Microstructured Polarizer for Ambient Light Reflection Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional polarizers in liquid crystal display devices suffer from high reflection issues due to ambient light, leading to reduced display brightness and readability, especially in strong ambient conditions, and increasing backlight brightness to mitigate this increases power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A polarizer with protrusive microstructures made from curing-light or thermosetting resin materials, such as PET, PMMA, or polystyrene, arranged on the polarizer base to reduce reflection by scattering and diffusing ambient light, enhancing contrast and readability without increasing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional polarizers are used, then the liquid crystal panel can be manufactured with standard structures, but the reflection of ambient light reduces display brightness and readability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved surface microstructures (protrusions with rounded tops) on the polarizer surface to scatter ambient light reflections. The curved geometry transforms specular reflection into diffuse reflection, reducing the intensity of reflected ambient light while maintaining display brightness, directly resolving the contradiction between display quality and ambient light interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional feature by adding micro-protrusions to the polarizer surface, transforming it from a flat 2D surface to a 3D micro-structured surface. This dimensional enhancement creates light-scattering centers that reduce ambient light reflection without compromising the polarizer's optical function, thereby improving display readability in bright environments.
2Illumination intensity
If the brightness of the backlight is increased to compensate for reflection losses, then display brightness may be maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of ambient light reflection into a beneficial light-scattering mechanism. The micro-protrusions that cause reflection losses in conventional polarizers are transformed into useful light-diffusing elements that evenly distribute display brightness while reducing specular reflections, thereby maintaining visibility without increasing backlight power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface parameter of the polarizer by introducing micro-protrusions with specific dimensions (height 1-10 μm, base diameter 2-20 μm). This parameter modification alters the light interaction mechanism from specular reflection to diffuse scattering, improving display brightness uniformity and reducing the need for increased backlight power.
3Illumination intensity
If microstructures are added to the polarizer to reduce reflection, then display brightness and contrast are enhanced, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the polarizer surface into numerous micro-protrusions distributed across the surface. This segmentation approach creates multiple light-scattering centers that collectively reduce ambient light reflection and enhance display brightness, while the modular nature of the microstructures allows for straightforward manufacturing integration without significantly increasing overall device 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 microstructured polarizer effectively reduces ambient light reflection, enhances display brightness, and improves contrast and resolution, especially at wide viewing angles, without increasing power consumption by transforming reflected backlight into diffused reflection.
Implementation Method 1
The microstructure layer reflects and scatters the ambient lights, and thus reflection is reduced and the contrastness is enhanced
Implementation Method 2
the microstructure layer transforms the reflected backlight and the refraction into diffused reflection
Implementation Method 3
the curing-light or thermosetting resin materials shrink and the lighting dots or heating dots are centers of the shrinkage to form a plurality of protrusive microstructures
Implementation Method 4
coating at least two layers of curing-light or thermosetting resin materials on the polarizer base
Data Source
AI summary
A polarizer includes a polarizer base and a plurality of protrusive microstructures being arranged on the polarizer base. The microstructure includes at least two layers of curing-light or thermosetting resin materials. The manufacturing method of the curing-light or thermosetting resin materials includes: providing a polarizer base and coating at least two layers of curing-light or thermosetting resin materials on the polarizer base; and arranging a plurality of lighting dots or heating dots on the curing-light or thermosetting resin materials such that the curing-light or thermosetting resin materials shrink and the lighting dots or heating dots are centers of the shrinkage to form a plurality of protrusive microstructures. In addition, a liquid crystal panel includes the above-mentioned polarizer.