Volumetric light-shaping polymer-dispersed liquid crystal films for mini-LED backlights

ABSTRACT

Volumetric light-shaping polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films for mini-LED backlit liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are proposed and experimentally demonstrated. With proper material engineering and good vertical alignment of liquid crystals, passive PDLC films with angle-selective scattering properties can be achieved. Such films only respond to angles rather than spatial locations. By directly adhering the PDLC films onto a LED, angular intensity distribution of light can be tailored from Lambertian-like to batwing-like. Further simulation shows that by engineering the angular distribution, a fewer number of LEDs or equivalently a shorter light-spreading distance should be required to maintain good uniformity. Such a PDLC film would find widespread applications in emerging mini-LED backlit LCDs and shed light on designing other light-shaping films in the future.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals
• volumetric diffusers
• angle-dependent scattering
• mini-LED backlights

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

a.u.Vista, Inc.