Backlit Display Panel Structure for Compact Industrial Symbols
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional industrial electronic apparatuses face challenges in reducing the size of display portions while maintaining visibility, as existing configurations either increase the size for visibility or reduce it at the cost of visibility when the light source is turned on or off, and are prone to staining or peeling under severe environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a printed light shielding layer on the back face of a transparent display panel, with a light diffusing layer filling the window, allowing the front face to remain exposed, and using a plurality of unit light sources associated with design symbols, particularly in a programmable logic controller (PLC) to reduce display size while enhancing visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the former configuration (light emitting portion adjacent to design symbol) is adopted, then the visibility of design symbol is secured in both light on and light off states, but the size of display portion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The design symbol and light emitting portion are merged into a single integrated structure. The light emitting portion is formed by a light-transmissive resin that is directly printed or molded together with the design symbol, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall display size while maintaining visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The light emitting portion uses a composite structure combining a light-transmissive resin material with integrated design symbols. This composite approach allows the design symbol to be inherently part of the light-emitting structure, achieving both size reduction and maintained visibility through material integration rather than assembly of separate parts.
2Area of stationary object
If the latter configuration (design symbol directly on light emitting portion) is adopted, then the size of display portion is reduced, but the visibility of design symbol decreases when light source is turned on
Solution Approach 1:
The light-transmissive resin is formulated with specific local optical properties that allow it to emit light while maintaining design symbol visibility. The resin's light-transmissive characteristics are optimized locally at the design symbol areas to ensure contrast and readability even when illuminated, solving the visibility issue while keeping the compact integrated structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If design symbol is provided by silk printing on front face of display panel, then the design symbol can be formed, but the design symbol is stained or peeled off over long time use under severe environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The design symbol and light emitting portion are merged into a single integrated structure where the design symbol is formed as part of the light-transmissive resin itself through printing or molding. This integration eliminates the interface between separate layers that would otherwise allow peeling, and protects the design symbol from environmental damage by embedding it within the resilient resin matrix.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-transmissive resin acts as a flexible, protective matrix that encapsulates and protects the design symbol from environmental factors. This resin film provides mechanical protection against peeling and chemical resistance against staining, while maintaining the printed or molded design symbol formation capability.
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 allows for a reduced display size while maintaining high visibility, preventing staining and peeling, and ensuring visibility is maintained regardless of the light source's state, thus addressing the limitations of previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
a light diffusing layer, allowing the front face to remain exposed
Data Source
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AI summary
An industrial electronic apparatus includes a display panel (50) that includes a design portion (55B) including a character or a graphic, and a light source (31) that is provided behind the display panel (50), and can be turned on and off. The display panel (50) includes: a transparent plate (51) having a back face (51b) located on the light source (31) side and a front face (51a) located on a side opposite to the light source (31) side; a light shielding portion (53) that is located on the back face (51b) side of the transparent plate (51), covers a portion, of the back face (51b) of the transparent plate (51), that does not correspond to the design portion (55B), and includes a window (53a) that is formed at a portion, of the back face (51b) of the transparent plate (51), that corresponds to the design portion (55B), and a light diffusing portion (54) that is located on the back face (51b) side of the transparent plate (51), and covers a portion, of the back face (51b) of the transparent plate (51), that corresponds to the design portion (55B).