Liquid Crystal Display Reflection Means for Brightness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid crystal display devices experience reduced brightness due to low transmittance regions caused by misaligned liquid crystal molecules, leading to increased power consumption when trying to enhance brightness, and existing solutions for light reflection are inefficient.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating reflection means, such as a metal layer, at the surface of the liquid crystal display panel on the backlight unit side in regions with low transmittance, specifically at the end portions and inner regions of slits, to effectively reuse illumination light.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the output of the illumination device is increased to increase brightness, then brightness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebrightnessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful low-transmittance domains (which reduce brightness) into beneficial light reflection zones. By placing reflection means in these domain regions, light that would otherwise be lost is reflected back through the liquid crystal layer, turning the harmful optical defect into a useful light-recycling mechanism that improves brightness without increasing power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention recovers light in the low-transmittance domain regions by using reflection means to bounce back light that would otherwise be wasted. This recovered light passes through the liquid crystal layer again, effectively reusing optical energy that would have been lost, thereby improving brightness efficiency without additional power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Loss of energy

If a light reflection film is arranged on an inner side of a polarizing plate, then light is reflected toward the illumination device, but the polarization state of the light is changed and most part of the light is absorbed in the polarizing plate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight reflection efficiencyVSAvoidbrightness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing the reflection film on the inner side of the polarizing plate (conventional approach), the invention inverts the arrangement by placing the reflection means on the outer side of the polarizing plate. This inversion prevents the polarization state change problem and avoids light absorption in the polarizing plate, thereby maintaining high brightness while achieving effective light reflection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Loss of energy

If a light reflection film is arranged on an outer side of a polarizing plate, then light is reflected toward the liquid crystal display panel, but a positional relationship between the light reflection film and the non-opening portion deviates due to parallax

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight reflection efficiencyVSAvoidpositional alignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by placing reflection means specifically in the domain regions (low-transmittance areas) rather than uniformly across the entire panel. This localized approach targets the specific problem areas where light recycling is most needed, while avoiding parallax alignment issues that would affect overall positioning. The reflection means is formed at specific regions corresponding to domain locations, achieving precise local light reflection without requiring high overall positional alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 brightness while reducing power consumption by efficiently reflecting and reusing light in low transmittance areas, achieving higher brightness or lower power consumption without adverse effects on liquid crystal driving.

Implementation Method 1

reflection means for reflecting light, the reflection means being formed at a surface of the liquid crystal display panel on the illumination means (backlight unit) side in a portion which overlaps, in plan view, an end portion of each of the plurality of slits in a long-side direction and a vicinity thereof, and an inner region of the each of the plurality of slits

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS8610865B2Liquid crystal display device having particular reflection means

Publication Date: 2013.12.17 MAGNOLIA WHITE CORP

AI summary

The TFT substrate includes a pixel electrode and a common electrode laminated one on top of another via an insulating layer, one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode provided farther from the liquid crystal layer being formed into a plane shape, and another of the pixel electrode and the common electrode provided closer to the liquid crystal layer having slits formed therein, each of the plurality of slits having a closed end portion. The liquid crystal display panel further includes a reflection portion for reflecting light, the reflection portion being formed at a surface of the liquid crystal display panel on the illumination device side in a portion which overlaps, in plan view, the end portion of the each of the slits in the long-side direction and a vicinity thereof, and a part of an inner region of the each of the slits.