Automated Liquid Reflective Coating for LCD Light Guide Plates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual attachment of reflective tape to light guide plates in LCDs is time-consuming, reduces productivity, and increases production costs, while automated systems provide low operational performance.

Innovation Solution

An automated system that paints the side surface of a light guide plate with a liquid-state reflective material using a dispenser, controlled by a sensing unit and a control unit to maintain uniform distance and discharge rate, ensuring optimal coverage and alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual attachment of reflective tape is used, then alignment precision can be achieved, but productivity decreases and operation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual attachment process with an automated dispensing system that uses vision guidance and robotic control to apply reflective material, thereby maintaining precision while dramatically improving productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The vision system creates a digital copy or map of the light guide plate's position and orientation, allowing the dispensing system to replicate the precise alignment that would otherwise require manual operation, thus achieving both precision and automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If automated devices are used to attach reflective tape, then productivity increases, but operational performance and precision decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidoperational performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The vision system continuously monitors the position and orientation of the light guide plate during the dispensing process, providing real-time feedback that allows the control system to adjust the dispensing parameters and maintain high precision throughout automated operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the dispensing parameters based on real-time vision data, allowing the automated system to adapt to variations in light guide plate positioning and maintain operational performance equivalent to or better than manual processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If reflective tape is used instead of liquid reflective material, then application speed increases, but manufacturing precision and uniformity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication speedVSAvoiduniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the reflective material from solid tape to liquid form, allowing for more precise control of application parameters such as discharge rate, distance, and angle, thereby achieving both high speed and high uniformity through automated dispensing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system effectively prevents light leakage by forming a uniform reflective material layer on the light guide plate, improving productivity and reducing costs by using a liquid-state reflective material instead of tape.

Implementation Method 1

a sensing unit to sense at least one side surface of a light guide plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical sensing: Light

Implementation Method 2

a dispenser to discharge a reflective material to the at least one side surface of the light guide plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid deposition: Deposition (physical)

Implementation Method 3

to prevent light generated from a back light unit from leaking from the side surface of the light guide plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2657594B1Method and apparatus for preventing light leakage from light guide plate and display device having light guide plate painted with reflective material
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 LG CNS CO LTD
  • EP2657594B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2657594B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2657594B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for preventing a light leakage from a light guide plate may include a sensing unit to sense at least one side surface of a light guide plate, a dispenser to discharge a reflective material to the at least one side surface of the light guide plate, the reflective material used to prevent light generated from a back light unit from leaking from the side surface of the light guide plate, and a control unit to control the dispenser.