Light Guide Plate Supporting Unit for Slim Border Light Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional light guide plates in slim border display devices suffer from light leakage due to a narrower light-blocking area and lack of a supporting structure, which compromises optical quality and view angle.

Innovation Solution

A light guide plate with a supporting unit integrated along its lateral side, featuring a top surface above the light-exiting face and an outer side surface that protrudes to form a recess, allowing for improved structural support and reduced light leakage by positioning the back plate's side wall within this recess, enhancing the light-blocking area and optical film placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional light guide plate without supporting unit is used, then the structure is simpler, but light leakage occurs and structural support is insufficient for slim border design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight leakage controlVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the supporting function into the light guide plate by adding a supporting unit integrated with the plate body. This combination allows the light guide plate to simultaneously provide light guidance and structural support, eliminating the need for separate supporting components while preventing light leakage in slim border designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting unit extends from the lateral side of the light guide plate in a dimensional direction perpendicular to the light exiting face. This three-dimensional structure protrudes outward to form a recess that effectively blocks light leakage paths without interfering with the optical function of the plate body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the light guide plate has no supporting unit, then manufacturing is easier, but the light-blocking area is insufficient for slim border design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight-blocking areaVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide plate is segmented into two functional parts: the plate body for light guidance and the supporting unit for light blocking. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while being manufactured as an integrated component, increasing the light-blocking area without complicating the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of moving object

If optical films are placed directly on the light guide plate, then the structure is simpler, but larger optical films cannot be properly disposed and light leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical film sizeVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting unit creates a recess structure that accommodates and nests the optical films. This nested configuration allows larger optical films to be properly positioned and secured on the light guide plate, preventing light leakage while maintaining a compact overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS9250377B2Light guide plate and backlight module and display module using the same
Publication Date: 2016.02.02 AU OPTRONICS CORP

AI summary

A light guide plate includes a plate body and a supporting unit. The plate body has a light-exiting face and a lateral side, wherein the supporting unit is disposed along the lateral side. The supporting unit has a top surface and an outer lateral surface, the top surface is above the light-exiting face, the lateral surface protrudes from an end surface of the lateral side of the plate body, wherein a portion of the end surface away from the light-exiting face is exposed to form a recess. A backlight module includes the light guide plate mentioned above and a back plate having the light guide plate disposed thereon. A periphery of the back plate has a side wall formed thereon and extending into the recess. A display device includes the above light guide plate and a display panel.