Backlight Unit Protection Layer for Scratch Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid crystal display devices face reduced display quality due to scratches and environmental factors like moisture and oxygen penetrating into the backlight unit, damaging the color control layer and affecting image quality.

Innovation Solution

A backlight unit with a protection layer made from a resin composition including specific repeating units and silica particles, disposed in the outermost region to prevent scratches and environmental damage, combined with a color control layer using quantum dots and a low refraction layer for improved light transmission and color reproduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the color control layer is exposed in the backlight unit, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the display quality deteriorates due to scratches and environmental damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoiddisplay quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A protection layer made of a flexible resin composition is formed over the color control layer to protect it from scratches and environmental damage. The protection layer is disposed in the outermost region of the backlight unit, creating a protective shell that maintains display quality while allowing the color control layer to remain exposed for manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The protection layer uses a composite resin composition containing polysilsesquioxane repeating units and silica particles. This composite material provides enhanced mechanical strength and scratch resistance while maintaining optical transparency, thus protecting the color control layer without compromising display quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the color control layer is protected from environmental factors, then reliability is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from environmental damageVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single thin protection layer is formed over the color control layer to protect it from scratches, moisture, and oxygen. This thin film approach provides environmental protection while minimizing the increase in structural complexity, as it adds only one functional layer rather than multiple complex protective structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The protection layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects against scratches, blocks moisture and oxygen penetration, and maintains optical transparency for display quality. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective layers for each function, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a protection layer is added to prevent scratches, then reliability is improved, but the light transmission efficiency may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescratch resistanceVSAvoidlight transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

A thin protection layer is formed over the color control layer to protect it from scratches. The thin film design minimizes the impact on light transmission efficiency while providing adequate scratch resistance. The layer is thin enough to allow most light to pass through while still offering protective coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The protection layer uses a composite resin composition containing polysilsesquoxane repeating units and silica particles that provides high mechanical strength and scratch resistance. The composite material is designed to be transparent in the visible spectrum, ensuring that light transmission efficiency is maintained while achieving the desired scratch protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3686661B1Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device including the same
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3686661B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3686661B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3686661B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A backlight unit which includes a light guiding layer having an incident surface on which light is incident and an exit surface from which light is emitted, a light source disposed on the incident surface of the light guiding layer and configured to generate the light, a low refraction layer disposed on the exit surface of the light guiding layer, a color control layer disposed on the low refraction layer, and a protection layer disposed on the color control layer. The protection layer includes a resin composition including a first repeating unit represented by Formula 1: