Optical Film Refractive Layer Design for Display Viewing Angle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current display apparatuses face limitations in improving viewing angle and contrast ratio while maintaining cost-effectiveness, as maximizing refractive index in optical films increases manufacturing costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

The display apparatus incorporates an optical film configuration with a base layer and alternating high and low refractive index layers, featuring embossed patterns and filling portions to refract and reflect light effectively, thereby enhancing viewing angle and reducing reflection, while simplifying the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a material capable of maximizing the refractive index is used in the optical film, then the viewing angle is improved, but the manufacturing cost is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing angleVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The optical film is segmented into multiple refractive layers with alternating high and low refractive indices. This segmentation allows the use of cost-effective materials while achieving superior viewing angle performance through cumulative refraction effects across multiple interfaces, rather than relying on a single expensive high-refractive-index material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structure by combining multiple layers of different refractive indices. This composite approach creates an effective optical performance that exceeds individual materials, achieving high viewing angle improvement while using commercially available materials at lower costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If multiple refractive layers with different refractive indices are used to improve viewing angle, then the viewing angle is improved, but the device complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing angleVSAvoidoptical film structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The low refractive index layers act as intermediary elements between high refractive index layers, creating additional refraction interfaces. These intermediary layers simplify the overall design by providing a systematic approach to achieving viewing angle improvement without requiring complex single-layer materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Illumination intensity

If an optical film with high refractive index layers is used to improve contrast ratio, then the contrast ratio is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrast ratioVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical film structure segments the refraction function across multiple layers, which simplifies manufacturing by allowing each layer to be optimized independently. This segmentation enables standard fabrication processes to be used for each layer while achieving superior overall contrast ratio performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 configuration improves the viewing angle and contrast ratio by efficiently managing light emission and reducing external glare, while also simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs associated with high refractive index materials.

Implementation Method 1

The optical film may include a plurality of refractive layers having different refractive indices. The optical film may improve the viewing angle of the display apparatus by utilizing the refraction phenomenon of light based on the refractive index difference among the plurality of refractive layers.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

some beams among the light beams incident on the first refractive layer from the backlight unit may be reflected by the first refractive layer and the second refractive layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3640720B1Display apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.03.29 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3640720B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3640720B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3640720B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a display apparatus. The display apparatus includes a backlight unit configured to emit light, a display panel positioned in front of the backlight unit; and an optical film positioned in front of the display panel, and the optical film includes a base layer, a first refractive layer positioned in front of the base layer, a second refractive layer positioned in front of the first refractive layer and having a lower refractive index than the first refractive layer, a third refractive layer positioned at the rear of the base layer, and a fourth refractive layer positioned at the rear of the third refractive layer and having a lower refractive index than the third refractive layer.