Interconnected Lens Encapsulant for LED Backlight Color Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid crystal display (LCD) devices using light emitting diodes as backlight sources face issues with color shading and low light uniformity due to inadequate color mixing and light efficiency, resulting in unsatisfactory brightness.

Innovation Solution

A light source device comprising a substrate with multiple light emitting diode chips encapsulated by a silicon or resin-based encapsulant featuring interconnected lenses, where each lens corresponds to a diode chip, optimizing light distribution and mixing by adjusting the emission angle and reducing total reflection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If multiple light emitting diodes of different colors are used to emit light, then color mixing efficiency is improved, but light uniformity deteriorates due to insufficient mixing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor mixing efficiencyVSAvoidlight uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A white light reflecting member is introduced as an intermediary between the light emitting diodes and the liquid crystal display panel. This reflecting member receives light from multiple LEDs of different colors and reflects it back, serving as a mixing chamber that enables充分的 color mixing while maintaining light uniformity across the display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The light path is extended by introducing a reflecting member that causes light to travel back and forth between the LEDs and the reflector. This creates an additional spatial dimension for light mixing, allowing colors to blend thoroughly before reaching the display panel, thereby improving both color mixing efficiency and light uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If multiple light emitting diodes are used to emit different colors of light, then color mixing efficiency is improved, but light efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor mixing efficiencyVSAvoidlight efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The reflecting member converts what would otherwise be lost or scattered light into useful illumination by reflecting it back toward the display panel. This transforms potential energy loss into additional light output, improving overall light efficiency while maintaining effective color mixing.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The reflecting member enables continuous circulation of light between the LEDs and the reflector, allowing light to pass through the color mixing region multiple times. This continuous action ensures thorough color mixing while maximizing the utilization of light energy, thereby improving light efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If a light emitting diode chip is encapsulated by an encapsulant, then the light emitting diode chip is protected, but emission angle control becomes limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of light emitting diode chipVSAvoidemission angle adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulant is divided into multiple independent lenses, each corresponding to a light emitting diode chip. This segmentation allows each lens to be independently optimized for specific emission angle control, providing versatile angular distribution control while maintaining the protective function of the encapsulant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the encapsulant are designed with different optical properties through the lens structure. Each lens can be tailored to control the emission angle of its corresponding LED chip, enabling localized optimization of light distribution characteristics while maintaining overall system protection.

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

The solution enhances color mixing efficiency and light efficiency, improving the brightness and uniformity of light supplied to the LCD panel, as demonstrated by simulation results showing increased white light ratio and light efficiency compared to previous designs.

Implementation Method 1

an encapsulant covering the plurality of light emitting diode chips, wherein the encapsulant has a plurality of lenses connected to one another and each lens corresponds to one of the plurality of light emitting diode chips

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS7940349B2Light source device and liquid crystal display device having the same
Publication Date: 2011.05.10 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • US7940349B2 patent drawing
  • US7940349B2 patent drawing
  • US7940349B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A light source device, including a substrate, a plurality of light emitting diode chips mounted on the substrate, and an encapsulant covering the plurality of light emitting diode chips. The encapsulant has a plurality of lenses connected to each other and each lens corresponds to one of the plurality of light emitting diode chips.