Elastic Body Retention for Thin Light Guide Boards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backlight modules face challenges in securely retaining thin and thermally expanding light guide boards, leading to mechanical weakness, increased manufacturing costs, and non-uniform light distribution due to the need for slots or projections, which can cause deformation and optical issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating elastic bodies made of silicone rubber between the backplane's side plates and the light guide board, which form curved or spherical contact surfaces to securely retain the board without additional structural modifications, providing a buffering space for thermal expansion and absorbing external impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rivet pegs or bending structures are used to retain the light guide board, then the light guide board can be positioned and retained, but the mechanical strength of the light guide board is reduced and breaking may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an elastic body as an intermediary component between the backplane and the light guide board. This elastic body retains the light guide board without requiring direct mechanical engagement structures (such as rivet pegs or bending structures) on the light guide board itself, thereby avoiding stress concentration and potential breaking points while maintaining reliable retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an elastic body (flexible component) to retain the light guide board. This flexible retention mechanism adapts to the light guide board without requiring rigid structural modifications, maintaining the integrity and mechanical strength of the light guide board while providing secure positioning.
2Reliability
If slots or projections are formed on the light guide board for engagement, then the light guide board can be retained, but the manufacture cost is increased and the light guide board becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the retention function from the light guide board itself and relocates it to a separate elastic body component. This means the light guide board no longer needs slots or projections, simplifying its structure and reducing manufacturing complexity, while the elastic body provides the retention functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing the elastic body as a mediator component, the patent separates the retention function from the light guide board structure. This intermediary component handles all engagement requirements, allowing the light guide board to remain structurally simple and easy to manufacture.
3Temperature
If gaps are kept for thermal expansion, then the light guide board can accommodate expansion and contraction, but the light guide board may move easily leading to abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an elastic body to retain the light guide board, creating a dynamic retention system that can adapt to thermal expansion and contraction. The elastic nature of the retention component allows for controlled movement and compression, accommodating dimensional changes while maintaining stable positioning and preventing excessive movement that would cause abrasion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the retention mechanism from a rigid fixed-position system to a flexible system with variable compression parameters. The elastic body can compress and expand based on thermal changes, allowing the light guide board to accommodate temperature-induced dimensional changes while maintaining stable positioning through controlled elastic deformation.
4Length of moving object
If the light guide board is made thinner to reduce device size, then the LCD can be thinned, but the thermal expansion characteristics become more prominent causing positioning problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic body to retain the thin light guide board, providing a flexible retention mechanism that compensates for the prominent thermal expansion characteristics of thinner boards. The elastic component absorbs dimensional changes without requiring complex positioning structures, making it ideal for thinning applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the retention approach from rigid positional constraints to flexible elastic compression, allowing the thin light guide board to accommodate thermal expansion parameters. This parameter change in the retention mechanism enables the use of thinner light guide boards without suffering from exacerbated thermal expansion problems.
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 solution enhances the mechanical strength of the light guide board, reduces manufacturing costs, ensures uniform light distribution, and protects against deformation, thereby improving the overall quality and reliability of the backlight module.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elastic bodies (6) respectively received and retained in the retention channels (242) to be in contact engagement with the corresponding side surfaces (46) of the light guide board (4)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a backlight module, which includes a backplane, a light guide board arranged inside the backplane, and a plurality of elastic bodies arranged between the backplane and the light guide board. The backplane includes a bottom plate and a plurality of side plates perpendicularly mounted to a perimeter of the bottom plate. The light guide board includes a bottom surface facing the bottom plate, a top surface distant from the bottom plate, and a plurality of side surfaces connecting between the bottom surface and the top surface. The elastic bodies are respectively mounted to three of the side plates of the backplane and are set abutting against three of the side surfaces of the light guide board. The elastic bodies form contact surfaces that engage the side surfaces of the light guide board and are curved surfaces or spherical surfaces.