Segmented Backlit Display with Light Transmitting Layers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices, such as liquid crystal displays, are complex and expensive to produce, and their depiction quality is heavily dependent on ambient conditions and viewing angles, with a risk of 'burn-in' during long usage, especially when displaying multiple symbols.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a simple structure featuring a display surface segmented for backlighting, utilizing a layer structure of flat, transparent or translucent light-transmitting layers stacked with main surfaces facing each other, and equipped with light sources and opaque intermediate layers to prevent cross-talk, allowing for the creation of multiple symbols by selective backlighting of segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid crystal display is used to display multiple symbols, then depiction quality is maintained, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display surface is divided into multiple independently controllable segments that can be selectively backlit. Each segment corresponds to a specific symbol portion, allowing individual control through separate light sources and light transmitting layers, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining depiction quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the light transmission function into separate transparent or translucent layers that can be independently controlled. By separating the light guiding function from the display surface, the system achieves simpler control architecture with reduced production complexity while maintaining reliable symbol depiction
2Reliability
If liquid crystal display is used for long duration symbol display, then depiction quality is maintained, but burn-in risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic switching between different symbol displays by selectively activating different light sources and corresponding light transmitting layers. This periodic action prevents prolonged static illumination of single segments, thereby reducing burn-in risk while maintaining depiction quality during long displaying duration
Solution Approach 2:
The display system transitions from static to dynamic operation by enabling independent control of multiple light sources and light transmitting layers. This dynamic capability allows frequent switching between different symbol configurations, preventing burn-in while maintaining high depiction quality over extended periods
3Ease of manufacture
If simple structure is used for display device, then production cost is reduced, but depiction quality becomes dependent on ambient conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by using transparent or translucent layers with specific optical properties at critical locations where light transmission is required. These localized optical enhancements maintain high depiction quality in the display regions while keeping the overall structure simple and cost-effective for mass production
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light transmitting layers as intermediary elements between light sources and the display surface. These intermediary layers mediate the light transmission process, ensuring consistent depiction quality across different ambient conditions while maintaining a simple overall structure that is easy and cost-effective to manufacture
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources are used for multiple symbols, then symbol versatility is improved, but light cross-talk between symbols increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light transmission path into separate transparent or translucent layers, each associated with a specific light source and symbol. This segmentation physically isolates light paths, preventing cross-talk between adjacent symbols while maintaining the ability to display multiple different symbols through selective activation
Solution Approach 2:
The light transmitting layers act as intermediary elements that guide light from specific sources to specific display regions. These intermediaries prevent light from one source from reaching unintended regions, thereby eliminating cross-talk while enabling versatile multi-symbol display capability
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 enables the production of a cost-effective and high-quality display device that is less dependent on ambient conditions, with improved light transmission and reduced risk of 'burn-in', while maintaining a simple and cost-effective manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
a layer structure of several flat light transmitting layers made of a transparent or translucent material... the light transmitting layers are each configured in such a way that, primarily, light of exactly one of the light sources is transmitted from a narrow side of the light transmitting layer as a light entrance to another narrow side of the light transmitting layer as a light exit
Implementation Method 2
the remaining narrow sides are parallel or inclined with respect to the perpendicular onto the display surface in order to reflect light in the direction of the display surface by means of reflection
Data Source
AI summary
A display device is provided. The display device comprises a display surface with several segments that can be backlit, which are configured in such a way that, if subsets of the segments are backlit together, a different one of several symbols is in each case depicted by the display surface, a number of light sources corresponding to the number of symbols, a layer structure of several flat light transmitting layers made of a transparent or translucent material, preferably plastic, wherein the light transmitting layers are stacked with the main surfaces facing each other and are in each case configured in such a way that, primarily, light of exactly one of the light sources is transmitted from a narrow side of the light transmitting layer provided for light entrance to another narrow side of the light transmitting layer as a light exit to at least one segment of the associated symbol.