Sub-wavelength Color Separation System for Display Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional color filters in optical devices are inefficient, costly, and complex, with existing alternatives like sub-wavelength structures and holographic lenses facing challenges such as high production costs, poor light uniformity, and difficulty in alignment, which affect the optical efficiency and practicality of color separation systems.
Innovation Solution
A color separation system comprising a highly collimated backlight source, a color separation module with periodic light-splitting microstructures, and a beam splitting module with periodic microstructures on beam splitting plates, which deflects and converges beams to direct them parallel to the normal direction, enabling efficient separation and alignment of red, green, and blue light beams for a liquid crystal layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional color filters are used for light separation, then color separation function is achieved, but optical efficiency deteriorates due to absorption of about two-thirds of incident white light energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional dye-based color filters with a sub-wavelength structure (SWS) color separation system. The SWS uses periodic dielectric structures with dimensions smaller than the wavelength of light to achieve wavelength-dependent refraction and diffraction, substituting the absorption-based mechanical filtering mechanism with an interference-based optical mechanism that redirects rather than absorbs light energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter from absorption (conventional filters) to refraction and diffraction (SWS). By controlling the period, height, and material composition of the sub-wavelength structures, the system achieves wavelength-selective beam steering with high optical efficiency, transforming the light-matter interaction mechanism.
2Loss of energy
If sub-wavelength structures are used for color separation, then optical efficiency is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases due to the small pitch of about 320 nm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements the sub-wavelength structures as thin film layers that can be integrated into existing display panel architectures. The thin film format allows for flexible manufacturing approaches and reduces the mechanical complexity of maintaining such precise structures, making the high-precision SWS more practically manufacturable.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional color filters are used, then fabrication process is simple, but production cost increases due to multiple semiconductor photolithography processes needed for each primary color
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the color separation function into independent sub-wavelength structure layers for different wavelength ranges. Each SWS layer can be optimized for specific color ranges (e.g., one layer for red-green separation, another for blue separation), allowing parallel processing and reducing the need for sequential multi-step photolithography processes while maintaining high optical efficiency.
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 system achieves high optical efficiency and simplicity by effectively separating incident light into primary colors and directing them to corresponding sub-pixels, improving light usage and reducing production costs compared to conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
the first light incident surface, being configured with periodic light-splitting microstructures, is provided for separating the incident beam basing on the difference in wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
the first light emergence surface, being configured with periodic polygon structures, is used for receiving the incident beam passing through the light incident surface while deflecting the optical paths of the resulting split beams
Implementation Method 3
the at least one beam splitting plate, each having a periodic microstructures formed thereon, is used for converging the beams from the color separation module while directing the optical paths thereof toward the liquid crystal layer in positions respectively corresponding with multiple sub-pixels
Data Source
AI summary
A color separation system is disclosed, which comprises: a backlight source, being highly collimated and used for providing an incident beam; a color separation module, formed with a first color separation film for separating the incident beam basing on wavelength while deflecting the optical paths of the resulting split beams; and a beam splitting module, being configured with at least one beam splitting plate and a liquid crystal layer; wherein, the at least one beam splitting plate is used for converging the beams from the color separation module while deflecting the optical paths thereof for enabling those to be discharged thereout following a normal direction of a light emitting surface of the backlight source.