Light Guide Plate Groove and Prism Structure for Side Light Refraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current light guide plates in total reflective display panels have a flat design, resulting in low efficiency in refracting and reflecting side light, which affects the performance of front light sources and overall product efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A light guide plate structure with groove-shaped structures on one end surface and prisms on the opposing surface, designed to refract and reflect side light more effectively, increasing the light's reach to the display panel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a flat light guide plate design is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the light refraction and reflection efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidlight refraction and reflection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by introducing groove-shaped structures and prism arrays with curved surfaces into the light guide plate. These curved optical elements refract and reflect light more effectively than flat surfaces, solving the low efficiency problem while maintaining overall structural simplicity for easy manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by adding optical structures (grooves and prisms) only at specific locations where light guidance is needed, rather than making the entire plate complex. The flat areas remain simple for easy manufacturing, while localized curved structures provide enhanced light refraction and reflection efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If a flat light guide plate design is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the working efficiency of the front light source is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight guide plate structureVSAvoidfront light source working efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The curved groove-shaped structures and prism arrays refract light from the front light source more effectively, directing it toward the display panel. This increases light utilization efficiency without requiring a completely complex device structure, as only specific regions of the light guide plate are modified.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

Optical enhancement structures are applied locally at the light source interface rather than throughout the entire device. This localized approach improves front light source efficiency while keeping the overall device complexity low and manufacturing straightforward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If a flat light guide plate is used, then the structure is simple, but most light from the side light source cannot be refracted and reflected to the display panel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight guide plate structureVSAvoidside light source light utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide plate is segmented into functional zones: groove-shaped structures for initial light refraction, prism arrays for additional reflection and direction control, and transport regions for light propagation. This segmentation enables systematic light management, directing more side light to the display panel while keeping each component relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Curved groove structures and prism surfaces refract and reflect side light more effectively than flat surfaces, capturing light that would otherwise be lost and directing it toward the display panel. This reduces energy loss without requiring complex multi-component systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Productivity

If optical structures are added to the light guide plate, then light refraction efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight refraction efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple optical functions (refraction, reflection, light direction) are merged into integrated groove-shaped structures and prism arrays that can be formed in a single manufacturing process. This combining of functions maintains high light refraction efficiency while avoiding the complexity of assembling multiple separate optical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove-shaped structures and prism arrays serve multiple optical functions simultaneously: refraction, reflection, and light direction control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized components, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining high light refraction efficiency.

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

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 described light guide plate structure enhances the refraction and reflection of side light, improving the use efficiency of the side light source and enhancing the performance of reflective liquid crystal display panels by providing light to areas farther from the source.

Implementation Method 1

A first end surface of the light guide plate includes a plurality of groove-shaped structures disposed therein, the groove-shaped structures configured to refract light emitted by a side light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

A second end surface of the light guide plate includes a plurality of prisms disposed therein, the prisms configured to refract light emitted by the side light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

the groove-shaped structures configured to refract light emitted by a side light source, a second end surface of the light guide plate including a plurality of prisms disposed therein, the prisms configured to refract light emitted by the side light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4012254A1Light guide plate structure, display device and electronic device
Publication Date: 2022.06.15 JRD COMM (SHENZHEN) LTD
  • EP4012254A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4012254A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4012254A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided are a light guide plate structure, a display device, and an electronic device. The light guide plate structure includes : a light guide plate (1), a first end surface (11) of the light guide plate (1) including a plurality of groove-shaped structures (111) disposed therein, the groove-shaped structures (111) configured to refract light emitted by a side light source (2), a second end surface (12) of the light guide plate (1) including a plurality of prisms (121) disposed therein, the prisms (121) configured to refract light emitted by the side light source (2), the groove-shaped structures (111), the prisms (121), and the light guide plate (1) being formed as an integrated structure, and the first end surface (11) of the light guide plate (1) and the second end surface (12) of the light guide plate (1) being two opposite surfaces.