Light Guide Plate with Elongated Hole for Disk Drive Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light guide plates for backlighting in liquid crystal displays and disk drives suffer from inefficient light emission at the end section due to subcritical angles of light incidence, leading to dark areas and inadequate illumination of disk loading slots.
Innovation Solution
A transversely elongated light guide plate with a narrower end section and two vertically divided light transmission areas, featuring an elongated hole and notches for equal light distribution, ensures that light from the LED source is totally reflected and uniformly emitted, preventing dark areas and enhancing illumination of disk slots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional light guide plate with a planar structure is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the light emission at the end section is remarkably dark due to subcritical incidence angles
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is divided into multiple light transmission areas separated by light blocking portions. This segmentation allows different sections to have different optical functions, with the narrowed end section specifically designed to improve light emission while other sections maintain standard functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate features a localized structural change at the end section where the width is narrowed. This local modification creates supercritical incidence angles specifically at the problematic end area, improving light emission without unnecessarily complicating the entire structure.
2Illumination intensity
If the light guide plate is uniformly illuminated, then the overall appearance is consistent, but the disk loading slot area remains inadequately illuminated
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate incorporates a localized narrowing at the end section that corresponds to the disk loading slot area. This local structural modification concentrates light emission specifically at the slot area, providing enhanced illumination where needed while maintaining uniform appearance in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate is segmented into light transmission areas and light blocking portions, with the narrowed end section acting as a specialized light transmission zone. This segmentation enables targeted illumination of the disk loading slot while preserving overall aesthetic consistency.
3Loss of energy
If light is allowed to escape at the end section, then the structure is simpler, but light utilization efficiency is poor leading to energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The narrowed end section creates supercritical incidence angles that cause light to undergo total internal reflection rather than escaping. This local geometric modification efficiently redirects light without requiring additional reflective coatings or complex light control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The design converts what would normally be light loss (light escaping at the end section at subcritical angles) into a beneficial effect by narrowing the section to create supercritical angles, causing the light to be reflected back into the transmission path and utilized effectively.
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 ensures efficient light utilization and uniform illumination, preventing dark areas and making it easier to insert disks by ensuring almost all light is reflected and emitted uniformly, improving the overall luminance and functionality of the light guide plate.
Implementation Method 1
it is totally reflected by the outer periphery surface 132d
Data Source
AI summary
A panel light-emitting structure includes a front panel, a light guide plate, a light-emitting portion, a guide, etc. The light guide plate is formed in a transversely elongated shape having a long side and a short side, and includes an elongated hole extending in a direction of the long side. This forms two light transmission areas. A notch is provided outside the elongated hole at the short side section. This enables an incident light from an LED to the light transmission areas. An outer surface of the light guide plate is formed by an R curved surface. Accordingly, almost all of the light from the LED is totally reflected by the outer surface.