Glass Light Guide Plate Bonding for Thin LCDs

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need to further reduce the thickness of liquid crystal displays to match the growing demand for thinner and more aesthetically enhanced display devices, while maintaining performance and durability.

Innovation Solution

The integration of the display panel and backlight unit into a single structure, utilizing a glass light guide plate with a reflecting layer and optical sheets, and bonding the display panel to the light guide plate using a glass frit or adhesive film, which allows for a reduction in thickness and enhances light diffusion and reflectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If the display panel and backlight unit are integrated into a single structure, then the thickness is reduced, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethicknessVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel and backlight unit are merged into a single integrated structure where the lower substrate of the display panel is directly bonded to the glass light guide plate of the backlight unit, eliminating the need for separate housing structures and reducing overall thickness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The glass light guide plate serves multiple functions: it acts as both an optical component for light diffusion and as a structural bonding surface for integrating the backlight unit with the display panel, reducing the need for additional structural elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If glass components with matching thermal expansion coefficients are used, then the structural integrity is enhanced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidthermal expansion matching precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Glass components with matching thermal expansion coefficients are selected for the display panel substrates and light guide plate to ensure homogeneous thermal behavior during temperature cycling, preventing stress concentration and structural degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal expansion coefficient is used as a critical selection parameter for glass materials, with specific ranges (e.g., 9-12 × 10^-6/°C) established to ensure compatibility between different glass components in the integrated structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach effectively reduces the thickness of the liquid crystal display, improves light distribution, and enhances the structural integrity by using glass components with matching thermal expansion coefficients, ensuring stable integration and durability.

Implementation Method 1

a glass light guide plate arranged to diffuse the light from the light source to the display panel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

providing a reflecting layer on the glass light guide plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

bonding the display panel to the light guide plate using a glass frit or adhesive film

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2977673B1Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
Publication Date: 2019.08.28 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP2977673B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2A
  • EP2977673B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~3
  • EP2977673B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5C

AI summary

A liquid crystal display includes a display panel (100) having a lower substrate (112), an upper substrate (111) disposed opposite to the lower substrate, and a liquid crystal layer (113) disposed between the lower and upper substrates, a light source (121) which emits light, a glass light guide plate (123) which diffuses the light from the light source to the display panel, and a first bonding member (126) which bonds the lower substrate to the glass light guide plate.