DNP Develops Light Diffuser Film for Mini-LED Displays that Improves LED Elements Appearance

Published in world-renowned Journal of SID

January 16, 2025, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) has developed a light diffuser film for mini light-emitting diode (LED) backlights that achieves vivid screens with low power consumption. The newly developed film makes it possible to realize the same brightness and reduce the appearance of LED elements like dots, without using the diffusion plates employed in conventional mini-LED displays. In turn, the new film allows for a reduction in the thickness and weight of the display. 

In addition, the newly developed film was published as a Special Section Paper in the Best of IDW2023 on the website of the Journal of the Society for Information Display (Journal of SID), a world-renowned display-related journal.

DNP Light Diffuser Film

DNP Light Diffuser Film reduces LED appearance


Development

Mini-LEDs and micro-LEDs have recently been attracting attention as next generation displays, following liquid crystal and organic light-emitting diode (OLED). Mini-LEDs feature diameters of about 100 to 300 μm, where 1 μm = 0.001 mm, densely mounted on a panel substrate. They are characterized by their low power consumption and vivid image quality due to their high brightness. 

Such displays have begun to be used in some televisions and personal computers, and going forward are expected to extend into small electronic devices, leading to a global market expansion1. 

On the other hand, mini-LEDs use diffusers and special printing patterns to reduce reflections, as the dots densely arranged on the panel substrate are easily visible to the naked eye under high resolution conditions. Increased power consumption is also an issue due to the thick diffuser resulting in lower light transmittance.

DNP's light diffuser film can reduce the appearance of dots without the diffuser, contributing to thinner displays and reduced power consumption without any reduction in brightness.


Features

  • The new film is composed of a dielectric multilayer film that transmits and reflects specific wavelengths of light and ultra-fine prisms, being the triangular convex parts that refract light.
  • Light emitted directly above the LED can cause dot appearance. The dielectric multilayer coating of the new film does not transmit straight lines of light, but only transmits light at a designed angle of incidence, reducing dot appearance.
  • Microprisms control the direction of LED light, dividing it to left and right. By dividing light, it is possible to produce uniform brightness, thereby reducing dot appearance and improving light efficiency.
  • The film is 50μm thick, which is approximately 1/40th the thickness of a normal diffusion plate, according to DNP research. This will consequently lead to thinner displays, and is expected to simplify the manufacturing process and reduce production costs. It will also be possible to apply this new film in small screen, such as mobile devices.

Image of DNP light diffuser film and LED light behavior 

Comparison of diffuser and light diffuser film


Journal of SID Special Section Paper

Title: Alignment-free diffuser film composed of a multilayer dielectric and a microprism layer for mini-LED backlights

Authors: Marii Nishikawa, Yukio Taniguchi, Masahiro Goto, Yasuyuki Ohyagi, Yoshihiro Kanai, Masayuki Sekido, Hirotsugu Yamamoto (Joint paper co-authored with Utsunomiya University). 

For more information, please visit:  https://sid.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsid.2021


Looking Ahead

DNP will provide the newly developed film targeting mini-LEDs, and aims to deploy the film technology to next-generation displays such as micro-LEDs, which are expected to expand in the future.

A sequel to the Special Selection Paper, covering the film's layered structure, will be presented at SPIE Photonics West, to be held from January 25, 2025 in San Francisco, USA.


1: Yano Research Institute Ltd. Survey on the Global Market for Micro LED and Mini LED Displays (2024). Announced May 22, 2024 

* The content of this report is current as of the date of publication. It may be changed at any time without notice.

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