Fiber-Optic Optical Stack for Uniform LED Segment Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED illuminated displays suffer from light bleed-through and non-uniform illumination, leading to incorrect information conveyance under ambient light conditions and reduced light intensity due to interference between LEDs.
Innovation Solution
A layered optical stack comprising a light dam, diffuser panel, fiber-optic glass panel, and protective layer is used to control and redirect LED light, ensuring uniform brightness and preventing light leakage between segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light seals or light dams are placed around each LED to prevent light bleed-through, then light isolation between segments is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical control functions (light blocking, light guiding, light diffusing) into a single integrated optical stack structure. The light dam is integrated with the optical stack layers (light guide layer, diffuser layer, reflective layer) to form a unified component that prevents light bleed-through while maintaining illumination uniformity, eliminating the need for separate light seal components around each LED.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical stack structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: the light guide layer directs light from LEDs, the diffuser layer ensures uniform illumination distribution, the reflective layer prevents light loss by reflecting stray light back, and the integrated light dam prevents light bleed-between segments. This multi-functional design reduces overall device complexity compared to using separate components for each function.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple physical layers are used to generate and guide light, then light control and illumination uniformity are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes optical parameters such as the refractive indices, thicknesses, and material compositions of each layer in the optical stack to achieve uniform light distribution. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves excellent illumination uniformity while minimizing the number of layers required, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide layer acts as an intermediary between the LEDs and the display surface, efficiently distributing light from discrete LED sources across the entire display area. This intermediary layer, combined with the diffuser layer, transforms point-source LED light into uniform area illumination without requiring complex multi-layer structures.
3Loss of information
If LEDs are closely spaced to form display segments, then display resolution and information density are improved, but light interference between LEDs increases reducing emitted light intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful light interference between closely-spaced LEDs by introducing the light guide layer and reflective layer. These layers capture and redirect stray light that would otherwise interfere with adjacent LEDs, converting the interference into useful illumination that contributes to overall display brightness without causing cross-talk between segments.
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 optical stack achieves uniform and continuous illumination across segments, enhancing contrast and readability while protecting the components from environmental factors.
Implementation Method 1
a diffuser panel
Implementation Method 2
a fiber-optic glass panel
Implementation Method 3
a light dam
Data Source
AI summary
An optical stack for use with an illuminated data display. The stack comprises the following layers: an opaque layer defining one or more openings therein, a diffuser layer disposed overlying the openings, a fiber optic glass layer overlying the diffuser layer, and transparent protective layer overlying the fiber optic glass layer. An illumination source is disposed within the one or more openings, and illumination from the illumination source propagates from the illumination source through the diffuser layer, through the fiber optic layer, and through the protective layer.