See-Through Display Light Guides for Peripheral Shadow Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices suffer from unintended shadows appearing in peripheral regions when viewed at oblique angles, causing discomfort due to visibility of the background on the opposite surface side.
Innovation Solution
A display device design incorporating a light source along the side surfaces of the substrates and light emitters arranged to overlap peripheral regions, utilizing a field-sequential system to emit light in a time-division manner, combined with polymer-dispersed liquid crystals to control scattering and visibility of images and background.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the peripheral region outside the display region is made see-through to allow background visibility, then the background can be seen from the one surface side, but an unintended shadow starts from the peripheral region when the display panel is seen in an oblique direction
Solution Approach 1:
The display panel is divided into an active region for image display and a peripheral region for background visibility. The light source is segmented into multiple emitters arranged along the side surfaces, with at least one emitter positioned in each peripheral region to provide localized illumination that prevents shadow formation while maintaining background visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the light emitters and the display panel. The light guide extends along the side surfaces of the first and second light-transmitting substrates and transfers light from the emitters to the peripheral regions, enabling controlled light distribution that eliminates shadows without compromising the see-through function.
2Manufacturing precision
If light emitters are arranged only in the active region, then image display is optimized, but shadows appear in the peripheral region when viewed obliquely
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the display panel are assigned different functions: the active region maintains its primary image display function with optimized emitter arrangement, while the peripheral region is equipped with additional light emitters specifically positioned to illuminate the side surfaces and prevent shadow formation in oblique viewing conditions.
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 effectively reduces shadows and enhances transmittance by controlling light scattering, allowing clear image display overlapped with the background, improving visibility and reducing absorption losses.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide provided along the side surface of the first light-transmitting substrate, the side surface of the second light-transmitting substrate, or the side surface of the glass base member and extending in a first direction
Implementation Method 2
a liquid crystal layer including polymer-dispersed liquid crystals filled between the first and the second light-transmitting substrates
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, a display device includes: a display panel that includes a first light-transmitting substrate, a second light-transmitting substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second light-transmitting substrates, and has an active region capable of displaying images and peripheral regions outside the active region; a glass base member bonded to the display panel; and a light source disposed so that light enters a side surface of the first light-transmitting substrate, a side surface of the second light-transmitting substrate, or a side surface of the glass base member. The light source includes a light guide and light emitters. At least one of the light emitters is disposed in each of first regions that overlap regions obtained by extending the peripheral regions located on opposite sides of the active region.