Foldable Light Guide Plate for Hot Spot-Free Reflective Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display modules with light guide plates are thick and inflexible, limiting the length of the light mixing area, which can cause a hot spot effect when using LEDs with different color temperatures, and increasing costs due to the need for additional warm light LEDs to avoid this effect.
Innovation Solution
A foldable light guide plate with a light mixing area that allows for increased length, reducing the number of auxiliary light sources by ensuring adequate spacing and using a higher ratio of major to auxiliary light sources with different color temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the light guide plate is made thicker to ensure structural stability, then the structural stability is improved, but the flexibility and foldability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is divided into a first light guide plate and a second light guide plate that can be folded relative to each other. This segmentation allows each plate to be thinner and more flexible while collectively providing sufficient structural stability when assembled, resolving the contradiction between thickness for stability and thinness for foldability.
Solution Approach 2:
The foldable light guide plate structure allows the second light guide plate to be folded behind the first light guide plate, creating a nested configuration. This enables the light mixing area to extend beyond the visible area when folded out, providing adequate light mixing length without increasing the overall thickness of the assembled structure.
2Quantity of substance
If the light mixing area is extended to reduce the number of auxiliary light sources, then the quantity of auxiliary light sources is reduced, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is designed to be foldable, transitioning between extended and retracted positions. When extended, the light mixing area length increases to reduce the number of auxiliary light sources needed. When retracted, the structure maintains a compact form factor, thus reducing structural complexity in the retracted state while achieving the benefit of reduced light source quantity when extended.
3Reliability
If the color temperature of the light source is adjusted to avoid hot spot effect, then the image quality is improved, but the cost increases due to additional warm light LEDs
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing between auxiliary light sources is adjusted based on the light mixing area length. When the light mixing area is extended, the effective spacing increases, which reduces the hot spot effect without requiring additional warm light LEDs. This parameter change (spacing) allows maintaining image quality while reducing the quantity of auxiliary light sources and associated costs.
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 foldable design prevents the hot spot effect while minimizing the number of auxiliary light sources, maintaining image quality and reducing costs by optimizing light source arrangement.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide plate (106)
Implementation Method 2
the light mixing area of the light guide plate (106) is foldable. When the light mixing area is folded, the light mixing area is on the back surface of the light guide plate (106), thereby increasing a length of the light mixing area
Data Source
AI summary
A display module includes a front light module and a reflective display panel. The front light module comprises a light source and a light guide plate. The light source comprises a plurality of major light sources comprising a first color temperature and a plurality of auxiliary light sources comprising a second color temperature. The first color temperature is different from the second color temperature. The light guide plate comprises a front surface comprising a light mixing area and an active area. The light mixing area comprises a light entrance surface. The light source is disposed adjacent to the light entrance surface. The reflective display panel is disposed on a back surface of the light guide plate. The light mixing area of the light guide plate is foldable. When the light mixing area is folded, the light mixing area is on the back surface of the light guide plate.