Aerial Image Mirror Layout for Oblique Light Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerial display technologies face challenges in efficiently displaying images in the air without aberrations and achieving high display quality while maintaining a compact apparatus size.
Innovation Solution
The aerial display apparatus employs a light source unit, display device, light control device, and mirror device with oblique light intensity peaks and hexahedral optical elements to reflect light at arbitrary angles, allowing for non-plane-symmetric image display and improved light utilization efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dihedral corner reflector array is used to display images in air, then the display is free of aberration and images are displayed at plane-symmetric positions, but the apparatus size increases and light utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror device is divided into multiple independent optical elements, each with specific reflection surfaces positioned at oblique angles. This segmentation allows the system to achieve compact size while maintaining aberration-free display through controlled light reflection paths
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric optical element arrangements with reflection surfaces positioned at specific oblique angles rather than symmetric configurations. This asymmetry enables arbitrary image positioning in space while maintaining display quality and reducing apparatus size
2Illumination intensity
If light is transmitted through the display device to display an image, then the image can be displayed, but unnecessary light is not shielded resulting in reduced contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The light control device implements local quality control by selectively transmitting and blocking light in different spatial regions. The mirror device with obliquely positioned reflection surfaces directs light precisely to desired locations while shielding unnecessary light paths, thereby improving contrast through localized light management
3Loss of energy
If the mirror device uses traditional reflection surfaces, then light can be reflected, but the light intensity distribution is not optimized resulting in reduced display efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes light intensity distribution by changing the geometric parameters of the optical elements. Reflection surfaces are positioned at specific oblique angles and optical elements have optimized shapes to control light reflection paths, maximizing light utilization efficiency and creating desired intensity peaks in the displayed image
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
This configuration enables smaller apparatus size, enhanced display quality, and improved contrast by shielding unnecessary light, while allowing for arbitrary image positioning.
Implementation Method 1
a light control device that transmits the light from the display device to emit the light such that light intensity of the light has a peak in a direction oblique to a normal direction
Implementation Method 2
a mirror device that reflects the light from the light control device to display an image in air on a side opposite to the light control device
Data Source
AI summary
An aerial display apparatus includes: a light source unit that emits light; a display device that transmits the light from the light source unit to display an image; a light control device that transmits the light from the display device to emit the light such that light intensity of the light has a peak in a direction oblique to a normal direction that is perpendicular to a first direction within a principal plane of the display device; and a mirror device that reflects the light from the light control device to display an image in air on a side opposite to the light control device. The mirror device includes a plurality of optical elements each having a hexahedron shape. Each of the plurality of optical elements includes first and second reflection surfaces that reflect light. Each of the first and second reflection surfaces is placed obliquely to the normal direction.