Curved Light Guide Assembly for Homogeneous Vehicle Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital display apparatus for motor vehicles face challenges in demanding lighting conditions, and curved displays are not adequately addressed due to uncontrollable external lighting influences, which affects the illumination and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A digital display apparatus with a light source emitting light rays from its edge, a rigid light transporter to transmit these rays, and a flexible optical film with microstructures that extract and optimize light rays for a curved viewing area, integrated with an optically transparent adhesive to create a homogeneous illumination system suitable for large, curved displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a curved digital display is implemented in a motor vehicle, then aesthetic appeal and user experience are improved, but illumination homogeneity deteriorates due to uncontrollable external lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the light transporter and optical film to match the curved display geometry. The light transporter has a curved front surface, and the optical film is conformally coupled to this curved surface, enabling homogeneous light extraction across the entire curved display area while maintaining aesthetic appeal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements position-dependent microstructure characteristics on the optical film. The microstructures have varying densities, sizes, or depths at different locations to compensate for position-dependent illumination variations, achieving uniform brightness across the curved display surface despite external lighting conditions
2Illumination intensity
If conventional conical optics are used to extract light rays, then illumination is increased, but the solution is not suitable for curved displays in motor vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional conical optics with a curved optical film that conformally couples to the curved light transporter. This curved configuration enables effective light extraction specifically adapted for curved display geometries in motor vehicles, maintaining both illumination efficiency and curved display compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a thin flexible optical film with microstructures that can be conformally coupled to the curved surface of the light transporter. This flexible film approach enables adaptation to curved geometries while maintaining effective light extraction, making the solution suitable for curved displays in motor vehicles
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 enhances illumination homogeneity and optimizes light transmission in a large, curved digital display for motor vehicles, improving visibility under varying lighting conditions and addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible optical film operable to extract light rays transmitted through the rigid light transporter towards the viewing area
Implementation Method 2
a rigid light transporter operable to transmit emitted light rays from the light source towards a viewing area
Implementation Method 3
an optically transparent adhesive deposited between the rigid light transporter and the flexible optical film
Data Source
AI summary
A digital display apparatus and method of assembling the same is disclosed. The digital apparatus comprises a light source operable to emit light rays, and a rigid light transporter operable to transmit emitted light rays from the light source towards a viewing area. The digital display apparatus further comprises a flexible optical film operable to extract light rays transmitted through the rigid light transporter towards the viewing area, the flexible optical film further comprises at least one microstructure having a curvature, wherein the flexible optical film is adhered to a curved surface of the rigid light transporter, with a peak of the curvature of the at least one microstructure opposing the curved surface of the rigid light transporter.