Non-Periodic Opaque Display Structures to Mitigate Diffraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Displays with opaque and transparent structures suffer from visible artifacts due to diffraction of environmental light, causing rainbow effects and diffraction spikes, particularly when the opaque components form periodic patterns.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating non-periodic optical features, such as randomized shapes and paths, in the opaque footprint of the display to reduce periodicity and mitigate diffraction artifacts, including randomized component mounting portions and interconnect portions, and adjusting the placement of elements to minimize periodic features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If periodic opaque structures are used in the display, then manufacturing and component placement is simplified, but diffraction artifacts become visible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by replacing periodic opaque structures with non-periodic arrangements. The component mounting portions are positioned at non-uniform intervals and orientations, and the interconnect portions follow randomized paths rather than regular patterns. This asymmetric, non-periodic configuration disrupts the diffraction pattern formation while maintaining electrical connectivity and component functionality.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If non-periodic opaque structures are used to reduce diffraction artifacts, then visual clarity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display into multiple unit cells, each containing component mounting portions and interconnect portions. By dividing the overall structure into repeating modular units with non-periodic internal arrangements, the patent achieves global non-periodicity while maintaining local manufacturability. Each unit cell can be manufactured independently using standardized processes, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes geometric parameters of the opaque structures, including the shapes, sizes, and positions of component mounting portions. The interconnect portions have variable widths and follow curved or angled paths rather than straight lines. These parameter variations create non-periodic patterns that reduce diffraction while still allowing for controlled manufacturing processes.
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 solution effectively reduces perceptible diffraction artifacts, enhancing the display's clarity and reducing unwanted visual effects like rainbow effects and diffraction spikes, while maintaining the necessary opaque components for functionality.
Implementation Method 1
Diffraction of environmental light that passes through the display to the viewer may result in undesirable visible artifacts such as rainbow effects and diffraction spikes
Data Source
AI summary
A display may include light-emitting components such as light-emitting diodes on a transparent substrate. Conductive signal paths between the light-emitting components, driver integrated circuits for controlling the light-emitting components, and the light-emitting components themselves may be opaque. To mitigate diffraction artifacts caused by the opaque components, the opaque footprint of the display may be selected to include non-periodic portions. The non-periodic portions increase randomness and reduce periodicity within the opaque footprint, which mitigates perceptible diffraction artifacts when viewing the display. One or both of the component mounting portions and interconnect portions of the opaque footprint may be non-periodic. The component mounting portions may have random shapes. The interconnect portions may follow random paths between the component mounting portions.