Perpendicular LED Substrate Indirect Lighting for Uniform Backlighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LED devices cause dark spots and inadequate color mixing on diffusion panels in LCDs due to the direct emission of light, leading to uneven backlighting and visible color variations.
Innovation Solution
An indirect LED device with a substrate oriented perpendicular to the light exit plane, utilizing a reflector surface and encapsulants to increase the path length of light rays, facilitating better mixing and distribution of light, including the use of a reflector block and encapsulants to redirect light rays for improved color mixing and heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional LED devices directly emit light, then the device structure is simple, but dark spots appear on the diffusion panel and color mixing is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional direct-emission approach by using indirect emission through a reflector. Light is emitted downward from the substrate, reflected upward by a reflector block, and then directed through the light guide plate. This inversion eliminates dark spots and improves color mixing while maintaining a compact structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reflector block as an intermediary between the LED substrate and the light guide plate. This reflector mediates the light path, redirecting light rays to achieve uniform distribution across the diffusion panel without requiring direct line-of-sight emission.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the substrate is oriented perpendicular to the light exit plane with increased path length, then light mixing and color consistency improve, but the device profile increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the light emission dimension from direct horizontal emission to vertical emission followed by reflection. By orienting the substrate perpendicular to the light exit plane and using a reflector block, the light path extends in the vertical dimension while maintaining a compact horizontal profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector block uses a curved reflective surface to redirect light rays. The curvature of the reflector surface optimizes the light path length and distribution, achieving uniform color mixing while controlling the overall device profile.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple encapsulants are used for light mixing, then color consistency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple encapsulants (first and second encapsulants with different refractive indices) in a single integrated structure. The first encapsulant surrounds the LED chip while the second encapsulant fills the space between the first encapsulant and the reflector, creating a unified light mixing system that improves color consistency without requiring separate manufacturing steps.
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 minimizes or eliminates dark spots and achieves consistent white light distribution on the diffusion panel, enhancing light mixing and color consistency while also improving heat dissipation and reducing the profile and cost of the LED device.
Implementation Method 1
reflecting the light off of a reflective surface to redirect the light toward the light exit plane
Implementation Method 2
propagating the light through a plurality of encapsulants within the lighting device
Implementation Method 3
propagating the light through a phosphor encapsulant
Implementation Method 4
coupling a thermal coupler to the substrate to transfer heat away from the substrate, or coupling a heat sink to the thermal coupler to transfer the heat away from the thermal coupler and the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting apparatus is described. One embodiment of the lighting apparatus includes a substrate and a lighting element. The lighting element is coupled to the substrate to emit light through a light exit plane. The light exit plane is substantially perpendicular to the substrate. By providing a lighting device with a substrate oriented perpendicular to the light exit plane of the lighting device, the lighting device can enable better mixing of the light from different LEDs. The lighting apparatus facilitates light mixing, generally, to minimize or eliminate dark spots on the diffusion panel. The lighting device also facilitates color mixing to produce relatively consistent white light on the diffusion panel.