LED Cluster Backlight Assembly for LCD Heat Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid crystal display (LCD) devices using LEDs as light sources face issues with insufficient brightness, particularly for red LEDs, leading to low contrast and reduced lifespan due to heat buildup from close LED spacing.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of LED clusters with a specific arrangement of four or five LEDs in rectangular or diamond patterns on metal core printed circuit boards, separated to prevent heat accumulation and allow for sectional strobing, ensuring balanced color brightness and increased spacing to mitigate heat-related issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If LEDs are arranged in a compact configuration to reduce device size, then the backlight assembly becomes more compact, but heat accumulation increases and LED lifespan decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebacklight assembly sizeVSAvoidheat accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the LED array into multiple independently controllable clusters or strings, where each cluster can be individually strobed. This segmentation allows for better heat management by enabling intermittent operation of individual clusters, reducing continuous heat accumulation while maintaining compact overall device dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic strobing of LED clusters where LEDs are activated in alternating sequences rather than continuously. By controlling clusters to flash in alternating patterns (e.g., odd clusters then even clusters), the system reduces average heat generation while maintaining perceived brightness, thus resolving the contradiction between compact size and heat management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Illumination intensity

If red LED brightness is increased to improve color rendering, then color quality improves, but heat generation increases and reduces LED lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvered LED brightnessVSAvoidLED lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic strobing specifically to red LED clusters, activating them in alternating sequences with other color clusters. This periodic operation allows red LEDs to achieve sufficient cumulative brightness for good color rendering while reducing their continuous operation time, thereby lowering heat accumulation and extending their operational lifespan.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adjusts the strobe duty cycle and timing parameters of red LEDs to optimize the balance between brightness output and heat generation. By carefully controlling the duration and frequency of red LED activation, the system achieves adequate color rendering performance while maintaining LED lifespan through reduced thermal stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If LED spacing is increased to reduce heat accumulation, then heat management improves, but device size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidbacklight assembly size
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the LED array into multiple clusters with small internal spacing, allowing efficient use of space. Between these clusters, larger spacing is maintained to facilitate heat dissipation. This segmented approach enables both compact overall dimensions and adequate thermal management by combining regions of tight spacing (for compactness) with regions of loose spacing (for heat dissipation).

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

This configuration enhances brightness, contrast, and extends the lifespan of LEDs by dispersing heat effectively and allowing for sectional control of LED clusters, resulting in improved image quality and longer device life.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) in rectangular-shaped clusters on each of the printed circuit boards

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

Data Source

PatentUS7780312B2Backlight assembly for liquid crystal display device and liquid crystal display device using the same
Publication Date: 2010.08.24 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • US7780312B2 patent drawing
  • US7780312B2 patent drawing
  • US7780312B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A backlight assembly for a liquid crystal display device includes a bottom frame having an inner surface, printed circuit boards on the inner surface, and a plurality of light emitting diodes in rectangular-shaped clusters on each of the printed circuit boards, each of the light emitting diode clusters includes four light emitting diodes.