Microlenses for LCD Transmittance and Aperture Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid crystal displays (LCDs) face challenges in achieving high aperture ratio and brightness due to the blocking of light by bus lines and black matrices, leading to reduced transmittance and image quality, with existing methods struggling to minimize the untransmissive portion effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multi-microlenses corresponding to the border of untransmissive portions on the LCDs, redirecting light onto pixel electrodes, thereby increasing transmittance and aperture ratio without increasing the physical aperture ratio, and using a micro black matrix to enhance color differentiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bus lines and black matrices are formed to define pixel boundaries and shield light, then display structure and contrast are improved, but light transmittance and aperture ratio are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light path by introducing microlenses at specific positions (corresponding to bus lines and black matrices) to redirect light separately from the pixel electrode areas, allowing the light blocking function to be separated from the light transmission function
Solution Approach 2:
The microlenses act as intermediary optical elements that intercept light attempting to pass through the bus line and black matrix areas, and redirect them toward the pixel electrode regions, serving as a mediator between the light source and the display elements
2Illumination intensity
If aperture ratio is increased by reducing bus line and black matrix size, then light transmittance is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension by forming microlenses with significant height (greater than 10 μm, preferably 20-50 μm) to achieve light redirection, moving the solution from a planar 2D approach to a 3D optical approach, thereby achieving aperture ratio improvement without stringent lateral alignment precision
3Illumination intensity
If backlight brightness is increased to compensate for light blocking, then display brightness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of light blocking by bus lines and black matrices into a beneficial effect by using microlenses to redirect the blocked light toward the pixel electrode regions, thereby utilizing the previously wasted light for useful display purposes and reducing the need for increased backlight power
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 significantly increases transmittance and aperture ratio up to 90%, resulting in a brighter and more power-efficient LCD with improved contrast ratio.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of microlenses for redirecting light onto the pixel electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal display with a high transmittance and a low power consumption rate, includes first and second transmittable substrates, a plurality of gate and data bus lines formed on the first substrate, a plurality of color filters formed on the second substrate, and a plurality of microlenses formed on the first or second substrate corresponding to the gate and data bus lines. The microlenses are formed at positions corresponding to the gate and data bus lines which block incident lights, so that most incident lights can be transmitted. Further, the transmittance can be greatly improved by forming the microlenses at the positions corresponding to storage capacitor lines as well as the gate and data bus lines.