Directional Display Light Guide with Prism Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices in vending machines cannot switch display patterns based on the viewing direction, leading to inconsistent visibility regardless of the viewer's position.
Innovation Solution
A display device featuring a transparent light guide plate with prisms arranged to reflect light in specific directions, allowing patterns to be visible from different angles and enhancing brightness through strategically positioned light sources, which can be controlled to display intended patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a switching display device uses light emitters to selectively turn on displays, then the display can be switched between different patterns, but the display appears the same irrespective of the viewing direction
Solution Approach 1:
The display surface is segmented into multiple regions, each with prisms oriented at different angles. Each prism group reflects light toward a specific viewing direction, allowing different patterns to be displayed for different viewing angles without requiring separate display units for each direction.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light guide plate have different local optical properties through prisms with specific orientation angles. Each local region is optimized to reflect light toward its corresponding viewing direction, creating direction-dependent display patterns without complicating the overall device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple display units are provided for different products, then product information can be displayed, but the display cannot be switched depending on the viewing direction
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple display patterns for different viewing directions are merged into a single light guide plate structure. The prisms in different regions simultaneously guide light from a common light emitter to create different visible patterns depending on the viewer's angle, eliminating the need for multiple separate display units while maintaining brightness.
3Ease of operation
If the display pattern is fixed regardless of viewer position, then the device structure is simple, but the visibility and adaptability for various viewer heights and positions is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The prism orientations are arranged asymmetrically across the light guide plate, with each region having a specific orientation angle tailored to its intended viewing direction. This asymmetric arrangement enables the display to adapt to viewers at different heights and positions without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
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
Enables display pattern switching based on viewing direction, improving visibility and adaptability for various viewer heights and positions, with enhanced brightness and selective pattern control.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of prisms have, for each pattern, reflection surfaces that reflect light emitted from the at least one light source and entering the light guide plate through the incident surface in a direction in which the pattern is viewable
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a transparent light guide plate having an incident surface to display a plurality of patterns viewable in different directions and at least one light source facing a part of the incident surface. The light guide plate includes, on a first surface of the light guide plate, a plurality of prisms arranged along each of the plurality of patterns. The plurality of prisms have, for each pattern, reflection surfaces that reflect light emitted from the at least one light source and entering the light guide plate through the incident surface in a direction in which the pattern is viewable.