Light Guide Structure Lateral Surface Shielding for Backlight Modules

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional backlight modules suffer from light leakage issues due to structural weaknesses and complexities in light-shielding designs, which affect the appearance and assembly of electronic devices like keyboards and touchpads.

Innovation Solution

A light guide structure with a plate body comprising a light-transmissible plate, a light-guiding plate, and a reflecting plate, where a light-shielding layer is applied to cover the lateral surface, preventing light leakage by blocking the light beam and enhancing structural strength, using an ink printing or paint spraying process to form the light-shielding layer with controlled dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If edge covering region is formed by pressing edges of light-transmissible plate and reflecting plate together, then light leakage from lateral surface is prevented, but structural strength is reduced and assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight leakageVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The light-shielding function is extracted from the edge covering region formation and implemented as a separate light-shielding layer. This layer can be independently formed on the lateral surface without requiring edge pressing, thus preventing light leakage while preserving the structural strength of the edge covering region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A light-shielding layer is introduced as an intermediary element between the light-guiding plate and the external environment. This layer specifically blocks light from the lateral surface without interfering with the structural integrity of the edge covering region formed by the light-transmissible plate and reflecting plate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If black mylar layer is added beside lateral surface to prevent light leakage, then light leakage is avoided, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight leakageVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light-shielding layer is merged with the existing plate structure through integral formation processes such as ink printing or paint spraying. This integration eliminates the need for separate black mylar layers and simplifies assembly, as the light-shielding function is incorporated directly into the plate body rather than requiring additional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical approach of adding separate black mylar layers is replaced with a surface treatment process (ink printing or paint spraying) that directly forms the light-shielding layer on the lateral surface. This substitution reduces assembly complexity by eliminating the need to handle and position separate shielding components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If edge lengths are made longer than 3 centimeters to ensure separation, then assembly reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly reliabilityVSAvoidedge length precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The light-shielding function is extracted from the edge covering region and implemented through a separate light-shielding layer. This allows the edge covering region to maintain its original design with appropriate edge lengths without additional constraints, ensuring assembly reliability while avoiding excessive precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Effectively prevents light leakage while maintaining the structural integrity and appearance of electronic devices, improving production yield and efficiency in manufacturing.

Implementation Method 1

The light-shielding layer covers the plate body lateral surface. The light beam from the light source is blocked by the light-shielding layer.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the light beam is guided by the light-guiding plate and exited from the light exit surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11703629B1Light guide structure, manufacturing method and backlight module with light guide structure

Publication Date: 2023.07.18 PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD

AI summary

A light guide structure for a backlight module is provided. A light source of the backlight module emits a light beam. The light beam is guided by the light guide structure. The light guide structure includes a plate body and a light-shielding layer. The plate body includes a light-transmissible plate, a light-guiding plate and a reflecting plate. The light-guiding plate has a lateral surface. The light-transmissible plate has a light-transmissible plate lateral surface. The reflecting plate has a reflecting plate lateral surface. The lateral surface of the light-guiding plate, the light-transmissible plate lateral surface and the reflecting plate lateral surface are collaboratively formed as a plate body lateral surface. The plate body lateral surface is covered by the light-shielding layer. The light beam from the light source is blocked by the light-shielding layer.