LCD Light-Focusing Arrays for Brightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for enhancing the brightness of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) face challenges such as increased manufacturing difficulties and costs, light absorption by optical films, and the risk of defects like the moire effect, which limit the effectiveness of improving brightness and contrast.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of high-refractive and low-refractive areas on substrates or polarizers within the LCD structure, arranged to condense and focus light, thereby increasing the brightness and contrast by optimizing light transmission through the use of polymeric materials with specific refractive indices and arrangements of light-focusing and light-defocusing arrays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If aperture ratio is increased to improve brightness, then brightness is improved, but manufacturing difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating high-refractive areas and low-refractive areas with different refractive indices at specific locations within the LCD structure. These localized refractive index variations are designed to focus and guide light transmission through the liquid crystal layer, improving brightness without requiring an increased aperture ratio. The high-refractive areas act as light-guiding channels while low-refractive areas provide spacing and additional light control, collectively enhancing light utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the refractive index parameter by introducing materials with different refractive indices (high-refractive and low-refractive areas) into the LCD structure. This parameter change enables better light control and transmission through the liquid crystal layer, improving brightness performance without the need to increase the aperture ratio. The refractive index variation allows for optimized light paths and reduced light loss.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple optical films are used to improve brightness, then brightness is improved, but light absorption increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple optical films throughout the display structure, the patent implements local quality variations by creating high-refractive areas and low-refractive areas at specific positions within the LCD. This localized approach to light control reduces the need for additional optical films, thereby minimizing light absorption losses and reducing material costs while still achieving improved brightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the light control function from separate optical films and integrates it directly into the LCD structure through the high-refractive and low-refractive areas. By taking out the need for multiple external optical films and incorporating light guiding functionality within the existing structure, the patent reduces light absorption and eliminates the costs associated with additional optical film materials and assembly.
3Illumination intensity
If optical films are used to improve brightness, then brightness is improved, but moire effect and visual defects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent avoids the moire effect by using local quality variations in refractive index rather than periodic optical films. The high-refractive and low-refractive areas are strategically positioned to guide light without creating the periodic interference patterns that cause moire effects. This localized light control approach maintains visual quality while improving brightness.
4Illumination intensity
If micro lens arrays with curved surfaces are used to improve brightness, then brightness is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light control function into discrete high-refractive areas and low-refractive areas rather than using continuous curved surfaces. This segmentation allows for simpler manufacturing processes compared to forming micro lens arrays with curved surfaces, while still achieving effective light focusing and guidance. The segmented structure can be more easily fabricated using standard semiconductor manufacturing techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using curved surfaces to focus light (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using planar high-refractive areas with specific refractive index variations to achieve light guidance. This inversion of the conventional curved surface approach simplifies manufacturing while maintaining or improving light control efficiency.
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 enhances the brightness and contrast of LCDs by effectively condensing light and reducing light loss, while minimizing the need for additional brightness-enhancing films, thus lowering costs and avoiding defects like the moire effect.
Implementation Method 1
high-refractive areas, right below the transparent areas, are disposed either on a surface, facing the backlight module, of the first substrate or on a polymer layer between the backlight module and the first polarizer or between the first polarizer and the first substrate
Implementation Method 2
The curved surfaces of the micro lens arrays are used to improve the brightness of the LCD
Implementation Method 3
Each of the light-focusing arrays comprises plural high-refractive areas and low-refractive areas between the high-refractive areas. The plural high-refractive areas comprises a first high-refractive area and plural second high-refractive area disposed on two sides of the high-refractive areas symmetrically
Implementation Method 4
the second substrate can further comprise light-defocusing arrays including plural low-refractive areas having refractive index smaller than that of the second substrate
Data Source
AI summary
The LCD sequentially comprises, from bottom to top, a backlight module, a first polarizer, a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a second substrate, and a second polarizer. The second substrate comprises plural transparent areas thereon. The first substrate comprises plural light-focusing arrays. Each of the light-focusing arrays comprises plural high-refractive areas and low-refractive areas disposed between the high-refractive areas. The plural high-refractive areas comprises a first high-refractive area and plural second high-refractive area disposed on two sides of the high-refractive areas symmetrically, wherein the widths of the second high-refractive areas are the same and smaller than the width of the first high-refractive area.