Integrated Backlight Unit for Optical Display Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional LED backlight solutions suffer from optical losses due to absorptive losses in the LED package, etendue limitations in coupling optics, assembly tolerances, and the desire for thinner display designs, particularly in mobile digital appliances.

Innovation Solution

An integrated back light unit architecture where the LED die encapsulant forms an optical launch and waveguide, directly coupled to a light guide plate, eliminating first-level packaging and associated optical losses, and allowing efficient photon launch into the waveguide.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional LED units are fabricated by mounting LEDs to a substrate and encapsulating them, then the LEDs are protected and electrically connected, but optical coupling efficiency deteriorates due to absorptive losses in the LED package and etendue limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical coupling efficiencyVSAvoidpackaging structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the LED die encapsulant with the optical launch and waveguide functions by forming the encapsulant to directly contact the light guide plate. This integration eliminates the need for separate packaging components and direct optical coupling interfaces, thereby reducing absorptive losses and improving optical coupling efficiency while simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the first-level packaging structure from the conventional LED assembly by allowing the LED die encapsulant to directly form the optical launch. This removal of intermediate packaging layers eliminates multiple optical interfaces that cause absorptive losses, directly addressing the optical coupling efficiency problem while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Loss of energy

If conventional LED units use separate packaging and optical coupling components, then assembly is straightforward, but optical losses increase due to multiple interfaces and etendue limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical lossesVSAvoidassembly process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the encapsulant and optical launch into a single integrated structure that is formed as one piece. This merging eliminates multiple assembly steps and interfaces, reducing optical losses while maintaining ease of manufacture through a streamlined, single-step formation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Length of stationary object

If conventional designs include separate LED packages and optical coupling elements, then component protection is achieved, but the overall unit thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebacklight unit thicknessVSAvoidcomponent protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the protective encapsulant with the optical launch and waveguide into a single integrated structure. This consolidation maintains the protective function while eliminating the thickness contributed by separate packaging components and optical coupling elements, thereby achieving thinner backlight units without compromising component protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Manufacturing precision

If conventional LED units use multiple packaging levels and optical interfaces, then electrical connection and protection are ensured, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to alignment tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment toleranceVSAvoidpackaging structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the encapsulant and optical launch into a single monolithic structure formed from the LED die itself. This integration eliminates the need for precise alignment between separate packaging components and optical elements, significantly reducing manufacturing precision requirements while simplifying the packaging structure.

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 enhances optical coupling efficiency, reduces power consumption, and enables thinner backlight units with improved alignment and reduced manufacturing complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a polarizer, an integrated back light unit optically connected to a first face of the polarizer and a display comprising an array of pixels optically connected to a second face of the polarizer. The first face of the polarizer and the second face of the polarizer are not parallel and the polarizer is configured to direct light from the integrated back light unit to the display.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolarisation: Polarisation

Data Source

PatentUS9720163B2Optical display system

Publication Date: 2017.08.01 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An optical display system includes a polarizer, an integrated back light unit optically connected to a first face of the polarizer and a display comprising an array of pixels optically connected to a second face of the polarizer. The first face of the polarizer and the second face of the polarizer are not parallel and the polarizer is configured to direct light from the integrated back light unit to the display.