Reflective Watch LCD With Quantum Rod Wavelength Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) used in watches and smart watches suffer from aesthetic quality issues and are often too dark, lacking sufficient brightness and esthetics.

Innovation Solution

A low energy display system for watches and smart watches utilizing a quantum rod aligned relative to a polarization-sensitive optical switch, combined with a wavelength conversion member, optical filters, and a reflecting element to convert primary light into secondary light, enhancing brightness and reflectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a conventional LCD is used in watches, then energy consumption is low and contrast is good, but aesthetic quality is poor and brightness is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebrightnessVSAvoidaesthetic quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the wavelength parameters of light by using quantum rods to convert primary light (e.g., blue 450nm) into secondary light with different wavelengths (e.g., green 530nm, red 650nm). This wavelength conversion enables the display to achieve brighter and more aesthetically pleasing colors while maintaining the low energy consumption and good contrast of conventional LCDs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple materials including quantum rods, wavelength conversion layers, liquid crystal layers, polarizing layers, and reflective layers to create a composite display structure. This composite approach allows the display to simultaneously achieve high brightness, good aesthetic quality, low energy consumption, and high contrast by leveraging the properties of each material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If quantum rods are aligned relative to the polarization sensitive optical switch, then transmittance of secondary light is maximized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransmittanceVSAvoidalignment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the polarization state parameter of light and aligns the quantum rods relative to the polarization sensitive optical switch to maximize transmittance. By controlling the orientation parameter of the quantum rods matching the polarization direction, the system achieves enhanced light transmission without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If optical filters and reflecting elements are added to enhance brightness and reflectivity, then aesthetic quality improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereflectivityVSAvoidnumber of optical components
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs optical components such as the wavelength conversion layer and reflective layer to serve multiple functions simultaneously. For example, the reflective layer not only reflects light to enhance brightness but also contributes to the overall optical filtering and color enhancement functions, reducing the need for separate dedicated components and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

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

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 system achieves a bright and low-power consuming display by maximizing the transmittance of secondary light emitted by the quantum rod, improving esthetic quality and reducing energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

said low energy display converts said at least one primary light into at least one secondary light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWavelength conversion: Photoluminescence

Implementation Method 2

said at least one quantum rod is configured to be aligned relative to the polarization sensitive optical switch

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarization alignment: Polarisation

Implementation Method 3

said low energy display can reflect said at least one primary light and/or said at least one secondary light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3995883B1Enhanced reflective liquid crystal display
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 THE SWATCH GRP RES & DEVELONMENT LTD
  • EP3995883B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3995883B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

The present invention concerns a watch (200) or a smart watch (200) having a low power consuming and a bright and enhanced low energy display (100) by using a low energy display (100) configured to display at least one piece of information and to convert at least one primary light (410) into at least one second light (420).