Thermal Expansion Compensation in Backlight Illumination Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal expansion of light guide plates in display modules can lead to significant displacement relative to other components, causing misalignment of light sources and optical input terminals, resulting in light leakage, distortion, and other abnormalities, especially across varying operating temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A thermally expansion-matched frame and light guide plate with similar coefficients of thermal expansion, where the frame tracks the expansion of the light guide plate to maintain alignment of light sources and optical input terminals, and a pleated flexible circuit strip allows for out-of-plane deformation without affecting electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the light guide plate is made large to cover the entire lateral extent of the display, then the illumination area is improved, but thermal expansion causes significant displacement and misalignment of light sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the frame by selecting materials with specific coefficients of thermal expansion that match the light guide plate. This parameter matching ensures that both components expand at the same rate when temperature changes, maintaining their relative alignment despite the large size of the light guide plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent directly addresses thermal expansion by designing the frame and light guide plate with substantially similar coefficients of thermal expansion. This allows both components to undergo comparable dimensional changes in response to temperature variations, preventing misalignment and maintaining manufacturing precision across the large illumination area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the frame and light guide plate have different coefficients of thermal expansion, then material selection flexibility is improved, but alignment stability deteriorates due to differential expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a specific parameter relationship between the frame and light guide plate materials - their coefficients of thermal expansion must be substantially similar. This parameter constraint guides material selection to ensure that both components respond consistently to temperature changes, maintaining alignment stability while still allowing flexibility in choosing from various material options that meet this criterion.
3Strength
If rigid connections are used between components, then structural strength is improved, but thermal expansion causes stress and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the approach to thermal management by matching the thermal expansion parameters of connected components. By ensuring the frame and light guide plate have substantially similar coefficients of thermal expansion, the design allows rigid connections to maintain both structural strength and reliability, as differential expansion that would cause stress and damage is eliminated.
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 configuration ensures precise alignment of light sources and optical input terminals across a wide temperature range, reducing light leakage and improving display module efficiency by maintaining alignment and minimizing wasted illumination.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide plate and the frame have substantially similar coefficients of thermal expansion
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device (100) includes a display frame (108), a light guide plate (110) disposed within the display frame (108), and a light source (114) disposed along an edge (116) of the light guide plate (110). The light source (114) is secured to the display frame (108). The electronic device (100) further includes an enclosure in which the display frame (108) and the light guide plate (110) are disposed. The enclosure is configured to allow thermal expansion of the display frame (108) and of the light guide plate. The light guide plate (110) and the display frame (108) have substantially similar coefficients of thermal expansion.