Transmissive Solar Panel Layout to Suppress Display Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar panels integrated into electronic devices, such as timepieces, often cause specular reflection on the display surface, leading to reduced visibility due to overlapping or unnatural brightness differences from reflected light, making it difficult for users to read information effectively.
Innovation Solution
A solar panel configuration with a transmissive area and power generators placed on the visible side of the display panel, incorporating an anti-reflector layer on the power generator surface facing the display to prevent light reflection, ensuring efficient power generation without impairing visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a metal electrode layer is disposed on the back surface of power generators facing the display, then power generation efficiency is improved, but specular reflection occurs causing overlapping image areas and uneven light density
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful specular reflection from the metal electrode layer into a beneficial effect by intentionally designing the reflection to illuminate dark areas of the display. The metal electrode layer's reflective property, which originally caused overlapping images and uneven brightness, is repurposed to enhance display visibility in dark regions, thus transforming a harmful factor into a useful one.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different functional requirements to different areas of the display. The display surface is divided into bright areas and dark areas, with the metal electrode layer specifically targeting the dark areas for illumination. This local differentiation allows the reflective property to be beneficial where needed (dark areas) while not interfering with the overall display function.
2Power
If power generators are disposed on the display surface, then electric power generation is enhanced, but visibility of the display is reduced due to light reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the light reflection that normally reduces display visibility into a beneficial illumination source for dark areas. The metal electrode layer on the power generators reflects light that would otherwise be lost, and this reflected light specifically illuminates dark portions of the display, thereby converting a visibility-reducing factor into a visibility-enhancing feature.
Solution Approach 2:
The power generator structure is given multiple functions: it generates electric power from incident light and simultaneously acts as a reflective element to illuminate dark display areas. The metal electrode layer serves dual purposes by both enabling power generation and providing beneficial reflection, thus achieving multi-functionality that resolves the contradiction between power generation and display visibility.
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 enhances visibility by preventing unnatural reflections and maintaining high power generation efficiency, allowing for clear and natural display of information while generating sufficient electric power.
Implementation Method 1
a power generator (51) that generates electric power from light
Implementation Method 2
an anti-reflector (515) that is provided on a display-panel-facing surface of the power generator (51) facing the display panel (41) to prevent reflection of light
Data Source
AI summary
A solar panel is provided on a visible side of a display panel and includes a transmissive area, a power generator and an anti-reflector. The transmissive area transmits light. The power generator generates electric power from light. The anti-reflector is provided on a display-panel-facing surface of the power generator to prevent reflection of light on the power generator. The display-panel-facing surface of the power generator faces the display panel. The light, the reflection of which is prevented by the anti-reflector, is among light having passed through the transmissive area and been reflected by the display panel.