Multibeam Diffraction Grating Backlight for 3D Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passive electronic displays, such as LCDs, lack the ability to emit light, limiting their applicability and requiring external light sources, which can be inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A multibeam diffraction grating-based color backlight system that uses laterally displaced light sources of different colors and a plate light guide with a multibeam diffraction grating to direct light beams in specific angular directions, enabling the creation of a 'glasses-free' 3D electronic display by modulating light beams as pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
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 merges the light source, light guide plate, and diffraction grating into an integrated backlight assembly. The multiple light sources (red, green, blue LEDs) are combined within a single light guide plate structure, eliminating the need for separate lighting systems for each color and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full-color emission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides light from the sources, distributes light across the display area, and works with the diffraction grating to enable angular separation for 3D effects. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and simplifies the overall system architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources of different colors are used to create color display, then the color gamut is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines red, green, and blue light sources within a single light guide plate structure. The light guide plate integrates all three color channels and distributes them across the display area, eliminating the need for separate lighting systems for each color and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The backlight is segmented into multiple independent light sources (red LED, green LED, blue LED) that can be individually controlled. This segmentation allows for precise color management and enables the display to produce a wide color gamut while maintaining flexibility in controlling each color channel separately.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a multibeam diffraction grating is used to direct light beams in specific angular directions, then 3D display capability is enabled, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The diffraction grating is applied selectively to specific regions of the light guide plate where angular separation is needed for 3D effects. Rather than requiring precision across the entire display surface, the grating is localized to areas where light extraction and angular control are required, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate acts as an intermediary between the light sources and the diffraction grating. It distributes and conditions the light before it reaches the grating, making the light input more uniform and predictable. This intermediary function reduces the precision requirements for the grating itself, as the light guide plate pre-processes the light to optimize grating performance.
4Adaptability or versatility
If color filters are used to transform white light into various colors, then the color display is achieved, but the energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using white light and filtering out unwanted wavelengths (which wastes energy), the patent extracts only the necessary color wavelengths directly from separate LED sources. Each LED emits its specific color wavelength efficiently without requiring filtering, thereby eliminating the energy loss associated with color filter absorption and improving overall energy efficiency.
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 solution allows for efficient backlighting of passive displays, enhancing their light emission capabilities and enabling the creation of 3D displays without the need for glasses, improving their practical applications and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
A multibeam diffraction grating is located at a surface of the plate light guide and is configured to diffractively couple out a portion of the guided light from the plate light guide
Implementation Method 2
A multibeam diffraction grating-based color backlight system that uses laterally displaced light sources of different colors and a plate light guide with a multibeam diffraction grating
Implementation Method 3
a plate light guide with a multibeam diffraction grating to direct light beams
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2C
Figure 3~4A
AI summary
Multibeam diffraction grating-based color backlighting includes a plate light guide, a multibeam diffraction grating at a surface of the plate light guide, and light sources laterally displaced from one another in a direction corresponding to a propagation axis of the plate light guide. The light sources produce light of different colors. The plate light guide is to guide light from the light sources. The multibeam diffraction grating is to couple out a portion of the guided light using diffractive coupling as a plurality of light beams of different colors in a plurality of different principal angular directions.