Display Apparatus With V-Shaped Backlight For Seamless Image
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Solution Overview
Problem
In slot machines and similar game machines, the combination of front and rear display units results in a disconnected image due to lack of backlighting through the opening for the rear rotational reel display unit, leading to a restrictive and coarse screen display, especially when the game is not being played.
Innovation Solution
A display apparatus with a front display unit featuring a light guide plate with a projection window and a V-shaped rear backlight unit, allowing the rear display unit to be viewed through the front unit without cutting the light guide plate, and an optical shutter for controlling visibility, enabling seamless image display on the entire screen and indicating game status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an opening is formed on the light guide plate for the rear rotational reel display unit, then the rear display unit can be viewed through the front display unit, but light is not emitted through the opening causing disconnection of the front display image
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is segmented into a pattern region and a non-pattern region. The non-pattern region corresponds to the projection window area and allows light to pass through to illuminate the rear display unit, while the pattern region maintains normal light guiding function. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing dedicated regions for different functions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light guide plate are assigned different optical properties. The non-pattern region has high light transmittance to illuminate the rear display through the projection window, while the pattern region has standard light guiding properties. This local differentiation allows the front display image to remain continuous while enabling rear display visibility.
2Illumination intensity
If a separate lighting lamp is used to illuminate the rotational reel display unit, then the rear display can be viewed, but the display apparatus provides a coarse appearance when the lighting lamp is turned off
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination function for the rear display is merged into the front backlight unit's light guide plate structure. The non-pattern region of the light guide plate serves dual purposes: guiding light for the front display and transmitting light to illuminate the rear display through the projection window. This eliminates the need for a separate lighting lamp and maintains a unified appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the light guiding component for the front display and as the illumination source for the rear display through its non-pattern region. This universal component replaces the need for separate lighting systems and maintains aesthetic appearance regardless of game state.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the light guide plate is cut to form a projection window, then the rear display unit is visible, but the manufacturing process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The projection window region is pre-defined in the light guide plate design as a non-pattern region during the manufacturing process. Instead of cutting the light guide plate after production, the projection window area is intentionally left without light-guiding patterns during manufacturing, simplifying the process while achieving the desired functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate design allows for flexible configuration of the projection window region without requiring physical cutting. The non-pattern region can be dynamically adjusted in size and position according to different display requirements, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while providing adaptability.
4Illumination intensity
If the front backlight unit and rear backlight unit operate simultaneously, then both displays are illuminated, but light interference occurs on the projection window
Solution Approach 1:
The front backlight unit and rear backlight unit are controlled to operate periodically or alternately rather than simultaneously. When the rear display needs to be viewed through the projection window, the front backlight is dimmed or turned off, and when the front display is the focus, the rear backlight is dimmed or turned off. This periodic operation eliminates light interference while maintaining overall illumination quality.
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 allows for high-quality, uninterrupted display of game-related images on the entire front screen, improving brightness and reducing light interference, and can indicate whether a game is being played by controlling the rear display's visibility, applicable to both 2D and 3D image displays.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective sheet 39 placed on a backside of the first light guide plate 36 to reflect light
Implementation Method 2
a second light guide plate 42 disposed at a place corresponding to the projection window 16 behind the front backlight unit 30 and bent in a V-shape
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a display apparatus comprising front display unit (10), and rear display unit (50) arranged behind the front display unit (10). The front display unit (10) comprise: a display panel (20); a front backlight (30) arranged behind the display panel (20) and including a first light guide plate (36) having a projection window (16) through which an image on the rear display unit (50) is visible, a first light source (38) arranged along the circumference of the first light guide plate (36), and a reflection sheet (39) arranged at the rear surface of the first light guide plate (36) to reflect light and having an image hole (18) formed at the region thereof that corresponds to the projection window (16); and a rear backlight (40) arranged behind the front backlight (30) and including a second light guide plate (42) and second light sources (44), wherein the second light guide plate (42) corresponds to the projection window (16) and is bent into a V-shape, and has a first light guide surface (42a) inclined upwardly as it extends toward the rear thereof, and a second light guide surface (42b) inclined downwardly as it extends from an end of the first light guide surface (42a) toward the rear thereof, and wherein the second light sources (44) are arranged at an upper end and a lower end of the second light guide plate (42), respectively, to illuminate the first light guide surface (42a) and the second light guide surface (42b), respectively. The rear display unit and the front display unit cooperate with one another to display a combined image. The entire screen of the front display unit is capable of displaying a clear image without any disconnection of the image.