Flexible Light Guide Thickness Gradient for Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional display devices face challenges in achieving flexibility while maintaining ideal light source utilization efficiency, as the thickness of the light source cannot match the thinned light guide, resulting in only 10% of light energy being used effectively.
Innovation Solution
A display device design featuring a flexible light guide with a light incident portion that gradually increases in thickness toward the light incident surface, matching the size of the light emitting element, and incorporating inclined surfaces to optimize light coupling, allowing for efficient light utilization and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the light guide is thinned to achieve flexibility, then the flexibility is improved, but the light source utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide structure is designed with different thicknesses in different regions: the first light guide portion has a first thickness while the second light guide portion has a second thickness greater than the first. This local quality variation allows the light guide to be thin enough for flexibility while having a thicker region to effectively couple light from the light emitting element, thus resolving the contradiction between flexibility and light source utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a thickness dimension variation within the light guide structure by creating portions with different thicknesses. This dimensional change allows the light guide to simultaneously achieve flexibility (through overall thinness) and effective light coupling (through localized thickness increase), transforming a single-dimension problem into a multi-dimension solution.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the light guide is thinned from 400 μm to 50 μm or less, then the flexibility is improved, but the light coupling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is designed with a first light guide portion having a first thickness and a second light guide portion having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness. This local thickness variation enables the light guide to maintain overall flexibility while creating a sufficient coupling region for effective light transfer, thereby resolving the contradiction between flexibility and light coupling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing thickness variation as an additional dimensional parameter within the light guide structure, the patent enables simultaneous achievement of flexibility (through thin regions) and effective light coupling (through thicker coupling regions), transforming a single-dimension constraint into a multi-dimension solution.
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 design enhances light source utilization efficiency to 85-100% while maintaining a thin profile, enabling the display device to be applied in non-planar environments and ensuring ideal performance.
Implementation Method 1
The light incident portion has a thickness that gradually increases toward the light incident surface... effectively use the light emitted by the light emitting element for display
Implementation Method 2
the light incident portion has a first inclined surface connected to a boundary of the light incident surface, and the first inclined surface is inclined at an angle relative to a normal direction of the light incident surface
Data Source
AI summary
A display device including a display panel and a light source module is provided. The light source module includes a flexible light guide and a light emitting element. The flexible light guide has a light exiting portion and a light incident portion. The flexible light guide is bent so that the display panel is located between the light exiting portion and the light incident portion. The light incident portion has a light incident surface at a terminal. A thickness of the light incident portion is gradually increased toward the light incident surface. The light emitting element is disposed to face toward the light incident surface.