Backlight Unit Inclined Reflective Surface Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing configuration of backlight units for liquid crystal display elements limits the degree of freedom in designing mounting devices due to the extension of the backlight unit's shape when optical elements like lenses are added, restricting the flexibility in device design.
Innovation Solution
A backlight unit comprising a light source, a condensing means with inclined reflective surfaces that replicate the optical path, allowing for increased design flexibility by avoiding unnecessary rearward projection and enabling efficient light distribution to the liquid crystal display element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If an optical element such as a lens is disposed between the light source and the liquid crystal display element, then the light can be condensed to correspond to the display area, but the shape of the backlight unit extends rearward the liquid crystal display element, decreasing the degree of freedom in designing a mounting device
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective part changes the optical path direction by reflecting light at an angle, effectively utilizing spatial dimension to redirect light without extending the backlight unit rearward. This allows light condensation to be achieved while maintaining a compact form factor that does not constrain mounting design freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective part acts as an intermediary optical element between the light source and the liquid crystal display element. Instead of using a lens that extends the optical path linearly, the reflective part mediates light redirection, enabling compact light condensation while preserving design flexibility for mounting configurations.
2Device complexity
If the optical path is aligned directly from light source to liquid crystal display element, then the structure is simple, but the backlight unit must extend rearward to accommodate optical elements, limiting mounting flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing the reflective part at an inclination angle, the optical path is redirected in a different spatial dimension. This allows the backlight unit to maintain a compact footprint without rearward extension, preserving mounting design freedom while achieving proper light alignment to the display element.
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
This configuration enhances the design freedom for mounting the backlight unit, allowing for a more compact and flexible integration with liquid crystal display elements while maintaining effective illumination and image projection.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective part having a reflective surface for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the liquid crystal display element
Implementation Method 2
a condensing means for condensing the light emitted from the light source to correspond to a display area of the liquid crystal display element
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are: a backlight unit that is capable of increasing the degree of freedom in design of a device on which the backlight unit is mounted; and a display device which is provided with this backlight unit. This backlight unit is provided with: a light source which emits light that illuminates a liquid crystal display element; a light collection means for focusing the light emitted from the light source on a display region (A) of the liquid crystal display element; and a reflective part which has a reflective surface that reflects the light emitted from the light source toward the liquid crystal display element. This backlight unit is configured such that the optical path for the light from the light source to the liquid crystal display element is replicated at the reflective part by having the reflective surface inclined to the optical axis (AX) of the light source.