Horizontal Field Emission Backlight Module Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional field emission backlight modules face challenges such as the need for precise spacers, uneven brightness, dark spots due to uneven carbon nano material growth, high cost of indium tin oxide anodes, and low contrast images due to out-of-focus electron beams, which hinder their commercialization and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal type field emission backlight module design where electrons penetrate independently distributed fluorescent powder, eliminating the need for expensive ITO glass and spacers, and allowing for precise control of the cathode-anode distance, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and improving brightness uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vertical type field emission structure with spacers is used to control the distance between cathode and anode, then the electron emission can be maintained, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to the need for precise spacers and tight tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical field emission structure to a horizontal structure, changing the spatial dimension of electron emission. In the horizontal configuration, the cathode and anode are positioned side-by-side rather than facing each other vertically, eliminating the need for spacers to maintain distance. This dimensional change resolves the contradiction by maintaining electron emission functionality while removing complex spacing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the spacer component entirely from the field emission structure. By extracting this unnecessary element through the horizontal configuration design, the system maintains its electron emission capability without requiring precise distance control mechanisms, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
2Area of stationary object
If the module is designed for large area application, then the display area increases, but the brightness uniformity becomes difficult to control due to small tolerance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By switching to horizontal field emission, the patent enables large area displays without the brightness uniformity problems that plague vertical configurations. The horizontal geometry allows electrons to travel parallel to the substrate plane, maintaining consistent emission characteristics across large areas without requiring tight tolerance control.
3Illumination intensity
If carbon nano material is grown on the field emitter, then electron emission is enhanced, but uneven growth results in dark spots on the fluorescent powder
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the fluorescent powder layer that was previously positioned above the electron emission path. By extracting this layer and reconfiguring the system to emit electrons horizontally, the patent eliminates the problem of dark spots caused by uneven carbon nano material growth, while maintaining high electron emissivity through the horizontal emission geometry.
4Illumination intensity
If the anode is made of light-transmittable conducting glass (ITO) to allow light passage, then the fluorescent light can be transmitted, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the requirement for expensive ITO glass by extracting the need for light-transmittable anodes. The horizontal field emission configuration allows the use of standard transparent glass substrates, eliminating the need for costly indium tin oxide coatings while maintaining full light transmission capability from the fluorescent powder.
5Illumination intensity
If a gate is added to attract electrons and increase emissivity, then the electron emission is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gate component from the field emission structure. The horizontal configuration inherently provides sufficient electron attraction and emission enhancement without requiring an additional gate electrode, thereby eliminating its manufacturing cost while maintaining high electron emissivity.
6Reliability
If the electron beam is emitted in the vertical configuration, then the field emission can be achieved, but the beam becomes out-of-focus resulting in low contrast images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent switches from vertical to horizontal electron beam emission, changing the trajectory dimension. This dimensional change keeps the electron beam focused throughout its path to the fluorescent powder, maintaining high image contrast while preserving field emission capability. The horizontal geometry prevents beam divergence and focus loss that occur in vertical configurations.
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 solution enables cost-effective mass production with improved brightness uniformity and contrast, eliminating the need for color filters and reducing manufacturing costs by using a general transparent glass instead of ITO glass, and enhancing image precision through the color sequential method.
Implementation Method 1
the field emission electrons are emitted from the field emitter 21 of the cathode 20 in a vacuum space enclosed in the module, and impact the fluorescent powder 11 on the anode 10 for the fluorescent powder 11 to produce light
Implementation Method 2
impact the fluorescent powder 11 on the anode 10 for the fluorescent powder 11 to produce light
Data Source
AI summary
A field emission backlight module has a field emission structure with cathode and anode provided on the same plane, so that electrons directly penetrate an independently provided fluorescent powder layer to produce light. The light is emitted uniformly without the need of the conventional optical membrane. Since the light produced by the fluorescent powder layer is not blocked by the anode, the problem of charge accumulation on the fluorescent powder layer is avoided, and it is not necessary to use expensive light-transmittable conducting glass as the anode. With the cathode and the anode located at the same plane, it is not necessary to use a precision spacer to adjust the distance between the cathode and the anode, enabling the module to be manufactured at reduced cost and high good yield. When the color sequential displaying method is adopted, expensive color filters required in the conventional LCD may be omitted.