Aerial Image Input with Visual Feedback in a Thin Optical Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing input devices using aerial images by retro-reflection struggle with difficulty in confirming input confirmation and require a reduction in thickness.
Innovation Solution
The input device integrates a display unit and detection unit, utilizing light guide plates, light sources, and retroreflective plates to display aerial images and detect user operations, with mechanisms to switch light sources on and off based on detection results, allowing input confirmation through visual changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If non-contact sensors are used to detect user actions, then contactless input is enabled, but it becomes difficult to confirm whether the input has been registered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements visual feedback by displaying an aerial image that changes state when a user approaches their hand. The aerial image serves as real-time confirmation that the system has detected and registered the user's input intention, resolving the information loss problem while maintaining contactless operation
Solution Approach 2:
The aerial image utilizes luminance changes or color variations to indicate different states - such as transitioning from a dimmed state to a brightly lit state when a user approaches. This visual transformation provides intuitive feedback that the input has been confirmed without requiring physical contact
2Loss of information
If aerial image display is implemented using retro-reflection, then visual feedback is provided, but the device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the display unit and detection unit into a single integrated structure. The beam splitter serves dual purposes as both a display component and a detection component, eliminating the need for separate layers and reducing overall device thickness while maintaining visual feedback functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a traditional multi-layer stacked structure to a more compact configuration where optical paths are folded using the beam splitter. This dimensional reorganization allows the aerial image display to be achieved with reduced thickness by utilizing optical path folding rather than linear layer stacking
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
Enables input confirmation through visual feedback and reduces device thickness by integrating display and detection functions.
Implementation Method 1
an input device in which a light guide plate guides light from a light source, emits the light from an emission surface, and forms a three-dimensional image by retro-reflection
Implementation Method 2
a light guide plate guides light from a light source, emits the light from an emission surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Provided is an input device (100) capable of notifying input confirmation and achieving a reduction in thickness. An input device (100) of the present invention includes a display unit (200A) that displays an aerial image (260), and a detection unit (300) that detects a user operation related to the aerial image (260). The display unit (200A) includes a light guide plate (220) disposed between a half mirror (240) and a retroreflective plate (250) and a light source (230) irradiating the light guide plate (220), and displays the aerial image (260) of a light diffusion surface (222) formed on the light guide plate (220) in response to incident light. When the user operation related to the aerial image (260) is detected, the display unit (200A) turns off the light source (230) to notify a user of input confirmation.