Reflective Plate Thickness Gradient for Luminance Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light-emitting devices struggle to achieve uniform luminance distribution and efficient light use while maintaining a compact configuration, leading to in-plane luminance unevenness and reduced luminance contribution.

Innovation Solution

The light-emitting device incorporates a reflective plate with a sloped section thicker than its top surface section, combined with features like high-reflective films, uneven structures, and wavelength conversion sheets, to enhance luminance contribution and uniformity without increasing weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a conventional reflective plate with uniform thickness is used, then the device structure is simple, but the in-plane luminance uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvein-plane luminance uniformityVSAvoidreflective plate structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reflective plate is designed with non-uniform thickness, where the central portion has a first thickness and the peripheral portion has a second thickness different from the first. This local variation in thickness creates different optical path lengths and reflection characteristics in different regions, thereby improving in-plane luminance uniformity across the display surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a thickness dimension variation to the reflective plate structure. By controlling the thickness distribution in the vertical dimension (central vs. peripheral portions), the patent achieves improved luminance uniformity in the horizontal plane, effectively using dimensional transformation to solve the uniformity problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the reflective plate thickness is increased to improve light reflection, then the luminance contribution rate improves, but the device weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminance contribution rateVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly increasing the reflective plate thickness throughout, the invention applies thickness variation locally - the central portion has one thickness while the peripheral portion has another. This allows optimization of light reflection in the central viewing area without proportionally increasing the overall weight of the entire plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the thickness parameter of the reflective plate from a uniform value to a spatially varying value. By adjusting the thickness parameter differently in central and peripheral regions, the patent optimizes the balance between luminance contribution rate and device weight, achieving better light efficiency without linear weight increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 improves in-plane luminance uniformity and luminance contribution, enabling superior image expression in display apparatuses and uniform illumination in lighting apparatuses.

Implementation Method 1

a backlight is known that uses a resin-made reflective plate that reflects light from a light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

combined with features like high-reflective films, uneven structures, and wavelength conversion sheets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWavelength conversion: Photoluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP4123365B1Light-emitting device, display apparatus, and lighting apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP4123365B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4123365B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4123365B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a light-emitting device that exhibits superior luminance contribution rate of a light source while reducing in-plane luminance unevenness despite a simple configuration. The light-emitting device includes: a substrate on which one or more light sources are provided; and a reflective plate placed on the substrate. The reflective plate includes: an opening into which the light source is inserted; a sloped section that is sloped relative to the substrate while surrounding the opening, and has a first thickness; and a top surface section that is coupled to a top end of the sloped section, and has a second thickness. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness.