LED Backlight Uniform Brightness via Asymmetric Emission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid crystal display devices using LED backlights face challenges in achieving uniform brightness and managing heat generation, with existing solutions requiring complex optical designs and inadequate heat dissipation.

Innovation Solution

A liquid crystal display device configuration featuring a light guide panel with concave portions for alternating LEDs emitting light in opposite directions, combined with a thermal conductive sheet and simplified current supply, allowing for efficient heat dissipation and uniform brightness without complex optical designs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If LEDs are arranged in a line emitting light in one direction, then the optical design is simplified, but uneven brightness occurs in the display

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical design complexityVSAvoidbrightness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by arranging LEDs in alternating directions (some emitting leftward, some rightward) rather than uniform single-direction emission. This asymmetric arrangement pattern compensates for the directional nature of LED light emission, ensuring uniform light distribution across the light guide panel while maintaining a simple linear LED configuration without complex optical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Loss of energy

If a reflective sheet with diffuse and mirror reflection areas is used, then light efficiency is improved, but the optical design becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight efficiencyVSAvoidoptical design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the complex reflective sheet with its diffuse and mirror reflection areas from the optical system. Instead, it relies on the inherent light-emitting properties of alternately directed LEDs combined with a simple light guide panel, achieving effective light distribution without requiring the complicated reflective sheet structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Volume of moving object

If LEDs are placed close together to reduce device size, then heat dissipation becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidheat dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the LED arrangement into alternating directional groups (left-emitting and right-emitting LEDs) positioned at different locations along the light guide panel. This segmentation allows heat to be distributed to multiple heat sink positions rather than concentrated in one area, improving heat dissipation efficiency while maintaining a compact overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The configuration achieves uniform brightness and effective heat dissipation, reducing the overall size of the device and enabling area brightness control, while simplifying the optical design and heat management.

Implementation Method 1

The plurality of LEDs emit light parallel to a main surface of the light guide panel. First LEDs of the plurality of LEDs emit light in a first direction. Second LEDs of the plurality of LEDs emit light in a direction opposite to the first direction.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emitting diode (LED): Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

WO 2008/029540 A1 discloses a liquid crystal display device with the features in the preamble of present claim 1.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

A reflective sheet part of the optical component includes a diffuse reflection area 41DR having a diffuse reflection function, and a mirror reflection area 41R having a mirror reflection function.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2367049B1Liquid crystal display device
Publication Date: 2018.02.28 MAXELL LTD
  • EP2367049B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2367049B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2367049B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The present invention enables a liquid crystal display device using LEDs as a light source to reduce uneven brightness, increase efficiency of heat discharged from the LEDs, and provide area brightness control. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight. The backlight includes a light guide panel and a plurality of LEDs arranged on a line. The light guide panel includes a concave portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the light guide panel. A large number of LEDs are placed in the concave portion of the light guide panel. The plurality of LEDs arranged on a line emit light alternately in opposite directions. This configuration allows for uniform brightness distribution without forming a large number of concave portions in the light guide panel. Further, this configuration also allows for area brightness control by controlling a large number of LEDs by group.