Curved Reflective Pattern for Light Guide Diffraction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing reflective patterns in light guide plates suffer from diffraction issues, leading to degradation in optical performance and unintended light emission due to molding sag, which affects the display quality of characters, figures, and images.
Innovation Solution
An optical structure with a first flat surface and a second surface in a curved shape corresponding to a cylinder side surface is used, reducing diffraction and preventing molding sag by smoothing the resin flow during injection molding, thereby improving optical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a triangular prism-shaped reflective pattern with constant length is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but diffraction causes light to spread and degrades optical performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by transitioning from a triangular prism shape with straight edges to a shape with curved surfaces. The reflective pattern incorporates curved surfaces that reduce diffraction effects while maintaining manufacturing feasibility. This curvature principle directly addresses the diffraction problem caused by sharp edges while preserving ease of manufacture through mold-based production.
2Device complexity
If the pattern depth of the reflective pattern is reduced, then the structure becomes simpler, but diffraction becomes more remarkable and degrades optical performance
Solution Approach 1:
The curved surface design allows the reflective pattern to maintain effectiveness at reduced depths. The curvature concentrates and directs light more efficiently than flat surfaces, compensating for the reduced pattern depth and preventing excessive diffraction while keeping the structure simple.
3Ease of manufacture
If a conventional reflective pattern is used, then light emission function is achieved, but molding sag occurs and causes unintended light emission
Solution Approach 1:
The curved surfaces in the reflective pattern prevent molding sag by distributing resin pressure more evenly during injection molding. The curved geometry eliminates sharp corners where sagging typically occurs, ensuring that the reflective pattern maintains its intended shape and prevents unintended light emission while remaining easy to manufacture.
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 reduces diffraction effects and prevents noise light emission, enhancing the optical performance and display quality by relaxing light discreteness and preventing molding sag, resulting in improved directivity and image clarity.
Implementation Method 1
light emitted from a light source is entered from the side surface of a light guide plate and reflected by a reflective pattern provided on the back-surface side of the light guide plate
Implementation Method 2
the reflective pattern 130 also acts like a slit for light to diffract the light. Hence, the light reflected by the reflective surface 131 of the reflective pattern 130 is spread due to diffraction
Data Source
AI summary
An optical structure, a light guide, and a display device can reduce an influence of diffraction and improve optical performance more than conventionally possible. A reflective pattern (10A) is an optical structure that changes a traveling direction of light and emits the light, the optical structure including: a reflective surface (20) formed of a flat surface and configured to change a traveling direction of light; and a both-end curved surface (30) formed adjacent to the reflective surface (20) and having a surface in a curved shape corresponding to a side surface of a cylinder.