Backlight Unit Reflecting Plate Light Path Conversion Sheet

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing display devices with glasses-free stereoscopic techniques face challenges in manufacturing due to high failure rates and design restrictions, particularly with the wedge-type light guide plate, which requires precise machining and results in significant optical loss and increased thickness.

Innovation Solution

A backlight unit comprising a light source, a light path conversion sheet, and a reflecting plate that directs light emitted from the light source in a perpendicular direction, eliminating the need for a light guide plate and allowing for efficient stereoscopic image display without the complexity of wedge-type light guide plate manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a wedge-type light guide plate with step patterns is used to achieve glasses-free stereoscopic display, then the optical directional function is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases and manufacturing failure rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical directional functionVSAvoidmachining precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the complex wedge-type light guide plate with step patterns from the system. Instead, it uses a simple flat light guide plate combined with a paralax barrier, separating the light guiding function from the stereoscopic effect generation function, thereby eliminating the need for precise step pattern machining.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by placing the paralax barrier at the light source side rather than requiring complex internal structures in the light guide plate. This reversal simplifies the light guide plate manufacturing while achieving the same optical directional function through the barrier's microlens array.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Illumination intensity

If a wedge-type light guide plate with reflective curved surface is used to extend light travel distance, then the stereoscopic effect is improved, but the device thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight travel distanceVSAvoiddevice thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the reflective curved surface from the light guide plate structure, extracting this function entirely. The flat light guide plate combined with paralax barrier achieves light extension without requiring the additional thickness needed for curved reflective surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the structural parameters of the light guide plate from wedge-shaped with curved surfaces to a flat plate configuration. This parameter change maintains the light guiding function while significantly reducing the device thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If wedge-type light guide plate with step patterns is manufactured, then optical directional control is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases due to high failure rate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical directional controlVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex step pattern structure from the light guide plate and replaces it with a simple flat plate. The optical directional control function is transferred to the paralax barrier, which can be manufactured more easily and with lower failure rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adopts a simpler, cheaper light guide plate structure that can be manufactured at lower cost with higher yield. The paralax barrier serves as the dedicated component for stereoscopic effect, allowing for more economical overall manufacturing.

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

4Productivity

If precise machining of step patterns is performed on light guide plate, then light extraction efficiency is improved, but manufacturing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight extraction efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the light extraction function from the light guide plate's internal step patterns and relocates it to the paralax barrier's microlens array. This separation eliminates the need for complex machining of the light guide plate while maintaining effective light extraction for stereoscopic display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical machining of step patterns with an optical solution using the paralax barrier's microlens array. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical manufacturing processes while achieving the desired light extraction and directional control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution enhances the profile and efficiency of display devices by reducing manufacturing costs, minimizing optical loss, and enabling lightweight, low-profile designs while maintaining high luminous efficiency and vivid color representation.

Implementation Method 1

a reflecting plate at an upper edge portion of the light path conversion sheet, the reflecting plate facing the light source and reflecting a light emitted from the light source toward the light path conversion sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a light path conversion sheet adjacent to the light source... the light path conversion sheet directs the light reflected from the reflecting plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to a light travel direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS10341645B2Backlight and image display device using the same
Publication Date: 2019.07.02 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • US10341645B2 patent drawing
  • US10341645B2 patent drawing
  • US10341645B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is an image display device having a display panel and a light source that may include a light path conversion sheet on the display panel; and a reflecting plate on the light path conversion sheet, the reflecting plate reflecting a light emitted from the light source, wherein the light path conversion sheet directs the light reflected from the reflecting plate toward the display panel.