4488749A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4488749A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4488749A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a display device (1) and a means of transportation with such a display device (1). The display device (1) comprises a display panel and a backlight (3) for the display panel. The backlight (3) comprises a reflector (30) with a plurality of reflectively designed cavities (31). Furthermore, the backlight (3) comprises a plurality of light sources (32) arranged in the cavities (31). The walls (310) of the cavities (31) are designed such that a grid structure of the reflector (30) resulting from the arrangement of the cavities (31) is disrupted.