Demarcating Member Structure for Surface Light Source Luminance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surface light sources experience luminance unevenness due to thermal contraction of demarcating members and cover members, leading to shape changes and potential peeling, which current countermeasures insufficiently address.

Innovation Solution

A demarcating member and structure body design featuring a substrate with recessed demarcating portions and overlapping members, where the second member is bonded to the substrate, reducing thermal contraction by aligning inclined portions and bottom surfaces to maintain even luminance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If demarcating members and cover members are used in surface light sources, then luminance distribution can be controlled, but thermal contraction causes shape changes and peeling leading to luminance unevenness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveluminance distributionVSAvoiddimensional stability under thermal conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The demarcating member is divided into multiple inclined portions (first, second, third, fourth inclined portions) that can independently respond to thermal contraction, allowing each segment to maintain its function while accommodating dimensional changes without causing peeling or luminance unevenness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the demarcating member have different configurations - some inclined portions overlap with light sources while others do not, and bottom portions have varying continuity characteristics. This local differentiation allows optimal light control in each region while managing thermal effects differently across the structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If multiple demarcating members are disposed on a single substrate, then large outer shape surface light sources can be constructed, but luminance unevenness occurs at adjacent demarcating member regions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface light source sizeVSAvoidluminance uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The second member acts as an intermediary element disposed between adjacent first members. This intermediate structure provides a transition zone that prevents direct interaction between adjacent demarcating members, thereby eliminating luminance unevenness at boundaries while allowing the overall structure to maintain large area coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple demarcating members (first members and second members) into an integrated structure where they work together rather than as separate units. The overlapping and adjacent portions are designed to function as a unified system, eliminating the luminance unevenness that would occur at interfaces between separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design effectively reduces luminance unevenness and deformation caused by thermal contraction, ensuring consistent light reflection and distribution in surface light sources.

Implementation Method 1

when the cover member or the demarcating members contract with heat generated when the light sources are driven or the like

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Implementation Method 2

a surface light source including light sources arranged on a substrate in row and column directions and a demarcating member including inclined portions surrounding each light source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11650457B2Demarcating member, demarcating structure body, surface light source, and liquid-crystal display device

Publication Date: 2023.05.16 NICHIA CORP

AI summary

A surface light source includes a plurality of light sources, a substrate, a first member disposed on the substrate and including a plurality of recessed first demarcating portions each including a first inclined portion and a first bottom portion and one or more recessed second demarcating portions each including a second inclined portion and a first opening, and a second member overlying a portion of the first member and including a third inclined portion overlapping with the second inclined portion, a fourth inclined portion adjacent to the third inclined portion and not overlapping with the second inclined portion, a second bottom portion located inside the first opening, and a third bottom portion continuous with a lower end of the fourth inclined portion, and the plurality of light sources being respectively disposed on the substrate exposed in the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and the third bottom portion.