Light Guide Plate Engaging Portion for Thermal Expansion Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid crystal display devices face challenges in enhancing light utilization efficiency due to the warping and thermal expansion of light guide plates, which limits the minimization of backlight thickness and increases power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a liquid crystal display device design where a light guide plate is fixed to a casing with an engaging portion that allows for thermal expansion while maintaining a constant distance between the light source unit and the light guide plate, preventing contact and optimizing light incidence through a flexible substrate and strategic positioning of light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the distance between the light guide plate and the light source is shortened to enhance light utilization efficiency, then light utilization efficiency is improved, but the light guide plate warps or thermally expands making it difficult to maintain this small distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the light source unit movable relative to the light guide plate. The light source unit can move along the optical axis to adjust its position, allowing the system to adapt to thermal expansion and warping of the light guide plate while maintaining optimal lighting conditions. This dynamic adjustment mechanism resolves the contradiction between maintaining close distance for efficiency and accommodating dimensional changes for stability.
2Length of stationary object
If the light guide plate is made thinner to reduce display device thickness, then overall device thickness is reduced, but the light guide plate is more prone to warping and thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the increased warping susceptibility of thin light guide plates by implementing a dynamic light source positioning system. The movable light source unit can adjust its position along the optical axis to compensate for warping and thermal expansion, maintaining effective lighting even when the thin light guide plate deforms. This dynamic mechanism allows the system to tolerate greater thinness without suffering from warping issues.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the light source unit is fixed at a predetermined distance from the light guide plate to maintain constant lighting, then lighting stability is improved, but the system cannot accommodate thermal expansion of the light guide plate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the light source unit movable along the optical axis. The light source unit can dynamically adjust its position to accommodate thermal expansion of the light guide plate while maintaining stable lighting conditions. This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to adapt to thermal changes without sacrificing lighting stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing the light source unit to change its position parameter (distance from the light guide plate) in response to thermal expansion. The movable light source unit can adjust its positional parameter to maintain optimal lighting conditions despite changes in the light guide plate's dimensional parameters due to thermal expansion.
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 design enhances light utilization efficiency by maintaining a consistent light source distance and preventing contact between the light source unit and casing, even during thermal expansion, thereby improving power efficiency and display quality.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide plate which includes a front surface, a back surface and a side surface which connects a periphery of the front surface and a periphery of the back surface
Implementation Method 2
a light source unit which is arranged between the side surface of the light guide plate and the casing or between the side surface of the light guide plate and a wall surface which is connected to the casing with a distance away from the casing or the wall surface which is connected to the casing, and allows light to be incident on the side surface of the light guide plate
Data Source
AI summary
The side surface of the light guide plate includes an incident surface which faces the light source unit in an opposed manner, and a fixing surface which is directed in the left-and-right direction orthogonal to the top-and-bottom direction which is the direction along which the light source unit and the incident surface each other in an opposed manner. An engaging portion which is engageable with a lower frame is formed on the fixing surface or an edge portion which forms the fixing surface. The engaging portion is configured to allow a change of a distance between the incident surface and the lower frame due to expansion or shrinkage of the light guide plate while restricting the movement of the light guide plate in the top-and-bottom direction.