Rubber Supporting Elements Replace Plastic Frame in LCD Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high manufacturing cost of plastic frames in conventional liquid crystal display modules is a significant issue due to the need for complex mould development, which increases production expenses.
Innovation Solution
The use of rubber supporting elements with protruded columns and grooves, along with metal components, replaces the traditional plastic frame structure, eliminating the need for costly mould development and allowing for reduced manufacturing costs by simplifying the assembly process and providing additional structural support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plastic frame is used in conventional liquid crystal display modules, then structural support and component positioning are achieved, but manufacturing cost increases due to complex mould development
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive plastic frames requiring complex moulds with cheaper rubber supporting elements that can be manufactured using simpler processes. The rubber elements are designed to be cost-effective and easily replaceable, eliminating the need for expensive mould development while maintaining structural support functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to rubber for the supporting elements. This material substitution fundamentally alters the manufacturing approach, moving from mould-based plastic injection to rubber processing methods that require less complex tooling, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and device complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If rubber supporting elements with protruded columns and grooves are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced by eliminating complex moulds, but assembly precision must be maintained through the groove-column fit
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber supporting elements are segmented into distinct features: protruded columns and grooves. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of individual components while the interlocking geometry ensures precise assembly. The columns and grooves are separate design elements that can be produced independently with standard rubber processing techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove-column fit design allows the rubber supporting elements to self-align and self-position components during assembly. The geometric interlocking provides inherent positioning accuracy without requiring complex external fixtures or high-precision manufacturing, as the parts guide each other into the correct position through the groove-column interface.
3Strength
If the height of protruded column is greater than depth of groove, then structural integrity and positioning are enhanced, but material usage and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the dimensions of protruded columns and grooves at different locations on the rubber supporting elements. The height of columns and depth of grooves are optimized locally at each interface to provide sufficient structural integrity and positioning, rather than uniformly throughout. This localized optimization reduces overall material usage while maintaining strength where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display module having a first rubber supporting element and a second rubber supporting element used to replace a conventional elastic frame. The present invention has the following advantages and effects: because a structure of elastic frame is replaced by the rubber structures of the present invention, the cost for mold development can be reduced significantly; furthermore, comparing with pressure rivet thread posts employed in conventional techniques for positioning a light guide plate and an optical film, metal is inserted into the rubber structures of the present invention for positioning the light guide plate and the optical film, so that the cost for cutting and manufacturing of the light guide plate are reduced; at the same time, the rubber structures of the present invention can absorb a heat expansion of the light guide plate, and reduce a probability of occurrence of optical problems.