Microstructured Multibeam Element for Directional Backlighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passive electronic displays, which do not emit light, are limited in practical applications due to their inability to emit light, necessitating the use of external light sources for functionality, which can be inefficient and restrictive.
Innovation Solution
A multiview backlight system utilizing microstructured multibeam elements that provide directional light beams with different principal angular directions, allowing for the creation of a light field that can be modulated to display multiview or 3D content without the need for external light sources, enhancing angular color uniformity and brightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If passive displays are coupled to external light sources to enable light emission, then the displays can function as active displays, but the system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light guide plate and microstructured multibeam elements into an integrated backlight assembly that works together to generate and distribute directional light beams, eliminating the need for separate external light sources and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate serves as an intermediary component that receives light from LEDs and redistributes it through microstructured multibeam elements to create directional light beams, mediating between the light source and display panel while enabling active display functionality
2Illumination intensity
If traditional backlights are used to illuminate passive displays, then light emission is achieved, but angular color uniformity and brightness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The backlight is segmented into multiple microstructured multibeam elements that independently generate directional light beams at specific angles, allowing precise control over angular color uniformity and brightness across different viewing directions
Solution Approach 2:
Each microstructured multibeam element is designed with specific local optical properties to emit light in particular directions with controlled color and intensity, ensuring consistent display performance across the entire viewing angle range
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources are used to provide directional light beams for multiview display, then viewing angle coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional omnidirectional or single-directional lighting to three-dimensional directional light beam distribution by incorporating microstructured multibeam elements that emit light at multiple predetermined angles, enabling multiview functionality without proportionally increasing complexity
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 multiview backlight system enables efficient and uniform light distribution, improving the display of multiview or 3D content by providing directional light beams that correspond to different view directions, thereby overcoming the limitations of passive displays and enhancing their practical applications.
Implementation Method 1
Each microstructured multibeam element comprises a plurality of microstructures. The microstructured multibeam element provides the directional light beam plurality by reflecting a portion of the guided light at an interior surface or wall of the microstructure of the microstructured multibeam element
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
A multiview backlight and a multiview display employ a microstructured multibeam element to emit a plurality of directional light beams having principal angular directions corresponding to view directions of the multiview display. The multiview backlight includes a light guide and the microstructured multibeam element adjacent and external to a surface of the light guide. The microstructured multibeam element has an input aperture configured to receive a portion of guided light from the light guide and an output aperture configured to emit the plurality of directional light beams. The microstructured multibeam element comprises a microstructure having an interior surface configured to reflect the received guided light portion to provide the plurality of directional light beams at the output aperture. The multiview display includes the multiview backlight and an array of multiview pixels configured to provide different views of the multiview display.