Optical Film Microstructures Deflect Light for Wide Viewing Angle LCDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid crystal displays, such as TN displays, suffer from narrow viewing angles and grey level inversion, while wider viewing angle technologies like IPS and MVA displays incur higher manufacturing costs and increased power consumption due to higher backlight brightness requirements, particularly in outdoor applications where brightness and heat dissipation are critical.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal display incorporating an optical film with microstructures that deflect incident light to specific orientations, enhancing viewing angles without increasing manufacturing costs or power consumption, by distributing light to wider angles and maintaining light intensity at the front viewing angle through adjustable microstructure design and refractive indices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If IPS or MVA display is used to achieve wider viewing angle, then viewing angle is improved, but manufacturing cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light deflection film as an intermediary component between the backlight module and the liquid crystal display panel. This film deflects light at specific angles (20-70 degrees) to achieve wide viewing angles without requiring the liquid crystal display to increase its intrinsic viewing angle capability, thus avoiding the associated cost and power consumption penalties of IPS or MVA technologies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the viewing angle enhancement function from the liquid crystal display panel itself and transfers it to a separate light deflection film component. This allows the liquid crystal display to maintain its original low-power TN panel characteristics while the external film provides the wide viewing angle capability through optical light deflection
2Illumination intensity
If backlight brightness is increased to improve display brightness, then display brightness is improved, but heat dissipation becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The light deflection film provides localized light redirection at specific angles (20-70 degrees) rather than requiring uniform increase in overall backlight brightness. This allows the display to achieve adequate brightness in the critical viewing zones without proportionally increasing the total backlight power and associated heat generation
3Ease of manufacture
If TN display is used to reduce manufacturing cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but viewing angle becomes narrow and grey level inversion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The light deflection film serves as an intermediary that compensates for the TN display's narrow viewing angle and grey level inversion limitations. By deflecting light at specific angles, the film enables the low-cost TN panel to achieve wide viewing angles (140 degrees left/right, 120 degrees top/down) without requiring expensive panel technology changes
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 provides a wide viewing angle display that addresses the limitations of TN displays while maintaining lower costs and power consumption, ensuring effective brightness and heat dissipation for outdoor applications, such as large outdoor advertising billboards.
Implementation Method 1
The light is deflected by the micro structures of the optical film and then is emitted to the outside at an angle of 20 ̃70 degrees relative to a normal line of the light outputting plane of the optical film
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal display including a display panel, an optical film and a backlight module is disclosed. The optical film is disposed on the display panel and has a plurality of micro structures facing the display panel arranged on the optical film. The period of the arranged micro structures is between 90 μm˜3 μm. The backlight module and the optical film are disposed on opposite sides of the display panel respectively. The backlight module is used for emitting a light, which penetrates the display panel and reaches the optical film. The light is deflected by the micro structures of the optical film and then is emitted to the outside at an angle of 20˜70 degrees relative to a normal line of the light outputting plane of the optical film.