Micro-LED Glass Light Feeding With Bonded Collimation for Bright Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
LED-based displays face thermal limitations that restrict their brightness and require bulky heat management systems due to the use of larger LEDs and optic systems.
Innovation Solution
A light feeding system incorporating an array of micro LEDs laminated into glass layers, which eliminates the need for bulky optics by using an optical bonding collimator to channel light efficiently through inner reinforcing layers, allowing for higher brightness and thermal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional incandescent bulbs are used, then high brightness is achieved, but high heat generation and low energy efficiency occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from incandescent bulb technology to LED technology, fundamentally changing the operating parameters including voltage (lower for LEDs), temperature characteristics (lower heat generation), and energy conversion efficiency. This parameter change enables high brightness while maintaining low heat generation and high energy efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a dense array of LEDs is used to drive sophisticated multipixel displays, then display sophistication is improved, but thermal management complexity and brightness limitations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the bulky heat management systems and collimating optics from the display structure. By using micro-LEDs with direct light emission characteristics, the design eliminates the need for complex thermal management components and optical collimation systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining display sophistication.
3Speed
If collimating optics are used to feed lightbar, then light directionality is improved, but device bulkiness and thermal management requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical collimation system with a direct-emission micro-LED approach. Instead of using physical collimating optics to direct light, the micro-LEDs are designed to emit light in the desired direction inherently, substituting a complex mechanical/optical system with a simpler semiconductor structure that achieves the same light directionality function.
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 achieves higher brightness and thermal efficiency by minimizing thermal loads and pitch between micro LEDs, enabling complex animations and high-resolution displays without the need for bulky heat management systems.
Implementation Method 1
the optical bonding collimator includes a structure having dimensions selected to maximize an amount of light from the micro LEDs that contacts the one or more inner reinforcing layers at or above a critical angle required for total internal reflection (TIR) optics
Implementation Method 2
LED-based displays generally leverage an active layer interposed between two doped layers (e.g., an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer), and the application of a voltage between the two doped layers to generate light. Voltage causes electrons to be injected into the active layer, which recombine within the active layer to release photons.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure include a light feeding system for a display that uses micro light-emitting diodes (LEDs) laminated into glass for light guide applications. An exemplary display can include a light feeding system having one or more micro LEDs on a surface of a backplane. An optical bonding collimator is positioned over and in direct contact with a surface of the micro LEDs. The optical bonding collimator is on the surface of the backplane. A light guide is coupled to an end of the optical bonding collimator such that the optical bonding collimator is between the light guide and the backplane. One or more inner reinforcing layers are in direct contact with the light feeding system and one or more outer layers are in direct contact with the inner reinforcing layers. The light feeding system is laminated with the inner reinforcing layers and the outer layers.