Refractive Layer Redirects Light in Liquid Crystal Display Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid crystal display panels suffer from low power efficiency and low display brightness due to light absorption or blocking by opaque structures, such as black matrices and metal traces, which prevent light from entering the panel.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a refractive layer with optical lenses having metasurfaces, such as titanium oxide nanopillars of varying heights, on one or both substrates to refract light away from light-shielding portions, allowing more light to enter the panel through light-transmitting portions, thereby increasing brightness under limited ambient illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If opaque structures (black matrix, metal traces) are used to prevent light leakage and enable driving circuits, then light shielding effectiveness is improved, but light utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent redirects light that would normally be absorbed or blocked by opaque structures (black matrix and metal traces) through a refractive layer with optical lenses. These lenses refract incident light at angles that guide it toward light-transmitting portions, converting what would be wasted light into useful display light, thereby improving power efficiency and display brightness
Solution Approach 2:
The refractive layer acts as an intermediary between the light source and the opaque structures. It intercepts light before it reaches the light-shielding portions and redirects it through refraction, serving as a mediator that prevents direct absorption while maintaining the necessary light-blocking function of the opaque structures
2Reliability
If opaque structures are used to prevent light mixing, then display contrast is improved, but display brightness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The refractive layer converts light that would be lost to opaque structures into useful display light by refracting it toward light-transmitting portions, thereby increasing overall display brightness while the opaque structures continue to provide contrast through their light-blocking function
3Illumination intensity
If more light-transmitting portions are created to increase brightness, then display brightness is improved, but light leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refractive layer serves as a mediator that redirects light away from light-shielding portions and toward light-transmitting portions. This allows the system to maintain effective light separation and prevent light leakage while maximizing the utilization of light-transmitting areas for display brightness
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 solution enhances the power efficiency and maximum brightness of the display panel by redirecting light that would otherwise be absorbed, ensuring more light enters the panel and is utilized for display purposes.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a refractive layer with optical lenses having metasurfaces, such as titanium oxide nanopillars of varying heights, on one or both substrates to refract light away from light-shielding portions
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel and a display device. The display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes a driving circuit layer. The driving circuit layer includes a light-shielding portion and a plurality of light-transmitting portions. The second substrate includes a light-shielding layer. The light-shielding layer includes a body portion and a plurality of hollow portions. The body portion is disposed corresponding to the light-shielding portion. The hollow portions are disposed corresponding to the light-transmitting portions. The first substrate further includes a refractive layer disposed on a side of the light-shielding portion away from the liquid crystal layer, or the second substrate further includes a refractive layer disposed on a side of the body portion away from the liquid crystal layer.