Light Converging Elements in Display Panel Light Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The aperture rates of liquid crystal display devices are limited by the size of light shielding regions, which restricts the lighting effect and utilization of light energy, as the sizes of light extraction openings are constrained by the corresponding light shielding regions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating grating light extraction openings on the light emergent surface of the light guide plate with light converging elements that converge light towards the light shielding regions when no electric signal is applied, and utilizing a diffraction grating structure in the liquid crystal layer to redirect light towards transmitting regions when signals are applied, allowing for increased light extraction and gray-scale display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the size of light shielding regions is increased to improve light blocking effectiveness, then the light extraction openings must be reduced in size, but this decreases the aperture rate and lighting effect of the display device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension by placing light converging elements (microlens arrays or Fresnel lenses) within the light extraction openings of the light guide plate. These elements vertically stack optical components to redirect light paths, allowing the light shielding regions to be smaller while maintaining effective light blocking through precise angular control of light extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters by using light converging elements with specific focal lengths and refractive indices to control light extraction angles. By adjusting these optical parameters, the system achieves efficient light blocking with smaller shielding regions while maintaining high aperture rates and lighting effects.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the size of light shielding regions is increased to ensure adequate light blocking, then the light extraction openings are constrained, but this limits the aperture rate and light energy utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing light converging elements specifically within the light extraction openings rather than uniformly across the entire light guide plate. This localized approach concentrates optical control where needed, enabling effective light blocking with minimal shielding regions while maximizing light extraction efficiency and energy utilization in the active display areas.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing vertical optical elements (microlens arrays or Fresnel lenses) within the light extraction openings, the patent adds a dimensional layer of optical control that redirects light paths without expanding the lateral footprint of shielding regions, thereby preserving aperture rate and light energy utilization.
3Illumination intensity
If larger light extraction openings are used to improve aperture rate, then light blocking becomes less effective, but the patent uses light converging elements to redirect light towards shielding regions
Solution Approach 1:
The light converging elements (microlens arrays or Fresnel lenses) act as intermediary optical components that mediate between the light source and the shielding regions. These intermediaries capture light from larger extraction openings and redirect it through total internal reflection toward the shielding regions, decoupling the size of openings from the effectiveness of light blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The light converging elements perform preliminary action by pre-redirecing light paths before light reaches the shielding regions. The microlens arrays or Fresnel lenses are positioned to capture and redirect light at specific angles during the initial extraction phase, ensuring that light is steered toward shielding regions before any potential leakage can occur.
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 solution enhances the display brightness and light energy utilization by allowing larger light extraction openings and enabling multi-gray-scale display without being limited by the size of light shielding regions, improving the overall lighting effect and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the light converging elements being configured to converge light emitted from the light guide plate, and to make the light emitted from the light guide plate be emitted towards the corresponding light shielding regions when electric signals are not applied to the liquid crystal layer
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of grating light extraction openings, the grating light extraction openings being located on the light emergent surface of the light guide plate
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a diffraction grating structure in the liquid crystal layer to redirect light towards transmitting regions when signals are applied
Implementation Method 4
a light source, located on the light incident surface of the light guide plate
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel and a display device. The display panel includes a light guide plate including a light incident surface and a light emergent surface; the light incident surface is one end surface of the light guide plate; an opposite substrate opposite to the light guide plate; a liquid crystal layer between light guide plate and opposite substrate; a light source located on the light incident surface of light guide plate; a light shielding layer at the side, facing liquid crystal layer, of the opposite substrate; the light shielding layer including light shielding regions, light transmitting regions; light converging elements located on light emergent surface of light guide plate, the light converging elements corresponding to one light shielding region; a transparent conductive structure between light guide plate and opposite substrate and configured to make liquid crystal layer be equivalent to a diffraction grating structure under control of electric signals.