Aerial Display Device Matrix Optical Elements Ghost Image Elimination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aerial display apparatuses face challenges in enhancing the display quality of both the image on the image display surface and the aerial image, with issues such as aberration, ghost images, and reduced contrast due to unwanted light components.

Innovation Solution

An aerial display apparatus is designed with a mirror device comprising optical elements arranged in a matrix, where light from a display unit is reflected and transmitted through a secondary display unit to form a real aerial image above the image display surface, improving visibility and contrast by eliminating ghost images and unwanted light.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a real mirror image forming optical system is used to display aerial images, then the aerial image can be formed, but ghost images and unwanted light components reduce display quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerial image formationVSAvoidghost images and unwanted light
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The optical system is divided into multiple discrete optical elements (prisms or lenses) arranged in a matrix pattern on the image display surface. Each element processes light from a corresponding pixel, segmenting the overall optical function into manageable units that can be precisely controlled to eliminate ghost images while maintaining aerial image formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a light guide plate as an intermediary component between the image display surface and the observer. This light guide plate redirects unwanted light components away from the observer's line of sight while allowing the desired aerial image light to pass through, effectively mediating between the optical system and the observer to eliminate harmful light.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If light is reflected and transmitted through multiple components to form aerial images, then aerial display capability is achieved, but display quality of both surface image and aerial image deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerial display capabilityVSAvoiddisplay quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the display of the surface image and the aerial image into a single integrated optical system. The image display surface and the aerial image are formed simultaneously using the same light source and optical elements, allowing both images to be displayed with high quality without the need for separate systems, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while achieving aerial display capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Illumination intensity

If conventional aerial display methods are used, then aerial images can be displayed, but contrast is reduced due to unwanted light components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerial image brightnessVSAvoidunwanted light reducing contrast
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making each optical element on the image display surface have specific optical properties tailored to its function. The optical elements are designed with precise refractive indices and geometries to redirect light at specific angles, ensuring that only the desired aerial image light reaches the observer while unwanted light is directed away, thereby maintaining high contrast and brightness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 apparatus effectively displays an aerial image above the image display surface, enhancing both the image quality on the surface and the aerial image, reducing ghost images and unwanted light, thereby improving overall display quality and visibility.

Implementation Method 1

a mirror device 10 which reflects display light 20A emitted from the display unit 20 and forms an aerial image 30 as a real image at a display position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3812830B1Aerial display device
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 TOPPAN HOLDINGS INC
  • EP3812830B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3812830B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3812830B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An aerial display apparatus includes: a display device (20) which includes a display surface on which a first image is displayed, and which emits display light from the display surface; a mirror device (10) which is disposed obliquely with respect to the display surface of the display device (20), which reflects the display light that has been emitted from the display device (20) to form an aerial image (30) at a position that is plane-symmetrical to the display device (20); and a display device (40) which is disposed between the mirror device (10) and the aerial image (30), which allows the display light that has been reflected by the mirror device (10) to be transmitted therethough, and which displays a second image.