Display Rim Light Guide Homogeneity via Oblique Reflection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Ambilight systems for TVs interrupt the viewing experience by creating a gap between the display image and the ambient lighting, leading to viewer fatigue due to the lack of seamless integration of image and ambient light.

Innovation Solution

A rim system with a light guide and controllable LEDs that emit light uniformly, utilizing detected color information to extend the display image onto the rim, ensuring continuous and homogeneous lighting by reflecting light within the guide and coupling it out at an oblique angle, thereby reducing the need for multiple light sources and enhancing light homogeneity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple light sources are used to illuminate the light guide, then the light coverage is improved, but the light homogeneity deteriorates due to non-uniform distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight coverage areaVSAvoidlight homogeneity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between multiple light sources and the display rim. The light guide receives light from multiple LEDs and redistributes it uniformly along the rim through internal reflection and light scattering mechanisms, achieving both comprehensive coverage and homogeneous illumination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide is specifically designed with uniform optical properties and geometry to ensure homogeneous light distribution. By controlling the optical path and using materials with consistent refractive indices, the system achieves uniform light intensity along the entire rim despite using multiple discrete light sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

2Speed

If light is reflected at normal angle from light guide sides, then the light path is shortened, but the light homogeneity and distribution quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight propagation speedVSAvoidlight distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide utilizes asymmetric refraction and reflection angles rather than normal incidence. By designing the light guide geometry and interface angles asymmetrically, the system optimizes the light path length and distribution, allowing light to traverse a longer, more uniform path along the rim while maintaining efficient propagation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Strength

If the rim system interrupts the image continuity, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the viewing experience deteriorates due to viewer fatigue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidviewer fatigue
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rim system dynamically changes color to match the displayed content using controllable LEDs integrated with the light guide. This color synchronization creates a seamless visual extension of the display image onto the rim, eliminating the interrupting effect and reducing viewer fatigue while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The rim system merges the display image with the ambient lighting by making the rim an active extension of the display. Through coordinated color and intensity control, the rim blends seamlessly with the displayed content, creating a continuous visual experience that eliminates the perceived gap between display and environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution provides a seamless extension of the display image onto the ambient environment, reducing viewer fatigue by ensuring uniform and continuous lighting, and allowing for adaptive color adjustment based on both display and ambient conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one controllable light source is coupled to the light guide such that the emitted light beam reaching the inner and the outer sides from within the light guide becomes reflected under an oblique angle with the respect to the inner and the outer sides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the light guide comprising an out-coupling structure for interacting with the light beam guided within the light guide such that the light beam becomes extracted out of the front side of the light guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical coupling:

Data Source

PatentEP2100172B1A rim system for a display
Publication Date: 2014.04.16 TP VISION HLDG BV
  • EP2100172B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2100172B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2100172B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This invention relates to a rim system for a display such as a TV or a computer display. Controllable light sources are used for emitting light beam of at least one wavelength into a light guide comprising an inner and an outer side and a front and a back side, the light guide being adapted for guiding incoming light emitted by the light sources. The light guide 5 comprises an out-coupling structure for interacting with the light guided within the light guide such that the light becomes extracted out of the front side of the light guide. The light sources are coupled to the light guide such that the emitted light beam reaching the inner and the outer sides from wit hin the light guide becomes reflected under an oblique angle with the respect to the inner and the outer sides.