Translucent Polycarbonate Display with Opaque Coating for LED Visibility Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices for traffic symbols and combinations of numbers/letters are irritated by strong sunlight, as LEDs are visible even when unlit, and do not meet modern design requirements, leading to the display of invalid symbols and limited color options.
Innovation Solution
A display device featuring a translucent polycarbonate surface with individually controllable RGB LEDs, integrated decentralized control units, and a honeycomb pattern created by removing paint at LED positions, ensuring a homogeneous surface when inactive and allowing for a wide range of color variations and configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If open LED structures are used for display, then a large number of color combinations can be displayed, but the LEDs are visible even when unlit, causing irritation to road users and displaying invalid symbols
Solution Approach 1:
A translucent cover with opaque coating is introduced as an intermediary element between the LEDs and the external environment. The coating blocks light when LEDs are off, while the translucent material allows light transmission when LEDs are activated, solving the visibility issue without compromising display functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The surface coating changes its optical properties from opaque (when LEDs are off) to translucent (when LEDs are on), effectively changing the visual state of the display surface based on the operational state of the LEDs
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple discrete control units are used for each LED, then individual color control is achieved, but the device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple discrete control units are merged into a single integrated control unit that manages all LEDs. This consolidation reduces the overall number of components, simplifies the circuit board design, and decreases installation space while maintaining individual color control capability through software or control logic
3Shape
If a curved surface is used for the display, then design requirements are met, but maintaining constant luminance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts LED brightness levels based on their position on the curved surface. LEDs in areas where light naturally disperses more are intensified, while those in concentrated areas are dimmed, achieving uniform perceived luminance across the curved display surface
Solution Approach 2:
Different LED intensity levels are applied to different locations on the curved surface. The control system assigns specific brightness values to individual LEDs or groups based on their spatial position, creating local variations in output that compensate for the geometric effects of curvature
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 ensures LEDs are only visible when activated, preventing the display of invalid symbols, meeting design requirements, and enabling the display of various symbols in desired colors with adjustable brightness and curvature, suitable for diverse applications like traffic lights.
Implementation Method 1
at least one LED circuit board (3) with a plurality of individually controllable RGB LEDs (4)
Implementation Method 2
the surface (2) of the display device (1), i.e. the side used to display numbers and/or letter combinations and symbols, is made of a translucent polycarbonate
Data Source
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AI summary
A display device (1) for displaying numbers and/or letter combinations and symbols is proposed, which has at least one LED board (3) comprising a plurality of individually controllable RGB LEDs (4), wherein the surface (2) of the display device (1) is made of a translucent polycarbonate and has an opaque, non-transparent coating (5) on the side facing away from or towards the at least one LED board (3), which is removed at the locations corresponding to the position of the LEDs (4) of the at least one LED board (3) in the assembled state of the display device (1), making the display device (1) translucent at these locations.