IR Receiver Integration in LCD Backlight for Thin Bezel TVs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The shrinking front surface area of modern televisions due to evolving designs poses a challenge for infrared (IR) receiver assemblies, as traditional mounting methods become expensive and dictate the minimum bezel thickness, leading to reduced efficiency in capturing IR signals.
Innovation Solution
Relocating the IR receiver assembly to the interior of the backlight assembly or the TFT layer of the LCD panel, utilizing a thin film transistor (TFT) phototransistor with an IR filter integrated into the color filter layer, and creating IR windows in the polarization films to minimize light loss through the LCD layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the IR receiver assembly is mounted behind the front bezel panel, then the IR signal capture is effective, but the bezel thickness increases and the front surface area decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the IR receiver assembly from the traditional front bezel mounting location to the backlight assembly interior, utilizing the depth dimension of the television structure. This relocation allows the IR receiver to be positioned within the existing internal space of the backlight assembly, eliminating the need for front bezel mounting and thus preserving front surface area while maintaining IR signal capture effectiveness through strategic positioning near the light guide.
2Reliability
If light pipes or light guides are used to carry IR light to the receiver, then the IR signal can be transmitted, but the assembly complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the IR receiver assembly with the backlight assembly by relocating it to the interior of the backlight assembly. This merging of functions allows the IR receiver to utilize the existing light guide structure already present in the backlight system, eliminating the need for separate IR light transmission components and reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining IR signal transmission capability.
3Length of stationary object
If the IR receiver assembly is relocated to the interior of the backlight assembly, then the bezel thickness can be reduced, but the IR signal capture efficiency may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the light guide as an intermediary element that bridges the front surface and the relocated IR receiver in the backlight assembly interior. The light guide efficiently transmits IR signals from the front surface through the television structure to the receiver, ensuring that even though the receiver is relocated to reduce bezel thickness, the IR signal capture efficiency is maintained through this optical intermediary.
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 the capture of infrared light, reducing signal loss and allowing for thinner bezels while maintaining effective remote control functionality, thereby addressing the design constraints and efficiency issues of traditional IR receiver placements.
Implementation Method 1
The actual IR receiver element is typically a phototransistor which receives filtered IR light emitted by the remote control
Implementation Method 2
The receiver in the television recognizes the pattern... behind a light filter that passes infrared light and blocks white or visible light
Data Source
AI summary
An infra-red assembly for a television, that has a plurality of layers operating for creating an image from pixels formed of illuminated color filters. The plurality of layers including a backlight, a polarization layer adjacent the backlight, a TFT layer over the polarization layer, an LCD layer overlying the TFT layer, and a color filter layer overlying the LCD layer. Wherein at least one of the layers includes an opening, and another of said layers includes an infrared filter that passes infrared and blocks light that is not infra red, and where another of said layers underlying said infrared layer includes an infrared receiver that receives the infrared through said opening and said infrared filter, and where said opening and said filter and said receiver are located in registration with one another, such that infrared passes through the opening and passes through the filter and passes to the receiver.