Pixelated Liquid Crystal Display Light Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic displays face challenges in calibrating and controlling LED zones for optimal contrast level adjustments, leading to suboptimal light intensity management and visibility issues.
Innovation Solution
A display system incorporating a backlight, a pixelated liquid crystal layer, reflective polarizers, and a diffuser to dynamically adjust light transmissivity at a pixel level, allowing for local dimming and recycling of light, thereby enhancing visibility and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LED zones are used to control dimming and adjust visual properties, then light intensity control is improved, but device complexity increases due to complex calibration and control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into multiple independently controllable LED zones that can be calibrated and controlled separately. Each zone can be adjusted to achieve optimal contrast levels without affecting other zones, simplifying the overall calibration process through modular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different LED zones are assigned different luminance characteristics tailored to specific viewing conditions and display regions. This allows local optimization of contrast and brightness without requiring complex global calibration, as each zone is designed with its own optimal properties.
2Illumination intensity
If contrast level adjustments are made through LED zone control, then visibility is improved, but power consumption increases due to multiple LED zones operating simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
LED zones are activated periodically rather than continuously, with different zones turning on and off in sequence based on display content and viewing conditions. This periodic activation maintains necessary contrast levels while significantly reducing overall power consumption compared to all zones operating simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Only the minimum necessary LED zones are activated to achieve the required contrast level for the current display content. Rather than operating all zones at full capacity, the system activates only the partial set of zones needed, reducing power consumption while maintaining visibility.
3Loss of energy
If light recycling is implemented through reflective polarizers, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional optical components
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective polarizer layers serve multiple functions simultaneously: they polarize light for the display, reflect unused light back to the backlight for recycling, and act as structural components of the display assembly. This multi-functionality achieves energy efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The light recycling function is merged with the existing polarizer structure rather than being implemented as a separate system. The reflective polarizers are integrated into the display stack, combining the polarization and light recycling functions in a single component layer, thereby minimizing additional complexity.
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 system achieves improved light intensity control and energy efficiency by dynamically rotating polarized light and recycling unused light, resulting in enhanced contrast ratios and reduced power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a pixelated first display unit disposed proximate to the backlight... The first display unit may include a liquid crystal layer being pixelated such that each pixel is dynamically configured to optically rotate the light
Implementation Method 2
a second reflective polarizer positioned between the first display unit and the backlight... The second reflective polarizer may reflect a portion of the light to the backlight for recycling
Implementation Method 3
a diffuser disposed between the first display unit and the second display unit... The diffuser may include a base plastic film including a light scattering agent
Data Source
AI summary
A display system including a backlight including a housing receiving light emitting elements to generate and project light from the backlight and reflective portions disposed on the housing is described. A first display unit is disposed proximate the backlight and may include an upper substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a lower substrate disposed opposite the upper substrate. A reflective polarizer may cooperate with one or more of the upper substrate and the lower substrate of the first display unit. A second display unit is disposed proximate the first display unit. The second display unit may include an upper substrate, a thin-film transistor (TFT) display layer cooperating with the upper substrate and a lower substrate disposed opposite the upper substrate that cooperates with the TFT display layer. A linear polarizer may cooperate with one or more of the upper substrate and the lower substrate of the second display unit.