Segmented Light Guide Plates with Expansion Gaps for Edge-Lit Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
In display devices with edge light type backlights, the expansion of light guide components due to temperature and humidity changes can lead to contact with the light source, causing uneven brightness and potential damage, as well as reduced light use efficiency due to varying gaps between light guide plates.
Innovation Solution
A configuration featuring a first and second light guide plate joined by a joint member, with a space between them to accommodate expansion, preventing contact with the light source and maintaining consistent light distribution, while the joint member reflects light to ensure uniform illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light guide component is made of resin material to improve light transmissivity, then light transmissivity is improved, but the light guide component expands or contracts with temperature and humidity changes causing contact with the light source
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide component is divided into multiple light guide plates that are arranged at intervals with gaps between them. This segmentation allows each plate to expand and contract independently within the gaps, preventing contact with the light source while maintaining overall light transmission functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Gaps are introduced as intermediary spaces between the light guide plates and the light source. These gaps act as buffers that accommodate thermal and humidity-induced expansion of the resin material without allowing direct contact, thus protecting the light source while preserving light transmission.
2Reliability
If gaps are introduced between light guide plates to prevent contact, then contact prevention is improved, but light use efficiency decreases due to light loss in gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The gaps between light guide plates, which initially seem to cause light loss, are designed to accommodate expansion while the joint member reflects light that would otherwise be lost into the gaps back toward the display area. This converts the potentially harmful light loss into a beneficial expansion accommodation mechanism.
3Area of stationary object
If the number of light sources or light emission amount is increased to illuminate larger screens, then illumination coverage is improved, but heat generation increases causing greater expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide system is segmented into multiple plates with gaps, allowing localized expansion management. This enables the system to handle higher heat generation from increased light sources by distributing thermal management across multiple independent segments rather than a single large component.
Solution Approach 2:
The design explicitly accounts for thermal expansion by providing gaps between light guide plates. These gaps accommodate the expansion that occurs when heat from increased light source emission causes the resin material to expand, preventing contact and potential damage.
4Reliability
If gaps between light guide plates vary due to expansion and contraction, then contact prevention is maintained, but uneven brightness occurs in the display area
Solution Approach 1:
The joint member serves as an intermediary element that connects adjacent light guide plates. It reflects light that would otherwise be lost into the gaps back toward the display area, compensating for the varying gap sizes caused by expansion and contraction, thereby maintaining brightness uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
Light that would be lost into the gaps between light guide plates is recovered by the joint member through reflection. This recovered light is redirected into the display area, compensating for the variations in gap size and maintaining uniform brightness across the display.
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
Prevents contact between the light guide plate and the light source, reducing the likelihood of damage and uneven brightness, and maintains light use efficiency by ensuring consistent light distribution across the display area.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide component includes a light entering surface through which light from the light source enters and a light exiting surface through which the light entering through the light entering surface exits toward the display area
Implementation Method 2
the joint member reflects light to ensure uniform illumination
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a display component, a light source, and a light guide component. The display component includes a display area and a non-display area. The light guide component includes a first light guide plate disposed behind the display area, a second light guide plate disposed adjacent to the light source and lateral to the first light guide plate, and a joint member disposed behind the non-display area. The first light guide plate includes a plate surface with an area larger than the display area. The plate surface includes a light exiting surface. The second light guide plate includes a light entering surface. The joint member joins the first light guide plate and the second light guide plate together. A space is present between the first light guide plate and the second light guide plate and surrounded by the joint member.