Optical Device Beam Shaping Structure for Display Panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical devices for backlight units in LCDs suffer from high beam divergence, leading to uneven brightness and energy loss, and are unable to efficiently provide collimated light for subpixels, resulting in subpixel cross-talk and reduced contrast ratios.
Innovation Solution
An optical device with a beam shaping structure that reduces the beam divergence of light beams emitted from waveguides, allowing for precise control of light incidence and emission, enabling collimated beams to illuminate individual subpixels efficiently without energy loss, using waveguides and optical couplers to direct light from a single source to multiple subpixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a diffuser is used at the top of the display stack to distribute light, then light distribution over a larger area is achieved, but beam divergence increases and brightness uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the light distribution function into multiple segments: waveguides distribute light laterally, optical couplers redirect light at controlled angles, and beam shaping structures focus light onto specific subpixel areas. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function, achieving both wide coverage and uniform brightness without using a traditional diffuser.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate optical components between the light source and the display pixels: waveguides as intermediaries to transport light, optical couplers as intermediaries to redirect light at controlled angles, and beam shaping structures as intermediaries to focus light. These intermediaries enable precise control over light propagation, eliminating the need for a diffuser while maintaining brightness uniformity.
2Loss of energy
If a collimated backlight is used to reduce beam divergence, then energy loss is reduced, but no efficient collimated backlight exists in the prior art
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the optical system self-service by using the waveguide and optical coupler structures to automatically collimate and direct light onto the appropriate subpixels. The beam shaping structures are integrated into the display stack, allowing the system to generate collimated beams on-demand without requiring an external collimated backlight source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical complexity of traditional collimated backlight systems (which would require precise optical alignment and complex optical elements) with a planar integration approach using waveguides and optical couplers that can be manufactured using standard semiconductor fabrication processes. This substitution makes collimated light generation manufacturable and scalable.
3Area of stationary object
If light is distributed laterally within a light guide and scattered by out-coupling structures, then light distribution over a larger area is achieved, but beam divergence increases and contrast ratio deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing different portions of light to different locations with precision: waveguides channel light laterally to specific regions, optical couplers redirect light at controlled angles to adjacent subpixels, and beam shaping structures focus light onto individual subpixel areas. This localized control ensures that each subpixel receives light only from its corresponding waveguide, maintaining high contrast ratios while distributing light over the entire display area.
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 optical device achieves reduced beam divergence, improved brightness uniformity, and increased contrast ratios by ensuring each subpixel receives a collimated light beam, reducing energy loss and subpixel cross-talk, while also enabling more efficient light distribution to hundreds or thousands of pixels.
Implementation Method 1
an optical coupler for coupling a light beam from the first waveguide to the second waveguide
Implementation Method 2
a beam shaping structure with a light emitting area for emitting a light beam... the beam shaping structure is configured to propagate a light beam received from the second waveguide to the light emitting area such that the beam divergence of a light beam emitted from the light emitting area is lower than the beam divergence of the light beam received from the second waveguide
Implementation Method 3
a first waveguide for receiving a light beam from an external light source... at least a second waveguide... the second waveguide is configured to guide a light beam coupled from the first waveguide to the beam shaping structure
Data Source
AI summary
The present application concerns an optical device for controlling light, the optical device including: a first waveguide for receiving a light beam from an external light source, at least a second waveguide, an optical coupler for coupling a light beam from the first waveguide to the second waveguide, a beam shaping structure with a light emitting area for emitting a light beam, wherein the second waveguide is configured to guide a light beam coupled from the first waveguide to the beam shaping structure, wherein the beam shaping structure is configured to propagate a light beam received from the second waveguide to the light emitting area such that the beam divergence of a light beam emitted from the light emitting area is lower than the beam divergence of the light beam received from the second waveguide.