Symbol Display Element With Off-State Visibility and High Luminance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional display elements, especially μ-LED-based ones, are expensive, complex, and limited in application due to their rectangular shape and requirement for active control, making them difficult to recognize when switched off and impractical for use on transparent surfaces without obstructing the view.
Innovation Solution
A display element comprising a carrier with optoelectronic components and a molded body with recesses that form a symbol element, allowing the component to be visible when off and providing high luminance when on, with the option for touch functionality and integration into laminated glass, using diffuser and absorber particles for improved illumination and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional μ-LED-based display elements are used, then high luminance and active control capability are achieved, but the device becomes expensive, complex, and difficult to recognize when switched off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a molded body that is a simplified copy or representation of the symbol element, visible when the display is off. This molded body replicates the essential visual identity without requiring complex active control electronics, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining recognizability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive μ-LED components with simpler, cheaper alternatives such as phosphorescent materials or simple LEDs combined with a molded body. These simpler components achieve the desired visual effect without the high cost and complexity of μ-LED technology.
2Quantity of substance
If display elements are made transparent for glazing integration, then view transparency is improved, but visibility when switched off deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phosphorescent materials that change their optical properties - they appear dark or invisible when not excited (maintaining transparency) and glow brightly when activated (providing visibility). This dynamic optical change resolves the contradiction between transparency and visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The display element changes its optical parameters (transparency/visibility) based on its operational state. When off, the material maintains high transparency; when on, it transitions to a visible state through phosphorescence or LED activation, thus adapting its parameters to satisfy both requirements.
3Ease of operation
If active control electronics (TFT backplane) are added for μ-LED displays, then switching capability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex TFT backplane and control electronics from the display system. Instead, it uses passive or simply controlled elements like phosphorescent materials or basic LEDs, thereby eliminating the manufacturing complexity and cost associated with active control electronics while retaining basic switching capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The display element uses self-service mechanisms such as phosphorescent materials that automatically glow when exposed to light without requiring complex control circuits. This eliminates the need for expensive TFT backplanes and control electronics, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining operational functionality.
4Ease of manufacture
If rectangular μ-LED displays are used, then manufacturing standardization is improved, but application versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display into modular components - a standardized carrier element and a customizable molded body. This segmentation allows the basic manufacturing process to remain standardized while the molded body can be customized for different applications, shapes, and functions, thereby achieving both manufacturing efficiency and application versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier element serves as a universal base that can accommodate different types of optoelectronic components (LEDs, phosphorescent materials, touch sensors). This universal platform enables the same manufacturing process to produce displays for various applications including automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics, greatly enhancing versatility.
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 enables cost-effective, flexible, and partially transparent display elements that remain visible when switched off, offering high luminance and small installation depth, suitable for various applications including automotive and industrial uses without obstructing the view.
Implementation Method 1
The shaped body also comprises converter particles, which are distributed substantially uniformly in the shaped body and are designed to convert light emitted by the least one optoelectronic component into light of a different wavelength
Implementation Method 2
the molded body comprises diffuser particles, in particular TiO2, Al2O3, PMMA or PC. These can either be essentially uniformly distributed in the molded body
Implementation Method 3
the shaped body also comprises absorber particles, in particular soot particles
Data Source
AI summary
A display element includes a carrier element on which at least one optoelectronic component for generating light of a first wavelength is arranged with a light emission side. The light emission side defines a main emission direction. The at least one optoelectronic component is connected to a plurality of connection lines on the carrier element. The display element also includes a molded body forming a symbol element. The molded body includes at least one recess and is connected to the carrier element such that the at least one optoelectronic component is in the at least one recess. A space formed by the recess is between the light exit side of the at least one optoelectronic component and the molded body. The symbol element is visible to a user in a top view of the display element when the at least one optoelectronic component is switched off.