Light Guide Structure for Reflective Display Panel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reflective display technologies face challenges with mirror reflection, which affects the display effect by directing light in a highly directional manner, leading to poor light utilization and display quality.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a light guide structure on the reflective layer, which adjusts the reflection angle of incident light to achieve diffuse reflection, reducing mirror reflection and enhancing display effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a reflective layer made of metal material is used, then light reflection is achieved, but mirror reflection occurs which affects display effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight reflectionVSAvoidmirror reflection
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A light guide structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the reflective layer and the incident light. This light guide structure modifies the light path and distributes the reflected light in multiple directions, thereby reducing the harmful mirror reflection effect while preserving the beneficial light reflection function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide structure transforms the one-dimensional mirror reflection (light reflecting at a specific angle) into a multi-dimensional light distribution pattern. By introducing the light guide structure, the reflected light is dispersed across multiple angles and directions, effectively converting directional mirror reflection into diffuse reflection.

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

2Use of energy by moving object

If a reflective layer is used to achieve reflective display, then ambient light can be utilized, but light utilization is poor due to directional reflection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveambient light utilizationVSAvoidlight utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide structure serves as a mediator that captures the incident ambient light and redistributes it through multiple paths. This intermediary structure ensures that light energy is not lost through single-direction reflection but is instead utilized effectively across multiple viewing angles, improving overall light utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide structure expands the light utilization from a single directional path to multiple dimensional directions. By guiding and scattering the light through its internal structure, it enables the display to utilize ambient light more effectively across various viewing angles, reducing energy loss.

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

3Object-generated harmful factors

If a light guide structure is added to reduce mirror reflection, then display effect is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemirror reflection reductionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide structure is designed as a thin film or shell-like component that can be integrated into the existing display structure without adding significant complexity. This thin-structure approach allows the light guide to function effectively in reducing mirror reflection while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 light guide structure improves the display effect by distributing reflected light in various directions, reducing mirror reflection and increasing light utilization, thereby enhancing the overall display quality.

Implementation Method 1

a light guide structure 50 provided on a surface of the reflective layer 20 towards the liquid crystal layer 40, each light guide portion 501 adjusting a reflection angle of incident light to achieve diffuse reflection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4040222B1Display panel and display device
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 JRD COMM (SHENZHEN) LTD
  • EP4040222B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4040222B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4040222B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a display panel (1) and a display device. The display panel (1) includes a thin film transistor layer (10); a reflective layer (20), disposed on the thin film transistor layer (10); a color film layer (30), disposed opposite to the reflective layer (20) and having a light incident surface (30a) and a light emitting surface (30b); a liquid crystal layer (40), disposed between the reflective layer (20) and the color film layer (30); and at least one light guide structure (50), disposed on a surface of the reflective layer (20) towards the liquid crystal layer (40). The at least one light guide structure (50) is capable of adjusting a reflection angle of light incident from the light incident surface (30a) and reflecting the reflected light to the light emitting surface (30b).