Display Backlight Using Dual Reflective Surfaces for Uniform Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display apparatuses with backlight units face issues of non-uniform light distribution and increased manufacturing costs due to the need for numerous LEDs and additional light guide plates, leading to brightness differences across the screen and increased thickness.

Innovation Solution

The display apparatus incorporates a board with light sources disposed at one side, utilizing a first reflective surface for diffuse reflection and a second reflective surface, which is concave and regularly reflects light to ensure even light distribution across the display panel without a light guide plate, enhancing light efficiency and simplifying the structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If light sources are disposed at one side of the display panel, then device complexity is reduced, but illumination intensity becomes non-uniform across the display panel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidbrightness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

A light guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the edge-mounted light sources and the display panel. This plate transmits and distributes light from the edge sources across the entire panel surface, enabling uniform illumination while maintaining the simplified edge-mounted structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The light distribution problem is solved by transitioning from direct one-dimensional edge mounting to two-dimensional surface illumination through the light guide plate. The plate converts edge light sources into area light sources, achieving uniform brightness across the panel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If numerous light sources and light guide plates are used, then illumination intensity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness uniformityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple light sources are merged into a single edge-mounted light guide plate system. Instead of distributing numerous individual light sources across the panel, they are consolidated into one edge-mounted structure that distributes light uniformly across the entire panel surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a light transmission medium, a light distribution device, and a structural component. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Illumination intensity

If conventional backlight units with multiple components are used, then illumination intensity is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness uniformityVSAvoidassembly precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple components into fewer assembled units. The light guide plate combines light transmission and distribution functions, reducing the number of separate components that need to be precisely assembled and aligned during manufacturing.

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

This configuration achieves uniform brightness and reduces manufacturing costs by minimizing the number of light sources and eliminating the need for a light guide plate, while maintaining a slim profile and improving productivity.

Implementation Method 1

a bottom chassis disposed at the rear of the display panel and including a first reflective surface configured to diffusely reflect light emitted from the plurality of light sources toward the display panel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffuse reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a reflection member comprising a reflector disposed between the first reflective surface and the plurality of light sources and including a second reflective surface configured to regularly reflect the light emitted from the plurality of light sources toward the first reflective surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRegular reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3217214B1Display apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3217214B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3217214B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3217214B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The display apparatus reflects the light emitted from the light source to a display panel using a reflective member without a member such as a light guide plate. The reflective member is configured so that the light emitted from the light source can be provided uniformly and introduced uniformly to the display panel. Even if a board with the light source disposed at a side of the reflective member, the light emitted from the light source can be radiated substantially uniformly to the entire area of the display panel by the reflective surface of the reflective member.