Liquid Crystal Element Inter-Pixel Electrode Gap Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting apparatuses using liquid crystal elements suffer from poor light distribution patterns due to gaps between pixel electrodes, which result in conspicuous dark lines and increased manufacturing costs when attempting to minimize these gaps or thin wiring, leading to voltage application issues.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular lamp system with a liquid crystal element configuration that includes a common electrode, pixel electrodes, inter-pixel electrodes, and wiring parts, where the inter-pixel electrodes and wiring parts are designed to overlap and share electrical potential, reducing the effective gap and preventing dark regions, and a high voltage is applied to maintain sufficient transmittance across the liquid crystal layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the gap between pixel electrodes is narrowed to reduce dark lines, then the appearance of light distribution pattern is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and short circuit risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrode structure into three distinct components: pixel electrodes, inter-pixel electrodes, and wiring parts. The inter-pixel electrodes are positioned in the gaps between pixel electrodes and connected to wiring parts, creating a segmented structure that allows each component to serve its specific function while maintaining electrical insulation and reducing dark line visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The inter-pixel electrodes act as intermediary elements between the pixel electrodes and the wiring parts. These intermediary electrodes are connected to the wiring parts and extend toward the pixel electrodes, serving as a mediating structure that reduces the effective gap without causing short circuits, thus improving light distribution appearance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Illumination intensity
If the wiring part is thinned to reduce gap visibility, then the light distribution pattern appearance is improved, but resistance increases and disconnection probability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wiring structure is segmented into multiple functional parts: the wiring part connected to the inter-pixel electrode, the inter-pixel electrode itself, and the extension toward the pixel electrode. This segmentation allows the wiring part to maintain sufficient thickness for reliable electrical connection while the inter-pixel electrode structure manages the visual gap appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The inter-pixel electrode serves as an intermediary that bridges the wiring part and the pixel electrode region. This intermediary structure allows the wiring part to remain sufficiently thick for reliable electrical connection and low resistance, while the inter-pixel electrode manages the visual appearance by reducing the effective gap without requiring the wiring itself to be thinned.
3Illumination intensity
If high voltage is applied to maintain transmittance across the liquid crystal layer, then the light distribution pattern appearance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different voltage levels to different regions of the liquid crystal layer. High voltage is applied specifically to regions with larger effective gaps (where inter-pixel electrodes are present) to maintain adequate transmittance, while lower voltage can be used in regions with smaller gaps. This localized voltage application maintains overall transmittance consistency while reducing total energy consumption compared to uniform high voltage application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the voltage parameter applied to the liquid crystal layer based on the local gap characteristics. By changing the voltage parameter locally rather than uniformly, the system maintains sufficient transmittance in all regions while minimizing overall energy consumption, as high voltage is applied only where necessary to compensate for larger gaps.
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
Improves the appearance of the light distribution pattern by minimizing dark lines and ensuring adequate voltage application, reducing the G value indicating light intensity change, and maintaining consistent transmittance across the liquid crystal element.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid crystal layer 18 arranged between the common electrode 13 and the pixel electrodes 14
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A liquid crystal element (5) improves the light distribution pattern from a vehicle headlamp. The first substrate (11) of the element has a counter electrode (13). The second substrate (12) includes inter-pixel electrodes (15), wiring parts (16), an insulating layer (17) provided above the inter-pixel electrodes and the wiring parts, and pixel electrodes (14) provided above the insulating layer. The pixel electrodes (14) are arranged along a first direction and a second direction. Each inter-pixel electrode (15) is arranged to at least overlap the gap between those pixel electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction, to one of which that inter-pixel electrode is connected via a through-hole (19) provided in the insulating layer. Each wiring parts (16) is connected to one of the inter-pixel electrodes (15) and is arranged below the insulating layer (17) and the pixel electrodes (14).