Optical Waveguide Cylindrical Fiber Array Viewing Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices, such as OLEDs, suffer from uneven brightness and color bias when viewed from different angles due to the effect of resonant microcavity, which limits their viewing angle characteristics and display effect.
Innovation Solution
An optical waveguide with a cylindrical optical fiber array is integrated onto the light exit surface, utilizing a refractive index difference between materials to ensure homogeneous light intensity and color distribution across the viewing range through total internal reflection and mixing of light within the optical fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a scattering layer is coated on the light exit surface to improve viewing angle characteristics, then the light distribution is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and additional layers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the light guiding function into multiple optical fibers arranged in an array, where each fiber independently guides and mixes light. This segmentation approach replaces the conventional scattering layer with discrete optical elements that provide both light distribution and viewing angle improvement without requiring additional coating layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical fibers as intermediary elements between the light source and the viewing environment. These fibers act as mediators that receive light from the electroluminescent device, guide it through total internal reflection, and emit it in a controlled manner to achieve uniform light distribution across wide viewing angles.
2Power
If the resonant microcavity effect is present in electroluminescent devices, then the light emission efficiency is improved, but the light intensity and color become uneven across different viewing angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by having each optical fiber in the array perform light mixing and redistribution independently. The optical fibers are strategically positioned and oriented to address local light distribution issues at different viewing angles, creating uniform illumination across the entire viewing range while preserving the overall emission efficiency of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of light propagation by utilizing total internal reflection within the optical fibers. This parameter change transforms the direct emission pattern affected by resonant microcavity into a redistributed pattern that achieves uniform intensity and color across different viewing angles, while maintaining the benefits of efficient light emission.
3Ease of operation
If an optical fiber array is used to improve light distribution, then the viewing angle characteristics are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical system into discrete optical fibers with standardized dimensions and arrangements. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing where each fiber can be produced and positioned independently, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements compared to creating a single complex optical component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies particular parameter ranges for the optical fibers (such as diameter-to-length ratio between 0.01-0.1) that optimize light mixing while accommodating reasonable manufacturing tolerances. By defining appropriate parameter ranges rather than requiring exact values, the patent balances manufacturing precision requirements with effective light distribution performance.
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 effectively improves the viewing angle characteristics of display devices by maintaining uniform light intensity and color across a wide range, addressing the issue of uneven brightness and color bias, and can be applied to both flexible and plane display substrates without significant light loss.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a refractive index difference between materials to ensure homogeneous light intensity and color distribution across the viewing range through total internal reflection and mixing of light within the optical fibers
Implementation Method 2
The refractive index of the first material is higher than the refractive index of the second material
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments of the present invention provide an optical waveguide and manufacturing method thereof, display substrate and display device. The optical waveguide comprises an optical fiber array arranged on a surface; each optical fiber in the optical fiber array has a cylindrical shape; the axis of each optical fiber is perpendicular to the surface. With the effect of limitation and mixing of the optical fibers, the intensity and color of the light from the optical waveguide are basically homogeneous in the whole emitting range, effectively improving the viewing angle characteristics of the display device, and solving the problem of uneven brightness and color bias in the range of viewing angle.