Microlens Array Substrate Light Guidance Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In projector systems, the efficiency of light use is compromised due to the non-optimized shape and placement of aspheric convex microlenses in liquid crystal devices, leading to reduced aperture ratios and lower image luminance as devices miniaturize and pixel density increases.
Innovation Solution
A microlens array substrate with a transparent substrate featuring lens-shaped recesses filled with a higher refractive index material, including a lens center and circumference portion with specific linear side surfaces, and a light blocking portion that optimizes the angle and position of incident and output light to prevent blocking, adhering to specific relational expressions to enhance light guidance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If aspheric convex microlenses are formed on the opposing substrate without specified shape and placement position, then the device structure is simple, but the light usage efficiency is lowered due to non-optimized relationship between beam shape and aperture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the shape parameters (lens-curved surface radius of curvature, side surface inclination angle) and positional parameters (distance from aperture plane) of the microlens. This optimization ensures that the light beam shape and divergence angle match the aperture dimensions, maximizing light usage efficiency while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized formation processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating different surface characteristics in different regions of the microlens. The lens center portion has a lens-curved surface for light convergence, while the lens circumference portion has a linear side surface with specific inclination angle for beam shaping. This differentiated local structure optimizes light guidance to the aperture while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity.
2Volume of moving object
If the electronic apparatus is miniaturized and pixel number is increased, then the device size is reduced and resolution is enhanced, but the aperture ratio decreases and light usage efficiency is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the aperture ratio reduction in miniaturized devices by changing the optical parameters of the microlens. By optimizing the radius of curvature and side surface inclination angle, the microlens effectively concentrates light into a tighter beam that matches the smaller aperture dimensions, compensating for the reduced aperture ratio and maintaining high light usage efficiency in compact, high-resolution devices.
3Illumination intensity
If the microlens has a lens-curved surface only, then the light convergence is achieved, but the beam shape is not optimized for aperture matching, causing light loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by dividing the microlens into two functional regions: the lens center portion with a lens-curved surface for light convergence, and the lens circumference portion with a linear side surface for beam shaping and collimation. This local differentiation ensures that light is not only converged but also shaped into an optimized beam profile that matches the aperture dimensions, preventing light loss while maintaining strong convergence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by creating a microlens structure where the lens center and lens circumference portions have different geometric characteristics. The lens-curved surface at the center provides spherical convergence, while the linear side surface at the circumference provides asymmetric beam shaping. This asymmetric design optimizes the light beam profile to match the aperture shape, reducing light loss at the aperture boundary.
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
This configuration enables efficient light guidance to the aperture, optimizing light output and enhancing the light usage efficiency, allowing for the display of bright, high-resolution images in compact electronic apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
a microlens that is filled with a lens material having a larger refractive index than the transparent substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A microlens includes a lens center portion having a lens-curved surface and a lens circumference portion having a linear side surface. In the case where length of the side surface is taken as L1, length of an aperture is taken as Ax, an angle formed by a normal of the side surface and incident light on the microlens is taken as θ1, and an angle formed by the normal of the side surface and output light from the microlens is taken as θ2, a relational expression of Equation 1 is satisfied.0<L1≤Axcos(θ1-θ2)cosθ2Equation1