Segmented Light Guide Plate with Refractive Index Gaps for Local Dimming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side-lighting backlight modules struggle to achieve desired contrast and efficient energy usage due to light leakage and dispersion, as they lack structures to confine light within specific regions.
Innovation Solution
A local dimming side-lighting light guide plate with a light guide plate body and gaps filled with mediums of different refractive indices, utilizing total internal reflection to confine light within specific areas, and a microstructure layer to control light emission, allowing for selective luminance adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional side-lighting light guide plate is used to guide light from light sources, then the light can be distributed across the display panel, but the light disperses as moving distance increases and cannot be limited to specific regions, resulting in poor contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is divided into multiple independent light guide regions separated by light blocking structures. Each region can independently guide light from its corresponding light source without interference from adjacent regions, enabling local dimming and improving contrast ratio
Solution Approach 2:
Light blocking structures (such as light blocking layers or light blocking plates) are extracted and positioned between adjacent light guide regions. These structures actively block stray light and prevent light leakage, solving the fundamental problem of light dispersion in conventional side-lighting designs
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources are used to define different light areas, then selective luminance control is possible, but light generated by adjacent light sources leaks into each other's regions due to lack of blocking structures
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is segmented into independent light guide regions, each associated with specific light sources. The segmentation prevents light from one region from leaking into adjacent regions, ensuring that when certain light sources are turned off, their corresponding regions remain dark while other regions can be independently controlled
Solution Approach 2:
Light blocking structures serve as intermediary elements positioned between adjacent light guide regions and light sources. These structures mediate the interaction between light and the light guide plate by selectively blocking light paths, thereby preventing light leakage while maintaining the ability to independently control luminance in different regions
3Speed
If prisms are added to control light direction, then light can travel parallel to prism extending direction, but light still disperses in other directions and cannot be fully confined within specified regions
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate structure is segmented with light blocking structures that create distinct light guide regions. This segmentation works in conjunction with prisms to provide both directional control (via prisms) and lateral confinement (via light blocking structures), achieving precise light confinement that neither element could achieve alone
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate employs a composite structure combining transparent light guide material with light blocking materials. This composite design integrates the light-directional control function of prisms with the light-confinement function of blocking structures, creating a system that achieves both efficient light guidance and precise regional confinement
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
Enhances contrast and reduces energy consumption by effectively limiting light to specific areas, improving the visual effect and energy efficiency of display panels.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing total internal reflection to confine light within specific areas
Implementation Method 2
A microstructure layer is disposed at the bottom of each light area of the light guide plate for destroying the total reflections of the lights so that those lights can eventually emit from the surface
Data Source
AI summary
The light guide plate includes a light guide plate body and a first medium, wherein the refractive index of the light guide plate body is greater than the refractive index of the first medium. The light guide plate body includes a plurality of gaps parallel with each other, wherein the first medium is disposed in those gaps. The light guide plate body further includes a light entrance end, wherein the gaps extend in directions both away and toward the light entrance end. Furthermore, an active region is defined on the light guide plate body and the gaps are located in the active region.