Front Light Source Module with Micro-Grooves for Reflective Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reflective display panels struggle with low visibility in low ambient light conditions due to the lack of an effective front light source module, necessitating additional lighting solutions that maintain low power consumption and thinness.
Innovation Solution
A front light source module with a side light source, light guide layer, and micro-groove structured first light adjusting layer, utilizing nano-imprint materials to control light reflection and convergence, ensuring efficient light transmission and minimizing light leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If a reflective display panel is used to achieve low power consumption and thinness, then power consumption and thickness are reduced, but display brightness deteriorates in low ambient light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide layer is divided into multiple functional regions: a first light guide region with a first refractive index for light transmission, and a second light guide region with a second refractive index for light reflection. This segmentation allows the same component to serve multiple optical functions, enabling the reflective display to achieve adequate brightness in low ambient light without adding separate backlight components, thus maintaining low power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide layer is designed to perform both light transmission and light reflection functions through different regions with different refractive indices. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate backlight units or additional lighting components, maintaining the thin and low-power characteristics of reflective displays while improving visibility in low light conditions.
2Illumination intensity
If additional light source components are added to improve display brightness in low ambient light, then display brightness is improved, but device thickness and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light guide function with the reflective display structure by integrating a light guide layer directly onto the display panel. The light guide layer incorporates both transmission and reflection regions, combining multiple optical functions into a single component that works synergistically with the reflective display structure, avoiding the need for separate backlight units or additional complex lighting components.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide layer serves multiple functions: guiding light from edge-mounted LEDs, reflecting light toward the display surface in low ambient light conditions, and maintaining the thin profile of the display. This multi-functional design improves brightness without increasing structural complexity or requiring additional separate components.
3Illumination intensity
If additional light source components are added to improve display brightness in low ambient light, then display brightness is improved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide layer is integrated directly onto the reflective display structure, merging the lighting function with the display structure itself. This integration eliminates the need for separate backlight units that would increase thickness, allowing the display to achieve improved brightness in low ambient light while maintaining its thin profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide layer is implemented as a thin film structure with spatially varying refractive indices. This thin-film approach enables the layer to perform complex optical functions (light guiding, reflection, and distribution) without adding significant thickness to the display assembly, thus improving brightness while maintaining the thin form factor.
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
Enhances display brightness and reduces light leakage, maintaining low power consumption and thinness by optimizing light reflection and convergence angles, improving display quality in low ambient light conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the first inclined surface is configured to face the light incident side... an angle α between the first inclined surface and a plane where a surface of the first light adjusting layer away from the light guide layer is located is in a range from 26° to 42°
Implementation Method 2
a refractive index of the first light adjusting layer is greater than or equal to that of the light guide layer... a depth H of each micro-groove structure is in a range from 4 μm to 15 μm
Data Source
AI summary
A front light source module is provided to include a side light source; a light guide layer with a light incident side opposite to the side light source in a first direction; and a first light adjusting layer, the first light adjusting layer and the light guide layer are stacked in a third direction, a portion of the first light adjusting layer away from the light guide layer is provided with micro-groove structures, each including: a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface opposite to each other in the first direction, the first inclined surface is configured to face the light incident sid, closer to the light incident side than the second inclined surface, angle α between the first inclined surface and a plane where a surface of the first light adjusting layer away from the light guide layer is located is in a range from 26° to 42°.