Electro-Optic Device Resin Spacer for Viewing Range Consistency

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electro-optic devices face variations in preferred viewing range due to inconsistencies in the thickness of glass substrates, which affect the directional display capability.

Innovation Solution

A method for manufacturing electro-optic devices involving a substrate with a filter and a spacer layer to maintain a consistent distance between the substrate and the filter, allowing light from specific pixels to pass through designated ranges, thereby reducing variations in the preferred viewing range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the glass substrate is thinned by polishing to enlarge the preferred viewing range, then the viewing range is improved, but variations in thickness occur due to polishing process inconsistencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreferred viewing rangeVSAvoidsubstrate thickness consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A resin layer is introduced as an intermediary material between the glass substrate and the liquid crystal layer. This resin layer compensates for thickness variations in the glass substrate, maintaining a consistent total thickness that ensures uniform optical path length and consistent directional display performance across all devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the thickness parameter of the glass substrate without requiring precise control, and compensates by adjusting the thickness of the resin layer. This allows use of cost-effective, less precisely controlled glass substrates while maintaining consistent optical performance through parameter compensation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If polishing is used to thin the glass substrate, then the preferred viewing range is enlarged, but variations in preferred viewing range occur among multiple devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreferred viewing rangeVSAvoidconsistency of viewing range across devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The resin layer serves as a compensatory intermediary that absorbs thickness variations of the glass substrate. By controlling the resin layer thickness to make up for glass substrate variations, the total optical path length remains consistent, ensuring reliable and consistent preferred viewing range across multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention anticipates thickness variations in the glass substrate and beforehand introduces a resin layer with specific thickness to cushion and compensate for these variations. This pre-compensation approach ensures that final assembled devices have consistent optical path lengths and reliable directional display performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a thin glass substrate is used to enlarge the preferred viewing range, then the viewing capability is improved, but the substrate becomes more difficult to handle and process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreferred viewing rangeVSAvoidsubstrate handling and processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the optical path control function into two separate layers: the glass substrate provides the basic structure and can be of standard thickness for easy handling, while the resin layer provides the additional optical path control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - glass for manufacturability and resin for optical performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The resin layer acts as an intermediary that provides the necessary optical path length adjustment without requiring the glass substrate itself to be thinned. This allows use of standard-thickness, easy-to-handle glass substrates while achieving the desired optical performance through the intermediate resin layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 approach ensures consistent directional display by equalizing the distance between pixels and the filter, minimizing variations in the preferred viewing range across multiple devices.

Implementation Method 1

a filter that allows, of the light, light emitted from the first pixel to a first range through the display surface to pass through, and light emitted from the second pixel to a second range through the display surface to pass through

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical filtering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentUS7859736B2Method for manufacturing electro-optic device and electro-optic device

Publication Date: 2010.12.28 MAGNOLIA WHITE CORP

AI summary

A method for manufacturing an electro-optic device including: a display surface; a plurality of pixels including at least a first pixel for forming a first image and a second pixel for forming a second image and emitting light toward the display surface; a filter that allows, of the light, light emitted from the first pixel to a first range through the display surface to pass through, and light emitted from the second pixel to a second range through the display surface to pass through; and a substrate between the plurality of pixels and the filter. The method includes: providing the filter on the substrate, with the distance between the substrate and the filter kept at a distance set according to the thickness of the substrate.