Multifunctional optical fiber technology for backlight and lighting applications

Light emitting diode (LED) is gradually being used for flat panel display (FPD) backlight and lighting applications. Although this is not news, but it brings a problem for Engineers: in the existing LED backlight technology, which is the most suitable for their design?

Each of them was advertised as having the highest brightness, the best image quality and uniformity, the lowest power consumption and low cost, and can be used to provide the highest efficiency for current LED; however, how to solve this problem plagued engineer will depend on the specific application, key index the original function, and backlight and lighting technology. In this regard, optical fiber technology has been considered to be the most suitable for a particular application in a variety of aspects of the display technology.

In fact, not all of the large size of FPD applications, such as liquid crystal TV (LCD TV) and digital billboards (digital signage), must have full dynamic video full color display. For example, the operating interface of the test instrument and the membrane switch usually uses a smaller passive matrix monochrome liquid crystal display (LCD). For testing equipment, motor controllers and handheld data acquisition equipment manufacturers, they are concerned about the brightness and uniformity of the display: must look good performance. But these applications are often in a small amount of production, can not use the inventory module, the important consideration is low power consumption, no heat, no electromagnetic radiation interference, low cost and thin shape tools, and with a function of customized design technology.

If the use of optical fiber panel manufacturing plastic optical fiber or optical fiber installed in the back rows of the reflector, the back light source provides easy design, an easy to import customized solutions, manufacturers can make OEM back light with high quality in the integration of their equipment, and not to increase customer cost.

More and more thin film switch OEM manufacturers are gradually using backlight to improve their user interface, and improve the value of the entire device to the customer. Of course, functionality is still very important, such as heat and ESD protection, as well as the touch of the switch itself. The optical fiber panel made of multi row optical fiber can be placed between the cover layer and the switch layer, so that only one LED can provide a wide range of uniform lighting, as well as excellent touch.

In addition, the designer can use a rare non rectangular geometry, including pass and other irregular shapes, etc.. This has been traditionally dominant luminescence (EL) backlight, but provides the industry expected brightness, uniformity, durability and low power optical fiber technology, and there is no EMI / RFI brightness degradation and related EL converter needs and other issues, so that the optical fiber technology has been attracted more attention.

In addition to the application of LCD and thin film switch backlight, optical fiber technology has also enabled its application to the field of lighting. In the advanced hot springs and outdoor swimming pools and other water environment, through the introduction of a new generation of high power LED embedded in the optical fiber 'light engine', you can achieve the control panel backlighting and increase brightness. The optical engine has a special lens that can capture the light emitted by the LED and focus the light on the optical fiber panel. The optical fiber line can also be used in self-service DVD Cara OK device, can provide color flashing bright singing guide or indicators, and the user's attention to search and reply, without the need for additional space, depth or changing the directory environment. With the deepening of the understanding of the diversity of OEM fiber lighting technology, more and more applications are being developed.

Source: Lighting Engineer Community