Bendable Light Guide With Microstructures For Uniform Luminance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional light emitting devices using LEDs face challenges in achieving luminance uniformity, leading to glare and design restrictions due to their spot light characteristics and inflexibility, which are not suitable for modern, compact vehicular shapes.

Innovation Solution

A bendable light emitting device with a light guide layer featuring microstructures of different shapes to enhance lighting uniformity, including a printed circuit board, reflection layer, light guide layer, and microstructures that break total reflection and diffuse light, increasing the light's exiting angle and strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional backlight modules are used with rectangular and flat light sources, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the design flexibility is restricted and the overall size becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the light guide layer bendable rather than rigid. The light guide layer is designed with flexible materials and structures that allow it to conform to curved surfaces and various shapes, enabling the backlight module to adapt to different vehicle design requirements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If LEDs are used as light sources, then energy efficiency is improved, but luminance uniformity deteriorates due to spot light characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidluminance uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a light guide layer as a mediator between the LED light source and the display surface. This light guide layer receives the spot light from LEDs and redistributes it uniformly across the display area through its internal structure and light guiding properties, thereby maintaining energy efficiency while achieving luminance uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the local quality principle by designing the light guide layer with varying optical properties at different locations. The light guide layer has different refractive indices, thicknesses, or microstructures at different areas to optimize light distribution locally, ensuring uniform luminance output while preserving the energy-efficient LED light sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional rigid light guide layers are used, then manufacturing precision is easier to control, but adaptability to curved surfaces and various shapes is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to shapesVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the flexible shells and thin films principle by designing the light guide layer as a flexible component that can bend and conform to curved surfaces. The light guide layer is made from flexible materials with appropriate mechanical properties, allowing it to adapt to various shapes and vehicle designs while maintaining sufficient manufacturing precision through controlled flexibility and support structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 achieves improved luminance uniformity and visual comfort by directing light more effectively, accommodating various vehicle designs while adhering to regulatory standards.

Implementation Method 1

the plurality of microstructures within the light emitting device is arranged in such a way to achieve luminance uniformity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

A bendable light emitting device with a light guide layer featuring microstructures of different shapes to enhance lighting uniformity, including a printed circuit board, reflection layer, light guide layer, and microstructures that break total reflection and diffuse light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Scattering

Data Source

PatentEP3343100B1Light emitting devices
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 EXCELLENCE OPTO INC
  • EP3343100B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3343100B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3343100B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

The present invention discloses a light emitting device (10). The device may include a printed circuit board (11), a reflective layer (13) formed on the printed circuit board, a light guide layer (14) formed on the reflective layer, and one or more light sources (12) provided on one or more sides of the light guide layer to allow light to enter the light guide layer from the one or more sides, wherein the light guide layer may be bent with one or more curves, and wherein one surface of the light guide layer may be formed with a plurality of microstructures (141).