Liquid Crystal Display Without Polarizers Using Collimated Light
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid crystal displays are hindered by the thickness and light energy consumption due to the use of polarizers, which also limit their ability to be lightweight and energy-efficient.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal display design that eliminates the need for upper and lower polarizers by using a backlight source with collimated light and electrodes forming a convex lens structure within the liquid crystal layer, allowing for voltage-controlled curvature and refraction to achieve grayscale display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If upper and lower polarizers are used in conventional liquid crystal displays, then the display can achieve grayscale control through polarization state changes, but the device thickness increases and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lower polarizer from the conventional liquid crystal display structure. By using a reflection-type liquid crystal display with a reflective common electrode, the lower polarizer is eliminated while maintaining grayscale display capability through the combination of the upper polarizer and the liquid crystal layer's optical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective common electrode serves multiple functions: it acts as both the common electrode for voltage application and a reflector for light. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate lower polarizer and reflector components, reducing thickness while maintaining display performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If upper and lower polarizers are used in conventional liquid crystal displays, then the display can achieve grayscale control, but the device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lower polarizer from the conventional liquid crystal display structure. By using a reflection-type liquid crystal display with a reflective common electrode, the lower polarizer is eliminated while maintaining grayscale display capability through the combination of the upper polarizer and the liquid crystal layer's optical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective common electrode serves multiple functions: it acts as both the common electrode for voltage application and a reflector for light. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate lower polarizer and reflector components, reducing weight while maintaining display performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If polarizers are used in conventional liquid crystal displays, then the display can achieve grayscale control through polarization, but light energy consumption increases by at least 50%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lower polarizer from the conventional liquid crystal display structure. By using a reflection-type liquid crystal display with a reflective common electrode, the lower polarizer is eliminated while maintaining grayscale display capability through the combination of the upper polarizer and the liquid crystal layer's optical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the reflected light from the reflective common electrode into useful display light. By utilizing the reflection principle, the system recycles light that would otherwise be lost, improving light utilization efficiency and reducing the need for high backlight brightness, thereby reducing power consumption.
4Illumination intensity
If polarizers are used in conventional liquid crystal displays, then the display can achieve grayscale control, but the backlight brightness must be increased to satisfy brightness requirements, leading to higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the reflected light from the reflective common electrode into useful display light. By utilizing the reflection principle, the system recycles light that would otherwise be lost, improving light utilization efficiency and reducing the need for high backlight brightness, thereby reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective common electrode continuously reflects light back through the liquid crystal layer, allowing for efficient light utilization. This continuous light recycling mechanism maintains display brightness while reducing the energy required from the backlight source.
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 design reduces the thickness and power consumption of liquid crystal displays while enabling grayscale display without polarizers, making them lighter, thinner, and more energy-efficient.
Implementation Method 1
The first electrode and the second electrode are configured to receive different voltages during operation of the liquid crystal display to form an electric field
Implementation Method 2
liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are deflected under the effect of the electric field
Implementation Method 3
a refractive index of a center portion of the convex lens structure for light of the backlight source is larger than refractive indexes of other portions of the lens structure for light of the backlight source
Implementation Method 4
liquid crystal molecules within a region of the electric field are deflected to form a convex lens structure
Implementation Method 5
light emitted from each of the light sources is incident into the liquid crystal layer in a collimated manner
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof are provided. The liquid crystal display includes a backlight source, a lower substrate at a light exit side of the backlight source, an upper substrate opposite to the lower substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the two substrates. The backlight source includes a plurality of light sources, and light emitted from each light source is collimated light. The liquid crystal display further includes at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode between the lower substrate and the liquid crystal layer and a light shielding structure, orthographic projections of the light source and the light shielding structure on the lower substrate overlapping. The first and second electrodes are configured to receive different voltages to form an electric field, so that liquid crystal molecules within the electric field are deflected to form convex lens structures.