Transparent Substrate Side Surface Conductive Layer for Display Wiring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices using polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) face challenges in managing light-emitting elements and their wiring, often requiring extensive housing for cables and wiring boards, which complicates design and increases complexity.
Innovation Solution
The display device configuration includes a transparent substrate with distinct areas and side surfaces, featuring a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer, light-emitting elements, and conductive layers on side surfaces to connect terminals and wiring boards without external cables, enhancing designability and reducing luminance loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light-emitting elements are arranged on both end sides of the light guide with wiring lines and cables drawn from both ends, then the display device can be illuminated effectively, but the housing becomes more complex and requires extensive space for accommodating wiring and cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the wiring connection from the horizontal plane (both ends of the light guide) to the vertical dimension (side surface of the transparent substrate). The conductive layer is formed on the side surface extending in the thickness direction, allowing electrical connection without extending wiring externally from both ends of the light guide.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the light guide function and the electrical connection function into a single integrated structure. The side surface of the transparent substrate serves both as a structural element and as a pathway for the conductive layer, eliminating the need for separate external wiring housings.
2Power
If wiring lines and cables are drawn from both end sides of the light guide, then power can be supplied to light-emitting elements, but the design flexibility is reduced and luminance loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the wiring arrangement from a two-end horizontal configuration to a side-surface vertical configuration. This dimensional change allows for more flexible design arrangements and reduces luminance loss by providing a more direct optical path from the light-emitting elements to the light guide.
3Reliability
If extensive housing is used to accommodate wiring and cables from both ends of the light guide, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but the overall device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the housing structure with the transparent substrate by forming the conductive layer directly on the side surface of the substrate. This integration eliminates the need for separate extensive housing to accommodate wiring, reducing the overall device volume while maintaining reliable electrical connection.
4Power
If wiring lines are drawn from both ends of the light guide, then light-emitting elements can be powered, but luminance loss occurs and designability is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wiring configuration from horizontal (both ends of light guide) to vertical (side surface in thickness direction). This dimensional reconfiguration reduces luminance loss by minimizing the optical path disruption and providing a more efficient light transmission path from the light-emitting elements through the transparent substrate.
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 allows for improved design flexibility and reduced luminance loss by eliminating the need for external wiring housings and effectively managing light within the display panel, enhancing overall display quality.
Implementation Method 1
various display devices using a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (hereinafter referred to also as PDLC) capable of switching between a diffusion state of diffusing incident light and a transmission state of transmitting incident light
Implementation Method 2
a first conductive layer arranged on the first side surface, and electrically connected to the first terminal and the second terminal
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first transparent substrate having a first side surface extending over a first area, a second area and a third area, a second transparent substrate opposed to the first transparent substrate in the third area, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer, a first wiring board mounted with a first light-emitting element in the first area, a second wiring board mounted with a second light-emitting element in the second area, a first terminal connected to a power supply in the first area, a second terminal connected to the second wiring board in the second area, and a first conductive layer arranged on the first side surface and connected to the first terminal and the second terminal.