Side Lighting via Voltage-Controlled Laminate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional display devices with side lighting often result in complicated and bulky designs due to the need for additional control circuitry and a separate source for side lighting, which complicates the implementation and increases the size of the device.
Innovation Solution
A display device incorporating a housing with a backlight, a light guide plate, a laminate with variable optical transmittance based on voltage, and a controller to control the voltage applied to the laminate, allowing for modulation of the emitted light and simplifying the construction by 'recycling' the backlight as the source for side lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate LED source and optically-transparent material are used for side lighting, then side lighting function is achieved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the backlight to serve dual purposes: illuminating the display screen and providing side lighting through the light guide plate. This eliminates the need for separate LED sources and control circuitry dedicated solely to side lighting, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the side lighting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the side lighting function with the existing backlight system by integrating a light guide plate that redirects backlight into side lighting elements. This consolidation combines multiple lighting functions into a single integrated system, reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall device architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate LED source is used for side lighting, then side lighting is achieved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backlight system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - screen illumination and side lighting - eliminating the need for separate LED sources and reducing the overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate is integrated within the existing backlight structure, nesting the side lighting functionality inside the already-present backlight components. This nested arrangement allows side lighting to be generated within the existing spatial envelope without requiring additional external space.
3Ease of operation
If additional control circuitry is added for side lighting LEDs, then side lighting control is enabled, but design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing backlight control circuitry is made multi-functional by enabling it to control both screen illumination and side lighting through the light guide plate, eliminating the need for separate control circuitry and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control functions for backlight and side lighting are merged into a single control system. The controller that originally managed only backlight illumination now also manages side lighting through the integrated light guide plate, consolidating control circuitry and simplifying the system architecture.
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
This solution reduces design complexity and size by eliminating the need for a second backlight source, while enabling precise control over side lighting, resulting in a more efficient and streamlined display device.
Implementation Method 1
the laminate has a variable optical transmittance based on a voltage applied to the laminate
Data Source
AI summary
A display device for displaying at least one of graphical information and alphanumeric data may include a housing, a display housed within the housing, a backlight housed within the housing and for generating visible light to illuminate the display, a light guide plate coupled between the display and the backlight within the housing and configured to guide the visible light generated by the backlight, a laminate exposed through the housing and covering a portion of the light guide plate, wherein the laminate has a variable optical transmittance based on a voltage applied to the laminate, and a controller housed within the housing and configured to control the voltage applied to the laminate in order to control the variable optical transmittance and modulate emission of light generated by the backlight transmitted through the laminate.