Light Emitting Device With Reflecting And Blocking Members

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light emitting devices struggle to achieve good brightness distribution and visibility, particularly in applications where a clear distinction between emitting and non-emitting parts is required, due to light interference between adjacent elements.

Innovation Solution

The light emitting device incorporates a plurality of arrayed light emitting elements with light reflecting members covering their side faces and light blocking members disposed between them, ensuring that light is efficiently reflected and blocked to minimize interference, thereby enhancing visibility and brightness distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If light emitting elements are arranged closely together to increase brightness, then illumination intensity is improved, but light interference between adjacent elements occurs causing poor visibility and uneven brightness distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebrightnessVSAvoidvisibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces light blocking members that divide the continuous light field into discrete segments corresponding to individual light emitting elements. These members physically separate the light paths, preventing lateral light interference between adjacent elements while maintaining high brightness through close arrangement. This segmentation enables clear visual distinction between active and inactive elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light blocking members act as intermediary structures positioned between adjacent light emitting elements. These intermediaries control light propagation by blocking lateral light spread from active elements, thereby preventing interference with adjacent elements while allowing forward light emission to pass through. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by enabling close spacing without sacrificing visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If light blocking members are positioned close to light emitting elements to prevent light interference, then visibility is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the light blocking members with the light reflecting members into a unified structural assembly. By combining these functions into interconnected components with integrated support structures, the design reduces the number of separate positioning operations required. This merging approach lowers cumulative positioning errors and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining the precise spacing needed for effective light control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The light blocking members are designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: they block lateral light, provide structural support for light emitting elements, and maintain precise spacing between adjacent elements. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and positioning requirements, thereby lowering manufacturing precision demands while achieving the desired visibility improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Illumination intensity

If light reflecting members cover the entire side faces of light emitting elements to maximize light reflection, then brightness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebrightnessVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies light reflecting members selectively to specific portions of the light emitting element side faces rather than covering the entire surface. The reflection surfaces are positioned strategically at locations where they most effectively redirect light away from adjacent elements while maintaining overall brightness. This localized approach reduces material usage and structural complexity compared to full-side-face coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The light reflecting members cover only the necessary portion of the side faces required to achieve effective light control and brightness enhancement. Rather than applying reflection surfaces to the entire perimeter, the design uses partial coverage at critical angles and positions, achieving sufficient light management with reduced structural complexity and material requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 results in a light emitting device with improved visibility and brightness distribution, demonstrating a significant reduction in micro-emission levels between emitting and non-emitting elements, achieving a more pronounced difference between lit and unlit states.

Implementation Method 1

at least one light reflecting member that covers the side faces of each of the light emitting elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

at least one light blocking member disposed in between light emitting elements and disposed separated from the light emitting elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP2811517B1Light emitting device
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 NICHIA CORP
  • EP2811517B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2811517B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2811517B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4A

AI summary

A semiconductor light emitting device (10,20,30,40,50) includes a plurality of arrayed light emitting elements (11), each light emitting element (11) including a plurality of side faces; at least one light reflecting member (12,52) that covers the side faces of each of the light emitting elements (11); and at least one light blocking member (13,23,53) disposed in between light emitting elements (11) and disposed separated from the light emitting elements (11).