3D Display Illuminator with Circular-Arc Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional display apparatuses using edge-light type backlights for three-dimensional image display suffer from low image resolution and manufacturing complexity due to the need for precise alignment of lenticular lenses or parallax barriers with pixel pitches, limiting the ability to display high-quality images.
Innovation Solution
An illuminator with a light guide plate featuring circular-arcing slanted surfaces and strategically positioned light emitting elements that change the direction of light to achieve strong directivity in specific directions, allowing for separate image perception from the left and right sides, and a display apparatus using this illuminator to display high-resolution three-dimensional images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lenticular lenses or parallax barriers are used to display three-dimensional images, then image directivity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to precise alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lenticular lens or parallax barrier components from the display system. Instead of using these separate optical elements that require precise alignment, the invention integrates the light-directing function directly into the backlight unit through the light guide plate with specific surface structures, thereby eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures while maintaining image directivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the light guiding function and the light direction control function into a single integrated component - the light guide plate. By forming specific surface structures (such as prisms or gratings) directly on the light guide plate, the invention merges what were previously separate functions performed by different components, simplifying the overall structure and manufacturing process
2Reliability
If lenticular lenses or parallax barriers are used to display three-dimensional images, then image directivity is improved, but image resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the lenticular lens or parallax barrier components, the patent eliminates the resolution degradation caused by these elements. The direct integration of light direction control into the backlight unit avoids the optical losses and resolution reduction that occur when light passes through multiple interfaces and components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-structures the light guide plate with specific surface geometries (prisms, gratings, or other optical features) during the backlight manufacturing process. This preliminary structuring of light paths ensures that light is directed correctly from the source to the display panel without requiring additional optical components, thereby maintaining high image resolution while achieving the necessary directivity
3Manufacturing precision
If precise alignment of lenticular lenses or parallax barriers with pixel pitches is required, then image quality is improved, but manufacturing ease deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light guiding and light direction functions into a single integrated light guide plate with pre-formed surface structures. This integration eliminates the need for separate alignment procedures between different components, as the directional control is built into the backlight unit itself, thereby maintaining image quality while dramatically improving manufacturing ease
Solution Approach 2:
By removing the separate lenticular lens or parallax barrier components that require precise alignment with pixel pitches, the patent eliminates the complex alignment procedures entirely. The light direction control is achieved through the integrated light guide plate structure, which does not require post-assembly alignment, thus maintaining image quality while simplifying manufacturing
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 enables the display of high-resolution, high-quality three-dimensional images with improved manufacturing simplicity by directing light with strong directivity towards the left and right eyes, enhancing image perception and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of circular-arcing slanted surfaces, provided on either the opposite surface or the light exit surface, and forming circular-arcs concentric with a semicircle having its center at substantially a center of a length of an edge of the light entrance end surface intersecting with the light exit surface, for emitting, from the light exit surface, lights entering from at least two positions on the light entrance end surface, which positions are apart from the center of the light entrance end surface by a predetermined distance on both sides of the center, by changing advancing directions of the lights to directions inclined with respect to a vertical reference plane at respective angles corresponding to the distance from the center
Data Source
AI summary
A display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel and an illuminator disposed at the back of the panel for emitting at least two illumination lights having directivities in different directions toward the panel. The illuminator includes a light guide plate made of transparent material whose one end surface serves as a light entrance end surface, whose one plate surface serves as a light exit surface, and whose other plate surface serves as a light direction changing surface for changing the advancing direction of light entering from the light entrance end surface. The light direction changing surface has a plurality of circular-arcing slanted surfaces shaped into semicircles formed on concentric circles centered at the center of the longer dimension of the light entrance end surface. Light emitting elements are disposed on the light entrance end surface at two positions on left and right sides of the center equidistantly apart therefrom.