Integrated Optical Sheet for Thin Backlight Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backlight units (BLUs) for LCD devices are complex, leading to difficulties in achieving thinness and lightness due to the use of multiple components like diffusion and prism sheets, which increase the number of assembly processes and defect rates, thereby raising product costs and reducing light efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A backlight unit is designed with a light guiding plate and an optical sheet integrally formed with a micro pattern, eliminating the need for separate prism and diffusion sheets, which maximizes light utilization efficiency and reduces the number of parts, allowing for miniaturization and thinness while minimizing light loss through total reflection on both surfaces of the light guiding plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If separate diffusion sheet and prism sheet are provided to uniformize luminance and increase light efficiency, then light uniformity and efficiency are improved, but the number of parts and assembly processes increase, leading to increased device complexity and manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the diffusion sheet and prism sheet into a single integrated optical sheet. The optical sheet includes both a diffusion region with micro-diffusion patterns and a prism region with micro-prism patterns, eliminating the need for separate components while maintaining both diffusion and light-concentration functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sheet performs multiple functions simultaneously: it diffuses light in the diffusion region to uniformize luminance, and concentrates light in the prism region to enhance brightness. This multi-functional design replaces multiple specialized components with a single versatile element.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple components including diffusion sheet and prism sheet are used to achieve uniform light distribution, then light uniformity is improved, but the number of assembly processes increases, leading to increased defect rate and manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The diffusion sheet and prism sheet are merged into a single optical sheet component that can be installed in one assembly operation, reducing the number of assembly processes and associated defect risks while maintaining light uniformity through the integrated micro-patterned structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional BLU structure with multiple elements is used to achieve light uniformity, then light distribution is improved, but the overall thickness of LCD device increases, making thinness difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the diffusion and prism functions into a single optical sheet, the patent reduces the overall thickness compared to conventional structures that require separate diffusion sheet and prism sheet layers, each with their own adhesives and spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sheet is designed as a thin film structure with micro-patterns that provide optical functionality without adding significant thickness, enabling the LCD device to achieve thinner profiles while maintaining light uniformity.
4Use of energy by moving object
If separate diffusion sheet and prism sheet are used to enhance light efficiency, then light utilization is improved, but the number of interfaces between components increases, leading to increased light loss at interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sheet is integrally formed as a single piece with continuous material structure, eliminating interfaces between separate diffusion and prism components. This reduces light loss at interfaces while maintaining high light utilization efficiency through the integrated optical paths.
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 light extraction efficiency, reduces manufacturing costs, and achieves a high-quality, uniform planar light source with minimized micro pattern visibility and process complexity, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective BLU.
Implementation Method 1
minimizing light loss through total reflection on both surfaces of the light guiding plate
Implementation Method 2
the prism sheet refracts light in upward, downward, leftward, and rightward directions and concentrates the light to enhance its luminance
Implementation Method 3
an optical sheet integrally formed with the light guiding plate and including a micro pattern configured to emit light reflected from the light guiding plate
Data Source
AI summary
The described technology relates to a backlight unit and a display device including the backlight unit. In one aspect, the backlight unit includes a light source and a light guiding plate configured to guide light emitted from the light source. The backlight unit also includes an optical sheet integrally formed with the light guiding plate and including a micro pattern configured to emit light reflected from the light guiding plate.