Display Panel Beam Splitter Polarization Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In liquid crystal display systems, at least half of the light energy is lost as polarized light that cannot be modulated by the liquid crystal grating, leading to inefficiencies, especially in applications requiring high light efficiency such as transparent displays.

Innovation Solution

A display panel design that includes a beam splitting member and a modulating member between a light extracting member and a liquid crystal layer, where the beam splitting member splits light into linearly polarized lights with perpendicular polarization directions, and the modulating member, comprising reflective polarizers and pixel electrodes, ensures that all polarized light is utilized for display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a conventional liquid crystal display system uses a single liquid crystal grating, then the structure is simple, but at least half of the light energy is lost because only one kind of polarized light can be modulated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight energy lossVSAvoiddisplay system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the beam path into two separate channels using a beam splitting member. Each channel contains a liquid crystal grating that modulates one type of polarized light. This segmentation allows both polarized light components to be utilized for display, eliminating the 50% light energy loss inherent in single-grating systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a beam splitting member as an intermediary component between the light source and the liquid crystal gratings. This mediator separates the incoming light into two polarized light beams, directing each to a dedicated liquid crystal grating, thereby enabling full utilization of the backlight energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If transparent display applications require high light efficiency, then light extraction must be maximized, but conventional systems lose half the light energy to unmodulated polarized light

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight efficiencyVSAvoidlight extraction structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light extraction structure is segmented into two independent extraction paths, each optimized for a specific polarized light component. This allows each path to maximize light extraction efficiency for its designated polarization, ensuring that all extracted light contributes to the display image rather than being wasted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The display system achieves multi-functionality by simultaneously handling two types of polarized light through separate liquid crystal gratings. This universal approach allows the system to process all incoming light energy regardless of polarization state, dramatically improving overall light efficiency for transparent display applications.

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

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 design significantly improves light efficiency by allowing all polarized light from the backlight to be used for display, enhancing the performance of liquid crystal displays, particularly in applications requiring high light efficiency like transparent displays.

Implementation Method 1

a beam splitting member disposed between a light extracting member and a liquid crystal layer, for splitting the light extracted from the light extracting member into linearly polarized lights with polarization directions perpendicular to each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarisation: Polarisation

Implementation Method 2

the first reflective polarizer transmits the first linearly polarized light and reflects the second linearly polarized light; and the second reflective polarizer reflects the first linearly polarized light and transmits the second linearly polarized light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3859440B1Display panel and display device
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3859440B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3859440B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3859440B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a display panel and a display device. The display panel includes: a beam splitting member disposed between a light extracting member and a liquid crystal layer, for splitting the light extracted from the light extracting member into linearly polarized lights with polarization directions perpendicular to each other; and a modulating member disposed on a side of the beam splitting member away from the light extracting member, for modulating the linearly polarized light that is incident from the beam splitting member into the liquid crystal layer.