Polarizer Substrate Grid Lines and Microstructure for LCD Brightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wire-grid polarizers in liquid crystal displays result in insufficient brightness due to the inability of a portion of the light emitted by the backlight module to pass through, leading to reduced light transmission efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A polarizer substrate with a metal pattern layer comprising a polarizer structure of grid lines and a microstructure, where the grid lines have a thickness of 200 nm to 500 nm, a width of 30 nm to 70 nm, and a distance of 30 nm to 70 nm, overlapping a transmission area, and a microstructure with a thickness of 20 nm to 500 nm, overlapping a reflective area, enhancing light reflection and transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a wire-grid polarizer is used to polarize light from the backlight module, then the polarization function is achieved, but a part of the light is unable to pass through resulting in insufficient brightness
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective layer is divided into two distinct regions: a transmission area that allows light to pass through and a reflective area that redirects light. This segmentation enables different portions of the light to be handled differently, improving overall transmission efficiency while maintaining the polarization function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of only absorbing or blocking unwanted polarized light, the invention inverts the approach by using a reflective area to bounce back light that would otherwise be lost. This inversion transforms a loss mechanism into a useful function that enhances brightness.
2Loss of energy
If the grid lines are made thinner to improve light transmission, then more light can pass through, but the structural integrity and polarization effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the polarizer substrate are given different properties: the transmission area has optimized grid line dimensions for maximum light transmission, while the reflective area has a microstructure designed for effective light reflection. This local differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The polarizer substrate combines two different structural configurations in one device: a grid line structure in the transmission area and a microstructure in the reflective area. This composite approach allows the device to simultaneously achieve high light transmission and effective polarization by using the appropriate structure in the appropriate location.
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 described polarizer substrate design increases the brightness of liquid crystal displays by effectively separating and re-directing unpolarized light, allowing more light to pass through and be reflected back, thereby improving the overall light transmission efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A P wave with polarization direction perpendicular to a grating may pass through the wire-grid polarizer, and a S wave with polarization direction perpendicular to the grating may be reflected by the wire-grid polarizer
Implementation Method 2
a microstructure overlaps the reflective area, and a thickness of the microstructure is 20 nm to 500 nm
Data Source
AI summary
A polarizer substrate includes a substrate, a reflective layer, and a metal pattern layer. The reflective layer is located on the substrate and has a transmission area and a reflective area. The metal pattern layer is located on the reflective layer and the substrate. The metal pattern layer includes a polarizer structure and a microstructure. The polarizer structure includes a plurality of grid lines overlapping the transmission area. A thickness of each of the grid lines is 200 nm to 500 nm, a width of each of the grid lines is 30 nm to 70 nm, and a distance between each adjacent two of the grid lines is 30 nm to 70 nm. The microstructure overlaps the reflective area, and a thickness of the microstructure is 20 nm to 500 nm.