Light Guide Member With Inspection Grooves for Productivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light guide members have low productivity due to labor-intensive screen printing methods for forming light scatterers, which require masks and are inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A light guide member with a reflective surface featuring a diffusion groove array, including inspection and non-inspection grooves, formed through grooving work, allowing for efficient light diffusion and elimination of the need for printing masks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screen printing method is used to form light scatterer on light guide member, then light diffusion function is achieved, but productivity is reduced due to labor-intensive process requiring masks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical screen printing process with a groove formation process. Instead of using masks and printing materials, grooves are directly formed on the light guide member surface through mechanical or laser processing, eliminating the need for mask alignment and printing operations while maintaining the light diffusion function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the method of creating light scattering structures from additive (printing white coating) to subtractive (forming grooves). This parameter change in the manufacturing approach eliminates the need for masking and printing materials, directly improving productivity while achieving the same optical function through geometric structuring.
2Measurement precision
If inspection grooves are added to diffusion groove array for quality control, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection grooves serve multiple functions: they act as both quality control markers for verifying groove formation accuracy and as additional light diffusion elements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate inspection mechanisms, offsetting the increased structural complexity with functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection grooves enable self-inspection capability within the groove array structure itself. By incorporating visible markers that can be easily observed during or after manufacturing, the system performs its own quality verification without requiring external inspection equipment, thus managing complexity through self-diagnosis.
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 method enhances productivity by simplifying the light diffusion process and enabling uniform light emission along the length of the light guide member, reducing manufacturing errors and costs.
Implementation Method 1
The reflective surface is provided along the length direction of the light guide member and configured to reflect light from the light entrance surface
Implementation Method 2
The diffusion groove array includes diffusion grooves that are arranged in the reflective surface in the length direction of the light guide member and configured to diffuse the light from the light entrance surface
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to provide an excellent productivity performance light guide member (1) and a light guide member manufacturing method, the light guide member (1) includes a reflective surface (5) with a diffusion groove array (50). The diffusion groove array (50) includes diffusion grooves (7) arranged in the reflective surface (5) in a length direction (d1) of the light guide member (1). The diffusion groove array (50) includes, as the diffusion grooves (7), at least two inspection grooves (70B) and a non-inspection diffusion groove (71). The two inspection grooves (70B) are spaced in the length direction (d1) of the light guide member (1). The non-inspection diffusion groove (71) is between the two inspection grooves (70B). An intermediate part, in a length direction, of each of the two inspection grooves (70B) is divided by an ungrooved portion (700) with no groove.