Edge Backlight Light-Guiding Bars for Uniform Ambient Light Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing edge-type backlight modules using optical fibers for ambient light collection have limited emitting angles, resulting in brightness differences and increased manufacturing complexity and cost when trying to reduce gaps between light emitting ends, which affects the optical performance and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves dividing optical fibers into two groups and using two light guiding bars made of PMMA with a reflective layer and strategically arranged dots on the lateral sides to enhance light distribution, reducing the width and length of the light guiding bar, and optimizing the optical path for uniform light emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If more optical fibers are arranged to reduce gaps between light emitting ends, then brightness uniformity is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical fibers into two groups and introduces two light guiding bars to separately guide light from each group. This segmentation allows the system to achieve uniform brightness distribution without needing to densely pack all optical fibers, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining illumination uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guiding bars act as intermediary components between the optical fibers and the light guiding plate. These bars collect light from multiple optical fibers and redistribute it uniformly across their emitting surfaces, which then contact the light guiding plate. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for direct dense arrangement of optical fibers, reducing manufacturing difficulty while achieving brightness uniformity.
2Ease of manufacture
If optical fibers are arranged with larger gaps, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but brightness difference on light incident surface becomes obvious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional arrangement of optical fibers directly on the light guiding plate to a two-dimensional structure involving light guiding bars that extend perpendicular to the plate. This dimensional change allows light to be distributed uniformly across the emitting surfaces of the bars, which then contact the plate, achieving brightness uniformity without requiring dense fiber spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guiding bars serve as intermediary structures that receive light from optical fibers with larger gaps and redistribute it uniformly. The bars' emitting surfaces contact the light guiding plate, ensuring even light distribution without requiring the optical fibers themselves to be densely spaced, thus simplifying manufacturing.
3Illumination intensity
If the emitting angle of light emitting ends is small, then light can be focused, but the coverage area on the light incident surface is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces reflective layers on the light guiding bars that dynamically redirect light paths. The reflective layers bounce light that would otherwise escape at narrow angles back onto the emitting surfaces, effectively increasing the coverage area without changing the inherent narrow emitting angle of the optical fibers. This dynamic light management expands coverage while maintaining focus capability.
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 reduces the dimension and weight of the backlight module while improving optical performance by ensuring uniform light radiation to the light guiding plate, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency and reducing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
an ambient light collection system facing toward ambient light to absorb the ambient light and to generate absorbed light
Implementation Method 2
the light incident ends of the optical fibers are arranged close to the ambient light collection system, and the lights entered from the light incident ends are propagated toward the light emitting ends
Implementation Method 3
a reflective layer is arranged on the first lateral side, the second lateral side, the bottom, and the top
Data Source
AI summary
A light guiding system, an edge type backlight module and a liquid crystal display are disclosed. The light guiding system includes an ambient light collection system facing toward ambient light to absorb the ambient light and to generate absorbed light, a plurality of light guiding devices, and at least a first and a second light guiding bar. Each of the light guiding devices includes a light emitting end and a light incident end. The light incident ends of the optical fibers are arranged close to the ambient light collection system, and the lights entered from the light incident ends are propagated toward the light emitting ends. Each of the light guiding bars includes a light emitting surface, a light incident surface connected to the light emitting surface, and a first lateral side opposite to the light incident surface.