Backlighting Module With Embedded Emission Sources

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional backlight modules are expensive to manufacture and consume high energy, particularly when used for large objects, as the power of the emission source increases with the size of the object, making them inefficient and costly for applications like large advertising posters or road signs.

Innovation Solution

A lighting module with multiple low-power Electro Luminescent Diodes (ELDs) placed inside a light guide made of a liquid or pasty material that solidifies after insertion, emitting light parallel to the guide's faces, allowing for efficient light distribution and reducing manufacturing and energy costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the power of the emission source is increased to illuminate larger objects, then the illumination area is improved, but the energy consumption and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination areaVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide is divided into multiple segments, each containing a separate emission source. This allows the system to illuminate large areas by distributing multiple low-power sources rather than using a single high-power source, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining large area coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The emission sources are positioned inside the light guide volume rather than on the surface, and light is emitted in directions parallel to the guide faces. This three-dimensional arrangement allows more efficient light distribution across large areas without proportionally increasing energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the power of the emission source is increased to illuminate larger objects, then the illumination area is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination areaVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multiple independent emission sources instead of a single high-power source. Each source can be manufactured and tested separately, allowing for more economical production and easier replacement, thereby reducing manufacturing costs for large area illumination applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs multiple low-cost emission sources that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. This approach is more economical than using expensive high-power sources, especially for large area applications where multiple units are required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Illumination intensity

If emission sources are placed inside the light guide, then light distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution uniformityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The emission sources are integrated directly into the light guide structure, with the guide material itself serving as the encapsulating medium. This merging of components simplifies the overall device architecture while achieving improved light distribution uniformity through the internal positioning of sources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enables the creation of large, cost-effective, and energy-efficient lighting modules that can adapt to various sizes, providing uniform illumination without the need for intermediate spaces, thus reducing energy losses and manufacturing expenses.

Implementation Method 1

a light guide comprising a transmission face arranged to transmit light emitted by the emission sources to an object to be illuminated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

means for returning towards the interior of the guide the light emitted by the emission sources and received by the return face

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 3

the guide is preferably made of a material that is initially liquid or pasty during the manufacture of the module, said material being solidified (by cooling, by thermofusion, by polymerization, by cross-linking or other) after insertion of the emission sources in the guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolidification: Freezing

Data Source

PatentEP2271957B1Process for manufacturing a lighting module, in particular a backlighting module
Publication Date: 2016.11.02 BOULAIS GUILLAUME
  • EP2271957B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2271957B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2271957B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a lighting module (1) comprising: a plurality of light emission sources (2); a lightguide plate (3) having a transmission face (4), designed to transmit light emitted by the emission sources (2) from the lightguide to an object to be lit, and a reflection face (5), facing the transmission face (4); and means (12, 13) for sending the light emitted by the emission sources (2) and received by the reflection face (5) back into the lightguide (3). According to the invention, the emission sources (2) are located within the lightguide (3) between the transmission face (4) and the reflection face (5), each of the emission sources (2) being designed to emit light in an emission direction (9, 29) approximately parallel to the reflection face (5).