Backlight Assembly With Switchable Electrodes For Selective Light Emission
Solution Overview
Problem
Current display devices, such as CRT, LCD, PDP, and FED, face challenges including high cost, complex manufacturing processes, and sensitivity to defects, necessitating a simpler and more cost-effective display panel and backlight assembly.
Innovation Solution
A backlight assembly comprising a light guide unit, a light source, and a reflection module with switchable electrodes that control light reflection and emission in specific regions, allowing for selective light emission and reducing defects through a simplified structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If LCD panel with two glass substrates and liquid crystal is used, then display quality is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the liquid crystal layer and one glass substrate from the traditional LCD structure, retaining only the essential display function through a simplified single-substrate architecture with microlens arrays and color filters directly integrated on the substrate surface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functional components (color filters, microlens arrays, polarization function) into a single integrated structure on one glass substrate, eliminating the need for separate liquid crystal layer and second substrate
2Manufacturing precision
If LCD panel with complex optical components is used, then display performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, fragile optical components (liquid crystal, polarized films, prism sheets) with simpler, more durable structures that can be manufactured at lower cost using conventional semiconductor fabrication techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The microlens array structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: light extraction, polarization control, and color separation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated components for each function
3Area of stationary object
If large LCD device is manufactured, then display size is improved, but manufacturing difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display into independently controllable pixel regions with individual microlens structures, allowing modular manufacturing and assembly that scales efficiently to large display sizes
4Ease of operation
If traditional LCD panel structure is used, then display function is achieved, but defect sensitivity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the vulnerable liquid crystal layer and dual-glass-substrate structure that are prone to defects, replacing them with a more robust single-substrate design where each pixel is independently formed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates locally optimized microlens structures at each pixel position with precise control over light extraction and color properties, allowing defect isolation and local repair without affecting the entire display
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 cost-effective and simplified display device with fewer defects by functioning as a light shutter, enabling controlled light emission and reducing manufacturing complexity, thus addressing the limitations of existing display technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The lower electrode is disposed in each of the reflection regions. The switch element is disposed on the first substrate to apply an on signal or an off signal to the lower electrode. The upper electrode makes contact with or is spaced apart from the reflective face of the light guide unit in accordance with the on signal or the off signal
Implementation Method 2
The reflection module is disposed under the light guide unit to reflect or scatter the light from the light guide unit
Implementation Method 3
The lower electrode may allow the upper electrode to be spaced apart from the reflective face of the light guide unit in response to the off signal so as to totally reflect the light that is incident onto the reflective face
Data Source
AI summary
A backlight assembly may include a light guide unit, a light source and a reflection module. The light source provides light onto an incident face of the light guide unit. The reflection module may include a first substrate having reflection regions, a lower electrode disposed in each reflection region, a switch element applying an on or off signal to the lower electrode, and an upper electrode. The upper electrode makes contact with or is spaced apart from a reflective face of the light guide unit in accordance with the on or off signal. Thus, light selectively exits the light guide unit through an exiting face of the light guide unit corresponding to each reflection region. A display device has a display module disposed on the exiting face of the light guide unit to display an image. Therefore, the display device has a simplified structure.