Light-Emitting Module With Recessed Light-Transmissive Members
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light-emitting modules for direct-type backlight devices face challenges in reducing thickness and achieving local adjustment of light distribution characteristics, leading to reduced production yield and increased manufacturing costs due to the need for uniform light emission across large screen sizes.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting module with a lightguide plate featuring recesses and light-transmissive members that cover lateral surfaces of light sources, allowing for local adjustment of light distribution by varying the shape and arrangement of light-transmissive members in different unit regions, enabling flexible light emission patterns and reduced thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If light-emitting elements are bonded to a lightguide plate to reduce thickness, then the thickness of the light-emitting module is decreased, but the ability to locally adjust light distribution characteristics is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different types of light-transmissive members in different unit regions of the lightguide plate. Specifically, first light-transmissive members with first optical characteristics are provided in first unit regions, while second light-transmissive members with second optical characteristics are provided in second unit regions. This allows each region to have optimized light distribution characteristics suited to its specific requirements, enabling local adjustment of light distribution while maintaining the thin profile of the module.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the lightguide plate into multiple unit regions, where each region can independently contain light-emitting elements and light-transmissive members with specific optical characteristics. This segmentation allows different portions of the lightguide plate to be optimized for different lighting requirements, providing local adjustability of light distribution characteristics while maintaining overall system thinness.
2Illumination intensity
If uniform light emission is required across large screen sizes, then light distribution is consistent, but production yield decreases and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lightguide plate into multiple unit regions that can be independently configured with different numbers and types of light-emitting elements and light-transmissive members. This allows each region to be optimized for uniform light emission within that region, while the overall system can be assembled from multiple such regions to achieve uniform emission across large screens. The modular approach improves production yield by allowing defective regions to be replaced without scrapping entire large panels.
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 allows for efficient local adjustment of light distribution characteristics, improving production yield and reducing manufacturing costs by enabling the use of smaller light-emitting units that can be arranged in arrays for various screen sizes, and enhancing the versatility of the light-emitting module for different applications.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of light-transmissive members 50A, 50B each disposed in the first recess 11 in a respective one of the plurality of unit regions 211 so as to cover at least a portion of each of lateral surfaces 20s of the light source 20
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting module includes: a lightguide plate including a first primary surface, a second primary surface opposite to the first primary surface, and unit regions arranged in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array, and defining first recesses in the first primary surface, each of the first recesses located in a respective one of the unit regions; light sources disposed at the first primary surface of the lightguide plate and each disposed in the first recess of a corresponding one of the unit regions; and a plurality of light-transmissive members each disposed in the first recess in a respective one of the unit regions so as to cover at least a portion of each lateral surface of its corresponding light source. The unit regions include at least one first unit region, in which an upper surface of the light-transmissive member forms a first depression extending toward a bottom of the first recess.