Transparent Display Light Emitter Directional Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices with separate displays and sensors for user information and status monitoring tend to increase in thickness, compromising user comfort.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a transparent substrate, light emitters emitting light in multiple directions, and a reflector that partially reflects light to allow for simultaneous display and sensor functionality, reducing overall thickness by optimizing light emission and reception paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate displays and sensors are provided in wearable devices, then monitoring functionality is improved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines display and sensor functions into a single integrated device. Light emitters serve dual purposes: displaying information and providing light for sensor measurements. The transparent substrate allows light to pass through to sensors while maintaining display functionality, merging what were previously separate components into one unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The light emitters perform multiple functions simultaneously: they emit light for display purposes and provide the necessary illumination for sensor-based monitoring of the wearer's status. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate lighting components, reducing overall device thickness while maintaining both display and monitoring capabilities.
2Illumination intensity
If light emitters emit light in multiple directions, then display visibility is improved, but light emission in non-display directions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies directional control structures (reflectors or shields) at specific locations around the light emitters to manage light distribution. These structures are positioned to reflect or block light in non-display directions while preserving light emission toward the display area, creating localized optical management that maintains visibility while reducing wasted light.
Solution Approach 2:
Reflectors or shields act as intermediary elements between the light emitters and the environment. These intermediaries redirect or control the path of emitted light, ensuring that light is directed toward the display area while preventing excessive light emission in non-display directions, thus improving energy efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If a reflector is added to control light direction, then light emission control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-film reflectors or shields that can be integrated into the existing device structure. These thin-film elements provide effective light direction control while adding minimal structural complexity and thickness, making them suitable for wearable applications where space and complexity are constrained.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflectors or shields are designed with curved surfaces that efficiently redirect light in the desired directions. The curvature enables compact integration within the device structure, achieving effective light control without requiring large or complex geometric arrangements.
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 a compact wearable device that can emit light for display and sense user status information without increasing thickness, enhancing user comfort by maintaining image quality and reducing light emission in non-display directions.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector to at least partially reflect the light emitted in the first direction to the second direction
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of light emitters at a first side of the transparent substrate; wherein the light emitters are to emit light in a first direction and a second direction opposing the first direction
Implementation Method 3
the sensor is to sense reflected light emitted through a second side of the transparent substrate and received by the sensor after being reflected from a location outside the display device
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a sensor, a transparent substrate, and a plurality of light emitters adjacent a first side the transparent substrate. The light emitters emit light in a first direction and a second direction opposing the first direction. The sensor senses reflected light, which is emitted through a second side of the transparent substrate and received by the sensor after being reflected from a location outside the display device.