Microlens Segmentation for Liquid Crystal Display Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid crystal apparatuses, the deviation of microlens centers between the element substrate and the counter substrate leads to reduced brightness and inefficient light utilization, especially with advancements in high-definition displays requiring improved contrast ratios.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a liquid crystal apparatus with a first substrate featuring a first microlens and a second microlens, where the first microlens is positioned further towards the incident side of light and has a greater lens power than the second microlens, enhancing light collection and reducing positional deviations during substrate bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If one microlens is provided to the element substrate and one microlens is provided to the counter substrate, then light utilization efficiency is improved, but the centers of the microlenses deviate during substrate bonding, resulting in reduced brightness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the microlens system into multiple segments (first microlens and second microlens) both disposed on the element substrate. This segmentation allows each microlens to perform specialized functions: the first microlens collects incident light while the second microlens focuses light onto the pixel electrode, thereby maintaining high light utilization efficiency without requiring a microlens on the counter substrate, thus avoiding alignment deviation issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-substrate microlens configuration (one on element substrate, one on counter substrate) to a single-substrate multi-microlens configuration (multiple microlenses on element substrate). This dimensional reorganization eliminates the alignment problem between substrates while maintaining the optical benefits of multiple microlenses through vertical stacking and functional differentiation on the same substrate.
2Manufacturing precision
If two microlenses are provided to the element substrate with light incident from the element substrate side, then alignment deviation is reduced, but further improvements in light utilization efficiency and contrast ratio are demanded for high definition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different optical functions to different microlenses at different locations on the element substrate. The first microlens (closer to incident light) has optimized parameters for light collection, while the second microlens (closer to pixel electrode) has optimized parameters for light focusing. This localized functional differentiation maximizes light utilization efficiency at each stage of the optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by varying the optical parameters (such as focal length, curvature radius, or lens power) between the first microlens and the second microlens. The first microlens may have a longer focal length for broad light collection, while the second microlens has a shorter focal length for precise focusing on the pixel electrode, thereby optimizing overall light utilization efficiency for high-definition displays.
3Use of energy by moving object
If microlenses are disposed on both element substrate and counter substrate, then light collection is enhanced, but substrate bonding causes center deviation and reduces contrast ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the microlens function from the counter substrate and consolidates multiple microlenses on the element substrate only. This extraction eliminates the source of alignment deviation that occurs during substrate bonding, thereby preventing the generation of diffraction light while maintaining enhanced light collection efficiency through the multi-microlens configuration on the element substrate.
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 improves light utilization efficiency and contrast by ensuring precise microlens alignment and positioning, suppressing diffraction light and enhancing display quality.
Implementation Method 1
a first microlens disposed between the first substrate and the switching element, and a second microlens disposed between the first microlens and the switching element
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal apparatus includes an element substrate provided with a pixel electrode and a TFT, and a counter substrate disposed facing the element substrate. The element substrate includes a first microlens, a second microlens, and a third microlens corresponding to the pixel electrode. The first microlens is disposed further toward an incident side of light than the second microlens. A relationship between a lens power of the first microlens and a lens power of the second microlens is that the lens power of the first microlens is greater than or equal to the lens power of the second microlens.