Light-Guiding Panel with Diffusing-Transmitting Layer for Adjustable Viewing Angles

Solution Overview

Problem

As display devices increase in size, the area of the switchable diffuser required for adjustable viewing angles also increases, leading to higher fabrication costs.

Innovation Solution

A light-guiding panel with a light-guiding body and a light diffusing-transmitting layer, where the light-guiding body reflects incident light beams to the diffusing layer, which includes diffuser stripes and spacing to scatter or transmit light, allowing for adjustable viewing angles without the need for a large diffuser area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the size of display devices is increased, then the display area is improved, but the area of the switchable diffuser increases leading to higher fabrication costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidfabrication cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The light-guiding panel is divided into multiple light-guiding regions, each with independent light-guiding structures. This segmentation allows the diffuser area to remain small while still providing adjustable viewing angles for the entire large display, as each region independently guides light to create the desired viewing angle effect across the full display area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the third dimension by creating light-guiding structures that extend vertically from the light-guiding panel. These structures manipulate light in the vertical dimension, allowing a small diffuser area to control light distribution across a large horizontal display area, effectively decoupling the diffuser size from the display size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a switchable diffuser is used to provide adjustable viewing angles, then the viewing angle adaptability is improved, but the diffuser area increases leading to higher fabrication costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewing angle adaptabilityVSAvoidfabrication cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The light-guiding panel is divided into multiple light-guiding regions, each with independent light-guiding structures. This segmentation allows the diffuser area to remain small while still providing adjustable viewing angles for the entire large display, as each region independently guides light to create the desired viewing angle effect across the full display area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light-guiding structures act as an intermediary between the light source and the display area. Instead of using a large diffuser to directly control viewing angles across the entire display, the light-guiding structures redirect light from a small diffuser region to multiple display regions, achieving viewing angle control with minimal diffuser area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the diffuser area is reduced to lower fabrication costs, then the manufacturing cost is improved, but the ability to provide adjustable viewing angles may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefabrication costVSAvoidviewing angle adjustability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the third dimension by creating light-guiding structures that extend vertically from the light-guiding panel. These structures manipulate light in the vertical dimension, allowing a small diffuser area to control light distribution across a large horizontal display area, effectively decoupling the diffuser size from the display size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The light-guiding structures act as an intermediary between the light source and the display area. Instead of using a large diffuser to directly control viewing angles across the entire display, the light-guiding structures redirect light from a small diffuser region to multiple display regions, achieving viewing angle control with minimal diffuser area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution reduces the total area of the diffusing layer required, lowering fabrication costs while maintaining adjustable viewing angles by using parallel light beams that are either scattered or transmitted to adjust the viewing angle range.

Implementation Method 1

The light-guiding body is configured to reflect incident light beams on a first side surface of the light-guiding body, thereby providing reflected light beams to the light diffusing-transmitting layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of diffuser stripes, configured to scatter a portion of the reflected substantially parallel light beams to form non-collimated light beams

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS10330853B2Light-guiding panel, backlight module, and display device

Publication Date: 2019.06.25 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD

AI summary

Light-guiding panel, backlight module, and a display device are provided. An exemplary light-guiding panel includes a light-guiding body and a light diffusing-transmitting layer over the light-guiding body. The light-guiding body is configured to reflect incident light beams on a first side surface of the light-guiding body, thereby providing reflected light beams to the light diffusing-transmitting layer. The light diffusing-transmitting layer is capable of diffusing and transmitting the reflected light beams.