Translucent Colored Film for Backlit Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Backlit signs illuminated by multiple point light sources, such as LED arrays, often suffer from uneven illumination, resulting in 'hot spots' and reduced brightness, which can diminish marketing appeal and are costly to construct and maintain.

Innovation Solution

A translucent colored film structure incorporating light-diffusing particles within an adhesive layer, which disperses light evenly while maintaining color transmission, reducing the need for multiple films and minimizing hot spots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If multiple point light sources are used to illuminate the sign face, then the brightness can be increased, but the illumination becomes uneven causing hot spots

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebrightnessVSAvoiduniformity of illumination
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a translucent film with light-diffusing particles as an intermediary between the point light sources and the sign face. This film mediates the light distribution by scattering and diffusing the light from multiple point sources, transforming the uneven illumination into uniform illumination across the sign face while maintaining high brightness levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the illumination system by incorporating light-diffusing particles with specific refractive indices into the translucent film. This parameter change enables the film to control light scattering and diffusion, converting concentrated point light sources into distributed uniform illumination while maintaining intensity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If multiple point light sources are used, then the illumination coverage is improved, but the device complexity and construction cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination coverageVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The translucent film with light-diffusing particles serves multiple functions simultaneously: it diffuses light to eliminate hot spots, maintains brightness levels, provides color transmission, and enables the use of fewer light sources. This multi-functionality reduces the number of required light sources and simplifies the overall illumination system design and construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a translucent film with light-diffusing particles is used, then the illumination uniformity is improved, but the film structure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of illuminationVSAvoidfilm structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite film structure combining a translucent base material with dispersed light-diffusing particles. This composite material integrates light-diffusing functionality within the film itself, eliminating the need for separate diffusion layers or complex multi-layer structures, thereby simplifying the overall film construction while achieving uniform illumination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Illumination intensity

If the pigment particles are made smaller to maintain color vibrancy, then the color transmission is improved, but the light-diffusing capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor vibrancyVSAvoidlight-diffusing effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different functions to different components: smaller pigment particles (0.1-3 μm) are used specifically for color transmission in the colored layer, while separate light-diffusing particles are incorporated into the translucent film. This spatial and functional separation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material structure with distinct functional layers: a colored layer containing small pigment particles for color vibrancy, and a translucent film with light-diffusing particles for illumination uniformity. This composite structure enables both small pigment particles and effective light diffusion to coexist by separating their locations and functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 film structure provides a uniformly illuminated sign face with reduced hot spots, maintaining color vibrancy and allowing for a thinner sign design, thus enhancing marketing appeal and reducing construction costs.

Implementation Method 1

light-diffusing particles dispersed in the adhesive layer having a refractive index that is higher than the adhesive composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

light-diffusing particles dispersed in the adhesive layer having a refractive index that is higher than the adhesive composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

The colored layer includes pigment particles dispersed in a material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3172598B1Two-in-one translucent and colored film
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 AVERY DENNISON CORP
  • EP3172598B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3172598B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3172598B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A two-in-one colored and translucent film structure suitable for use in backlit displays having a multi-point illumination source. The film structure utilizes a colored layer and a light-diffusing layer that reduces variations in the amount of light transmitted through different areas of a backlit sign. The light- diffusing layer includes light-diffusing particles dispersed in a transparent matrix material, and scatters light transmitted therethrough. The light-diffusing particles have an index of refraction that is different than an index of refraction of the matrix material.