Glass Light Guide Integration for Slim LCD Bezel Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are thick and bulky due to the presence of structures like case tops, guide panels, and cover bottoms, which increase the bezel and manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a light guide formed as one body with the liquid crystal panel, eliminating the need for separate structures like case tops and guide panels, and using a glass light guide with a reflector and adhesive member to combine the light source and light guide, enhancing slimness and reducing weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If separate structures like case top, guide panel, and cover bottom are used to support the liquid crystal panel and backlight unit, then the device structure is stable and functional, but the device thickness and bezel are increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice thicknessVSAvoidnumber of separate structures
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the light guide plate with the liquid crystal panel into a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate case top, guide panel, and cover bottom structures. This integration directly reduces device thickness while maintaining structural stability and support functions through the unified design of the light guide plate that now serves both optical guidance and structural support roles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Illumination intensity

If multiple optical sheets and support structures are included in the backlight unit, then light distribution is improved, but manufacturing cost and device weight are increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution uniformityVSAvoidnumber of optical sheets
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary optical sheets from the backlight unit while maintaining light distribution uniformity through the optimized integrated light guide plate design. By removing redundant optical components, the device achieves comparable or improved light uniformity with fewer materials, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and device weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If traditional separate structures are used for light source and light guide, then assembly is straightforward, but thermal deformation from light source is not prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal deformation preventionVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the light source directly with the light guide plate in a unified structure, which improves thermal management by reducing thermal resistance between the light source and heat dissipation pathways. This integration prevents thermal deformation while the design maintains ease of manufacture through simplified assembly steps and reduced component count.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Strength

If case top and guide panel structures are used to cover and support components, then structural protection is provided, but device slimness is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural protectionVSAvoiddevice thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the protective and support functions into the integrated light guide plate structure, which provides necessary structural protection while maintaining device slimness. The unified design eliminates the need for separate case top and guide panel structures, achieving both structural integrity and reduced thickness through multifunctional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration achieves a slimmer and narrower display device design while reducing manufacturing costs and preventing thermal deformation from the light source, with improved light efficiency and uniformity.

Implementation Method 1

a reflector and an adhesive member to combine the light source and light guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a reflector and an adhesive member to combine the light source and light guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2799765B1Display device
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP2799765B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2799765B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2799765B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~3

AI summary

Disclosed is a display device (100) with slimness and narrowness, wherein the display device comprises a liquid crystal panel (110); a light source (120) for providing light to the liquid crystal panel (110); a light guide (130) of a glass material, wherein the light source (120) is combined with one side of the light guide (130); a reflector (140a) formed on at least one of both surfaces of the light guide (130); and an adhesive member (150) formed on one surface of the light guide (130) confronting the liquid crystal panel (110), and provided to attach the liquid crystal panel (110) and the light guide (130) to each other.