Light Emitting Module Hole Geometry for Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light emitting modules face challenges in reducing thickness while maintaining light uniformity, as thinner designs often lead to luminance unevenness.

Innovation Solution

A light emitting module design featuring a lightguide plate with a first hole having a first portion and a second portion, where the reflective resin layer is located in the first portion, and the inclination of the first lateral surface is smaller than the second lateral surface, effectively diffusing light and reducing luminance unevenness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If the thickness of the light emitting module is reduced, then the device size is decreased, but luminance unevenness occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethickness of light emitting moduleVSAvoidluminance uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different regions within the hole structure: a first portion with a first lateral surface and a second portion with a second lateral surface having a different inclination angle. This local variation in surface geometry allows different zones to perform different optical functions, enabling thin module design while maintaining uniform light distribution by controlling light extraction in different regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The hole in the lightguide plate is segmented into multiple portions (first portion and second portion) with different lateral surfaces. This segmentation allows independent optimization of light reflection and diffusion characteristics in different zones, resolving the contradiction between reduced thickness and maintained luminance uniformity by distributing optical functions across segmented regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If a reflective layer is added to improve light diffusion, then light uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight uniformityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the reflective function and lightguide function into a single integrated structure. The hole with different lateral surfaces performs both light reflection (through its geometric shape) and light guidance (through the lightguide plate material), eliminating the need for separate reflective layers and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining light uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hole structure acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the light source and the lightguide plate. By positioning the hole at the interface and designing its lateral surfaces with specific inclinations, it facilitates light diffusion and uniform distribution without requiring additional complex optical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design achieves improved light uniformity while maintaining a small thickness, suppressing excessive luminance in regions above the light emitting elements and enhancing light diffusion throughout the lightguide plate.

Implementation Method 1

a reflective resin layer, wherein the first hole includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion includes a first lateral surface sloping with respect to the upper surface, the second portion has a second lateral surface sloping with respect to the upper surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3705773B1Light emitting module
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 NICHIA CORP
  • EP3705773B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3705773B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3705773B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A light emitting module (100A) includes: a lightguide plate (110A) having an upper surface (110a) and a lower surface (110b) opposite to the upper surface (110a), the upper surface (110a) including a first hole (10A); a light emitting element (120) on a lower surface (110b) side of the lightguide plate (110A), the light emitting element (120) facing the first hole (10A); and a reflective resin layer (130), wherein the first hole (10A) includes a first portion (11A) and a second portion (12A), the first portion (11A) includes a first lateral surface (11c) sloping with respect to the upper surface (110a), the second portion (12A) has a second lateral surface (12c) sloping with respect to the upper surface (110a), the second lateral surface (12c) being present between an opening in the upper surface (110a) and the first lateral surface (11c) of the first portion (11A), and the reflective resin layer (130) is located in the first portion (11A) of the first hole (10A).