Light-Emitting Substrate Optics for Perpendicular Light Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LED display panels suffer from low light extraction efficiency in the direction perpendicular to the light exit surface due to a large divergence angle of exited light, which limits their performance in applications requiring high light extraction efficiency, such as augmented reality devices.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting substrate is designed with a backboard, a light-emitting layer, and optical bodies, where the light-emitting layer includes light-emitting units arranged in an array, and first and second optical bodies with specific refractive indices and geometries are used to enhance light extraction efficiency by strategically positioning and arranging these optical bodies to redirect light towards the direction perpendicular to the substrate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional LED display panels are used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the light extraction efficiency in the direction perpendicular to the light exit surface is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical bodies as intermediary elements between the light-emitting units and the external environment. These optical bodies with specific refractive indices serve as mediators to redirect light propagation directions, transforming light that would otherwise escape at large angles into light that exits perpendicular to the substrate, thereby improving light extraction efficiency without fundamentally changing the LED structure itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the optical control function into multiple discrete optical bodies positioned between adjacent light-emitting units. Each optical body independently manages light from its neighboring light-emitting units, allowing for modular design and manufacturing while collectively achieving the goal of improved light extraction efficiency across the entire display panel
2Illumination intensity
If optical bodies are added to improve light extraction efficiency, then the light extraction efficiency increases, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical bodies into a single integrated optical component or array that can be manufactured as one unit. This merging approach reduces the number of separate manufacturing steps and assembly operations required, thereby mitigating the increase in manufacturing difficulty that would result from adding multiple discrete optical elements
Solution Approach 2:
The optical bodies are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: they serve as refractive elements to redirect light, as structural spacers to maintain precise positioning between light-emitting units, and as part of the overall optical management system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, simplifying the manufacturing process
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 significantly improves light extraction efficiency in the direction perpendicular to the light exit surface, enhancing the display brightness and performance of LED display panels, particularly in applications like augmented reality devices.
Implementation Method 1
Each first optical body includes a first optical portion and a second optical portion; a gap between two adjacent light-emitting units is filled with the first optical portion, and the second optical portion is located on a side of the light-emitting layer away from the backboard
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of second optical bodies are located on a surface of the common electrode layer away from the backboard; a refractive index of a second optical body is greater than a refractive index of a first optical body
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a light-emitting substrate. The light-emitting substrate includes a backboard, a light-emitting layer and a plurality of first optical bodies. The light-emitting layer is located on a side of the backboard; the light-emitting layer includes a plurality of light-emitting units, and the plurality of light-emitting units are arranged in an array. Each first optical body includes a first optical portion and a second optical portion; a gap between two adjacent light-emitting units is filled with the first optical portion, and the second optical portion is located on a side of the light-emitting layer away from the backboard, and is connected to the first optical portion. The second optical portion includes a first surface extending outwards from an edge of the first optical portion.