Light Exiting Member with Forward Slope Guard Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backlight units for liquid crystal displays and reflective displays face issues such as increased thickness, manufacturing cost, and decreased light efficiency due to multi-layered optical sheets, and struggle with mass production complexities, particularly with reverse slope and guard ring structures that compromise mechanical stability and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A light exiting member with a single sheet structure featuring fine pattern portions and a guard ring design that allows for efficient vertical light emission without separate prism or brightness enhancement films, using a resin layer with a lower refractive index to enhance light reflection and improve mechanical stability, and employing a forward slope structure for easy injection molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a multi-layered optical sheet structure is used to achieve vertical light emission, then light emission efficiency is improved, but the thickness of the entire system increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical functions (prism sheet function for light direction control and diffusion sheet function for uniform light distribution) into a single integrated light exiting member. This merging eliminates the need for separate multi-layered optical sheets, thereby reducing system thickness while maintaining light emission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The light exiting member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides light direction control through its prism structure, light distribution through its diffusion structure, and structural support. This multi-functionality replaces several specialized components, reducing overall system thickness.
2Device complexity
If a reverse slope structure is used to achieve vertical light emission without separate prism sheets, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing difficulty increases due to injection or casting complications
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a reverse slope structure (where the upper part is larger than the lower part) that causes molding difficulties, the patent inverts the approach by using a forward slope structure (where the upper part is smaller than the lower part). This inversion makes the molding process much easier while still achieving the desired light exiting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the light exiting pattern from a reverse slope configuration to a forward slope configuration. This parameter change fundamentally alters the manufacturability of the structure while preserving its optical functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If a forward slope structure is used for easy injection molding, then ease of manufacture is improved, but light emission efficiency may be compromised compared to reverse slope structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining different materials with optimized refractive indices. The light exiting member is made of a material with a refractive index higher than the surrounding medium, which compensates for the forward slope geometry and enables efficient vertical light emission despite the easier-to-mold forward slope structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different structural characteristics to different regions of the light exiting member. The forward slope structure is used in regions where ease of manufacture is critical, while localized optical features (such as specific pattern geometries or material compositions) are introduced to maintain light emission efficiency in critical areas.
4Reliability
If guard ring structures are added to protect fine pattern portions, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guard ring protection function with the light exiting structure itself. The guard rings are integrated into the light exiting member as a unified structure rather than being separate protective components, thereby providing protection without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 solution enables mass production of ultra-thin light units with improved mechanical and structural stability, efficient light emission in one direction, and the ability to implement delicate images, while reducing manufacturing costs and time, and allowing for recycling of light exiting members.
Implementation Method 1
a resin layer disposed on the light exiting pattern and having a refractive index relatively lower than that of the light exiting part
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a light exiting member, a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a backlight unit of a liquid crystal display, a front light unit of a reflective display, applicable to interior lighting, living lighting or advertisement lighting, and a light member capable of implementing a delicate and various specific image by selectively burying or modifying the same. The light exiting member according to an embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of fine pattern portions formed on one surface, the fine pattern portions have a cavity, the cavity is defined by a lower surface located at a predetermined depth from the opening and a plurality of inner surfaces connected to the lower surface, and at least one of the inner surfaces is convex.