Wide Angle Diffuser with Microlenses and Prisms for LCD
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LCDs using diffuse light suffer from reduced contrast ratio and deteriorated display quality at large viewing angles, as existing solutions like viewing angle compensation films increase costs and manufacturing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A wide angle diffuser comprising a plate-shaped body with microlenses and prisms arranged on its surfaces, designed to diffuse collimated light transmitted through a liquid crystal panel, ensuring a sufficient viewing angle and uniform contrast distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If diffuse light is supplied to the liquid crystal panel, then the viewing angle can be improved, but the contrast ratio deteriorates at large angles
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser is segmented into multiple functional regions: a first diffuser region with first diffusing particles and a second diffuser region with second diffusing particles having different refractive indices. This segmentation allows each region to contribute differently to light diffusion, achieving both wide viewing angle and maintained contrast ratio through the combined effect of the segmented structures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If viewing angle compensation films are used to secure viewing angle, then the viewing angle is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of viewing angle compensation and light diffusion into a single integrated diffuser structure. By combining multiple diffuser layers with different particle properties within one component, the invention eliminates the need for separate viewing angle compensation films, thereby reducing manufacturing steps and complexity while maintaining wide viewing angle performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides viewing angle expansion, contrast ratio maintenance, and glare reduction. By incorporating multiple diffuser regions with different optical properties into one universal element, the invention replaces multiple specialized components (including viewing angle compensation films) with a single multi-functional solution.
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 wide angle diffuser achieves a large viewing angle with uniform contrast distribution, improving display quality and reducing glare, while simplifying the liquid crystal panel structure and enhancing transmissivity, thus addressing the limitations of conventional LCDs.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of microlenses are arranged on one of the incident surface and the exit surface
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of prisms, which diffuse light, are arranged on the other one of the incident surface and the exit surface
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a wide angle diffuser including a plate-shaped body, a plurality of microlenses, and a plurality of prisms. The plate-shaped body has an incident surface on which light is incident and an exit surface through which light is emitted form the plate-shaped body. The microlenses and the prisms are respectively disposed on one of the incident surface and the exit surface. Also provided is a liquid crystal display including a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit, provided on a rear surface of the liquid crystal panel, which emits collimated light to the liquid crystal panel, and the wide angle diffuser diffusing light passing through the liquid crystal panel.