Reflective LCD Specular Light Reflecting Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

In reflective liquid crystal displays, the lack of reflective electrodes between adjacent pixels reduces the usage efficiency of ambient light, leading to lower luminance due to unused light not contributing to image display, particularly exacerbated in area ratio grayscale methods where the ratio of non-reflective regions is higher.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a specular light reflecting member on the rear substrate that reflects ambient light through gaps between adjacent reflective electrodes towards the front substrate, enhancing the usage efficiency of ambient light by utilizing light that would otherwise be unused.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If reflective electrodes are only disposed in pixel regions, then the display structure is simple, but ambient light usage efficiency is reduced and luminance is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay structure simplicityVSAvoidluminance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the function of reflective electrodes with the gap regions between pixels by introducing a light reflecting member that reflects ambient light from gap regions toward the front substrate. This merges the light reflection function into previously non-reflective areas, increasing overall ambient light usage efficiency and luminance without complicating the basic display structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The light reflecting member acts as an intermediary element that captures ambient light from gap regions and redirects it toward the front substrate where it can contribute to image display. This mediator enables the gap regions to contribute to luminance output that would otherwise be lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sets of reflective electrodes are used for area ratio grayscale method, then grayscale display capability is improved, but the ratio of non-reflective regions is increased and ambient light usage efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrayscale display capabilityVSAvoidambient light usage efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the light reflection function into the gap regions between multiple sets of reflective electrodes. By introducing the light reflecting member in these gap regions, the patent ensures that even the regions between electrode sets contribute to ambient light usage, thereby maintaining grayscale display capability while improving overall ambient light usage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If gap regions between reflective electrodes are left empty, then manufacturing is easier, but light passing through these gaps does not contribute to image display

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidunused ambient light

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the previously harmful effect of light passing through gap regions (which was wasted and did not contribute to display) into a beneficial effect by introducing the light reflecting member. This member reflects the light that would otherwise be lost back toward the front substrate, where it can contribute to image display, thereby turning waste into a useful resource.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 configuration increases the luminance of the displayed image by effectively utilizing ambient light that was previously not contributing to the image, improving the overall light usage efficiency and reducing the yellow tone bias in white displays.

Implementation Method 1

a specular light reflecting member reflecting ambient light which is directed to a rear surface side of the rear substrate through a gap between the adjacent reflective electrodes toward the front substrate side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpecular reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9389456B2Liquid crystal display

Publication Date: 2016.07.12 MAGNOLIA WHITE CORP

AI summary

A liquid crystal display which is a reflective liquid crystal display displaying an image by controlling reflectance of ambient light includes: a front substrate; a rear substrate; and a liquid crystal material layer disposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate, wherein the rear substrate is provided with a plurality of reflective electrodes formed on a surface side opposite to the liquid crystal material layer, and a specular light reflecting member reflecting ambient light which is directed to a rear surface side of the rear substrate through a gap between the adjacent reflective electrodes toward the front substrate side.