Micro-LED Rearview Mirror Display for Uniform Low-Heat Backlighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicular interior rearview mirror assemblies face challenges with lighting uniformity, cost, heat load, and current draw, particularly in providing effective backlighting for information display screens.
Innovation Solution
The use of a micro-LED backlight system with a two-dimensional close-packed array of micro-LEDs on a flexible or rigid printed circuit substrate, integrated into the interior rearview mirror assembly to provide uniform and efficient lighting for a full display mirror, reducing heat generation and power consumption while enhancing brightness and field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional LED backlighting is used in vehicular display assemblies, then cost and ease of manufacture are improved, but lighting uniformity deteriorates and heat load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backlighting system into multiple independent LED modules arranged in a specific pattern. Each module contains multiple LEDs that can be individually controlled, allowing for improved lighting uniformity across the display surface while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by positioning LEDs at specific locations and orientations to address non-uniform lighting in different areas of the display. Different regions of the display receive tailored lighting arrangements to compensate for variations in light distribution, achieving overall uniformity.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional LED backlighting is used in vehicular display assemblies, then cost and ease of manufacture are improved, but heat load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the backlighting system into multiple separate LED modules, each with its own heat management characteristics. This segmentation allows for better heat distribution and dissipation across the display assembly, reducing localized heat buildup while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermal management intermediaries such as heat sinks, thermal pads, or heat dissipation structures between the LED modules and the display housing. These intermediaries facilitate efficient heat transfer away from the LEDs, reducing overall heat load in the display assembly.
3Illumination intensity
If micro-LED display is used in interior rearview mirror assembly, then illumination intensity and field of view are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the micro-LED display technology with the interior rearview mirror assembly, integrating the display function into the existing mirror structure. This combination allows the mirror to serve dual purposes: traditional rearview reflection and digital information display, thereby improving brightness and field of view without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling the interior rearview mirror assembly to perform both traditional reflection and digital display functions. The micro-LED display is integrated into the mirror housing, allowing it to display information such as blind zone monitoring, navigation, or entertainment content while maintaining the mirror's primary rearview function.
4Area of stationary object
If micro-LED display is used in interior rearview mirror assembly, then field of view is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the micro-LED display with the interior rearview mirror assembly, integrating the display function into the existing mirror structure. This combination allows the mirror to serve dual purposes: traditional rearview reflection and digital information display, thereby improving field of view without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling the interior rearview mirror assembly to perform both traditional reflection and digital display functions. The micro-LED display is integrated into the mirror housing, allowing it to display information such as blind zone monitoring, navigation, or entertainment content while maintaining the mirror's primary rearview 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 micro-LED system offers improved lighting uniformity, reduced heat dissipation, and lower power consumption, providing a brighter and more efficient display with extended field of view, supplementing conventional exterior rearview mirrors and reducing blind zones.
Implementation Method 1
The display device comprises a display screen (such as a thin film transistor (TFT) display screen) that is backlit by a plurality of micro light emitting diodes (micro-LEDs)
Implementation Method 2
The interior mirror reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector whereby the mirror reflector reflects light that is incident on the reflective element and partially transmits illumination emitted from the display device through the mirror reflective element
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular display assembly includes a pixelated display having a plurality of micro-LEDs disposed at a substrate. Packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the substrate is at least 10 micro-LEDs per square centimeter. Each individual micro-LED of the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular display assembly is operated to emit light, may pass less than 4 mA electrical current. The vehicular display assembly is configured to be disposed at a portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular display assembly. With the vehicular display assembly disposed at the portion of the equipped vehicle, light emitted by the plurality of micro-LEDs, when the vehicular display assembly is operated to emit light, is viewable at the portion of the equipped vehicle.