Collimator Geometry for Backlight Light Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In display devices, collimators with irregularly shaped light-emergent surfaces suffer from low utilization ratios due to idle areas that do not achieve collimation, leading to incomplete light control and reduced privacy protection.
Innovation Solution
A light source assembly with a collimator designed to have a specific geometry where the first included angle is less than the second included angle, ensuring a greater amount of light is incident on per unit area, and featuring symmetry axes and surface configurations that optimize light collimation across the collimator's surface, including curved and planar surfaces for efficient light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the collimator is designed with a regular polygonal or orbicular shape to cover the light-emergent surface, then the collimation effect is improved, but idle areas exist on the collimator surface that do not achieve collimation, reducing the utilization ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designing the collimator with an irregular shape that precisely matches the light-emergent surface of the light source. Instead of using traditional regular polygonal or orbicular shapes, the collimator's orthographic projection is configured to have fewer symmetry axes (less than 3) to eliminate idle areas and achieve complete coverage of the light-emergent surface, thereby improving utilization ratio while maintaining collimation effect.
2Reliability
If the collimator surface is increased in area to cover the entire light-emergent surface, then the collimation coverage is improved, but the amount of light incident on per unit area decreases, reducing collimation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring the collimator surface with different geometric characteristics in different regions. The collimator includes curved surfaces and planar surfaces with specific inclinations, where each surface is designed to receive light at optimal angles. This ensures that light incident on per unit area remains high across the entire surface while achieving complete coverage of the light-emergent surface.
3Productivity
If the collimator is designed with complex geometry to eliminate idle areas, then the utilization ratio is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by designing the collimator with a combination of curved surfaces and planar surfaces. The curved surfaces are configured with specific radii of curvature to match the light-emergent surface geometry, while planar surfaces provide flat reflection/ refraction interfaces. This geometric configuration eliminates idle areas and improves utilization ratio while maintaining manufacturability through standardized curved and flat surface fabrication techniques.
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 design enhances the overall utilization ratio of the collimator, ensuring uniform light collimation and improved privacy protection by minimizing idle regions, thereby increasing the display device's brightness and efficiency while maintaining directional light emission.
Implementation Method 1
The collimator can collimate the light emitted from the light source, that is, the collimator can change the light emitted from the light source to be in a direction perpendicular to the light-emergent surface
Data Source
AI summary
A light source assembly, a backlight module, and a display device are provided in the field of display technology. The light source assembly includes a light source and a collimator. The collimator is arranged on a side of the light source where a light-emergent surface is located. When light emitted from the light source is incident on a preset surface of the collimator, a first included angle is formed between the light and the light-emergent surface. When the light is emitted out of the preset surface, a second included angle is formed between the light and the light-emergent surface. The first included angle is less than the second included angle, and the amount of light incident on per unit area of the preset surface is greater than a preset light amount threshold.