Transparent Backlight Supporting Member for Shadow Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In direct-lit backlight units for liquid crystal display apparatuses, reducing the number of light sources and increasing the thickness of the diffuser plate leads to shadows on the screen due to the supporting member, which is not effectively addressed by existing solutions.

Innovation Solution

A supporting member is designed with a thin, flat plate shape, made of transparent material, positioned at the center of the diffuser plate to minimize shadow formation, comprising a supporting portion that contacts the diffuser plate and a base that fixes it to the under chassis, with a reinforcing portion to prevent buckling, allowing for reduced light interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the number of light sources is decreased and the thickness of the diffuser plate is increased to reduce manufacturing cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but shadows of the supporting member appear on the screen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidshadow formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting member is made of transparent material so that light can pass through it without being blocked, thereby preventing shadow formation on the screen while still providing structural support for the diffuser plate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting member is designed with a thin plate shape having minimal thickness in the direction of light propagation, reducing its opacity and allowing light to pass through, thus eliminating shadows while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If the thickness of the diffuser plate is increased to reduce the number of light sources, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the supporting member casts shadows on the screen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of light sourcesVSAvoidshadow formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting member is made of transparent material that allows light to pass through, preventing shadow formation on the screen while supporting the thicker diffuser plate configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting member is designed with specific dimensional parameters (thin plate shape with controlled thickness) and material properties (transparency) that allow it to be invisible to light while maintaining mechanical support function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 prevents shadows from appearing on the screen even when the number of light sources is decreased and the diffuser plate thickness is increased, enhancing the manufacturing cost-effectiveness of the image display apparatus without compromising image quality.

Implementation Method 1

a supporting member 100 formed of a transparent material in a thin plate shape

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP2626737B1Supporting member for backlight unit, backlight unit and image display apparatus having the same.
Publication Date: 2018.08.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2626737B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2626737B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2626737B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A supporting member (100) has a thin transparent supporting portion on a base (120). A protrusion (123) of the base (120) may be inserted into a hole (67) in the under chassis (60) of a backlight unit (50) and an end (111) of the transparent supporting portion can make point contact with a diffuser plate to support a diffuser plate (80) in an image display apparatus (10).