Light-Modulating Unit With Reflecting Array for Thin Local Dimming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing backlight modules for liquid crystal displays (LCDs) face challenges in achieving uniform brightness and local dimming while maintaining a thin thickness, often requiring numerous LEDs and increasing costs or thickness when using lenses for light distribution.

Innovation Solution

A light-modulating unit with a light-reflecting array structure that converts a light source into a large-area planar light source, utilizing a housing cavity and a light-reflecting array structure with grooves to enhance light utilization and achieve uniform brightness, combined with a display device design that includes multiple light-modulating zones and driving devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If many LED light sources are used to achieve uniform brightness and local dimming, then display quality is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniformity of brightnessVSAvoidnumber of LEDs

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the backlight module into multiple independent light-modulating units, each containing a single LED and associated optical elements. This segmentation allows each unit to be controlled independently for local dimming while using fewer total LEDs, resolving the contradiction between display quality and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a light-modulating structure with microlens arrays and light-reflecting structures as intermediary elements between the LED and display panel. These intermediaries distribute light from a single LED to create uniform illumination across multiple zones, enabling local dimming without requiring proportionally more LEDs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If LEDs are combined with lenses to spread light, then uniform brightness is achieved, but thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniformity of brightnessVSAvoidthickness of backlight module

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent nests the light-reflecting structure within the light-modulating structure, placing reflective surfaces inside the housing cavity of the light-modulating unit. This nested arrangement allows light to be reflected and redistributed within a compact volume, achieving uniform brightness without increasing overall thickness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses microlens arrays arranged in two-dimensional arrays to spread light in multiple directions simultaneously. This multi-dimensional light distribution achieves uniform illumination while maintaining a thin profile, as the light spreading occurs through optical path manipulation rather than physical thickness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If many LEDs are used to achieve local dimming, then display quality is improved, but overall thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal dimming capabilityVSAvoidthickness of backlight module

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The light-modulating structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it distributes light from a single LED, enables local dimming control, and maintains thin profile. This multi-functionality allows local dimming capability without requiring additional thickness-generating components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 provides a thin and uniformly bright backlight module capable of local dimming, reducing the number of LEDs needed and maintaining display quality while minimizing thickness and cost.

Implementation Method 1

a light-reflecting array structure disposed on the light-emitting surface and directly above the light-emitting element. The light-reflecting array structure includes multiple grooves that form an m×n array

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS20250328046A1Light-modulating unit and display device using the same

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 ENNOSTAR CORP

AI summary

A light-modulating unit is provided. The light-modulating unit includes a light-modulating structure that has a light-emitting surface and a bottom surface that are opposite to each other. The light-modulating structure includes a housing cavity that extends from the bottom surface into the interior of the light-modulating structure. The light-modulating unit also includes a light-emitting element disposed in the housing cavity. The light-modulating unit further includes a light-reflecting array structure disposed on the light-emitting surface and directly above the light-emitting element. The light-reflecting array structure includes multiple grooves that form an m×n array, where m and n are positive integers greater than or equal to 2.