Backlight Reflector Design for Weight Reduction in LCDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid crystal display devices with backlights face challenges in achieving uniform brightness and reducing weight and cost, particularly due to the use of heavy metal frames and additional materials for reflector shaping.
Innovation Solution
The design eliminates the lower frame of the backlight housing, allowing for a lightweight and cost-effective structure by using a reflection sheet as the bottom surface and forming it into arbitrary shapes using resin reflector-shape forming members, which can be fixed at end portions, eliminating the need for a light guide plate in edge-light-type backlights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a mold made of iron or resin is mounted on the bottom surface of the backlight to form a bent shape reflector, then the uniformity of the light radiating surface is improved, but the backlight becomes heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the heavy lower frame (back lid) from the backlight structure. By removing this unnecessary component, the patent achieves weight reduction while maintaining the reflector's light-uniforming function through alternative means (reflection sheet adhered to the light source housing bottom surface), thus resolving the contradiction between improving illumination uniformity and reducing backlight weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The light source housing is given multiple functions: it not only houses the light source but also serves as the mounting base for the reflector (through its bottom surface). This eliminates the need for a separate lower frame structure, reducing overall weight while maintaining structural integrity and optical functionality.
2Illumination intensity
If additional materials are adhered to the reflection sheet to form arbitrary shapes, then the brightness uniformity is improved, but the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the reflector shape-forming function directly into the light source housing structure. The reflection sheet is adhered to the bottom surface of the light source housing, which already has the necessary geometric features to provide the desired reflector shape. This integration eliminates the need for separate molding processes and additional assembly steps, reducing manufacturing cost and complexity while achieving the desired brightness uniformity.
3Illumination intensity
If a light guide plate is used in edge-light-type backlights to achieve uniform light distribution, then the brightness uniformity is improved, but the device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the light guide plate from the edge-light-type backlight structure. By removing this component, the patent simplifies the overall device structure and reduces material usage. The light distribution function previously achieved by the light guide plate is replaced by the strategically shaped reflector, which redirects light from the edge-mounted light source to achieve uniform illumination across the display panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical light-guiding function of the light guide plate with an optical reflection mechanism. Instead of using a thick light guide plate to transport and distribute light through internal reflection and scattering, the patent uses a thinner reflection sheet with a specifically designed shape to redirect light, achieving the same uniform illumination effect with simpler structure and less material.
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 results in a lightweight, cost-effective, and efficient backlight with improved brightness uniformity and reduced assembly costs, while allowing for arbitrary reflector shapes to enhance structural strength and reduce material waste.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector for reflecting light radiated from the light source toward the liquid crystal panel
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a light-weighted backlight capable of ensuring a sufficient light quantity at a low cost. A backlight is arranged below a liquid crystal panel. A light source is arranged in the vertical direction with respect to a screen of the liquid crystal panel so that light from the light source is directed toward the liquid crystal panel by a reflector. Due to such a constitution, the reflector can also function as a back lid of the backlight. Further, the reflector plays a role of directing the light from the light source toward the liquid crystal panel and hence, a light guide plate can be omitted. Due to such a constitution, the present invention can realize the reduction of weight and cost of the backlight or the liquid crystal display panel.