Wedge-Shaped Light Guide Plate for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planar lighting devices using light guide plates with scattering particles face challenges in achieving a thin, lightweight design while maintaining uniform illumination and increased dimensions, as they tend to increase in thickness to ensure light reaches farther positions, limiting their size and brightness uniformity.
Innovation Solution
A planar lighting device with a light guide plate that increases in thickness perpendicular to the light exit plane as it moves away from the light entrance plane, incorporating scattering particles and a unique geometry where the light exit plane is parallel or inclined relative to the optical axis, allowing for efficient light scattering and emission without brightness unevenness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the light guide plate is made thicker to allow light to reach farther positions, then the illumination area is increased, but the device thickness and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is designed with a wedge shape where the thickness varies continuously from one end to the other. Specifically, the thickness increases from the light entrance plane toward the light exit plane, creating an asymmetric structure that optimizes light propagation paths while maintaining a compact overall thickness profile.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light guide plate have different thicknesses tailored to their specific functional requirements. The thinner region near the light entrance plane allows for compact design, while the progressively thicker region toward the exit plane provides sufficient light propagation distance and scattering paths for uniform illumination.
2Length of stationary object
If the light guide plate is made thinner to reduce device thickness, then the device becomes lighter and more compact, but uniform illumination and brightness distribution deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thickness parameter of the light guide plate from uniform to variable, specifically increasing thickness in the direction of light propagation. This parameter change creates longer light propagation paths in thicker regions, enhancing scattering effects and improving brightness uniformity without requiring the entire plate to be thick.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing asymmetric thickness distribution, the patent creates different optical path lengths across the plate, which improves light scattering and uniformity while maintaining overall compactness. The asymmetric design allows thinner regions to reduce weight while thicker regions ensure proper light distribution.
3Illumination intensity
If scattering particles are added to the light guide plate to improve light diffusion, then brightness uniformity is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is formed as a composite material by incorporating scattering particles (such as silicone resin powder or titanium dioxide) directly into the transparent resin matrix. This composite structure integrates the light guiding and light scattering functions into a single component, improving brightness uniformity while avoiding the need for separate scattering elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the light guide plate and light scattering functions into a single integrated component. By incorporating scattering particles within the plate itself, the design eliminates the need for separate scattering sheets or layers, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing steps while achieving uniform illumination.
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
This configuration enables a thinner, lighter planar lighting device that achieves uniform illumination over larger areas with reduced brightness unevenness, allowing for increased dimensions and flexibility in design.
Implementation Method 1
the light guide plate contains scattering particles for scattering light entering through the light entrance plane and propagating inside of the light guide plate
Data Source
AI summary
A wedge shaped lighting device includes a light source and a light guide plate disposed opposite to the light source, and the light guide plate includes a light entrance plane opposite to the light source and a light exit plane containing one side of the light entrance plane, and has a shape growing thicker in direction perpendicular to the light exit plane with the increasing distance from the light entrance plane and contains scattering particles for scattering light entering through the light entrance plane and propagating the inside thereof.