Optical Elements with Beam-Splitter Incoupling for Display Color Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Displays using optical elements often exhibit non-uniformities in image intensity and color balance due to varying bounce lengths of different color beams within the light guide, leading to color balance distortions.
Innovation Solution
The optical element employs beam splitters and incouplers to split and direct color beams into the light guide at different incidence positions, offsetting bounce positions to reduce non-uniformities by introducing beams at multiple positions, thereby reducing the distance between bounce positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If color beams are introduced into the light guide at a single incidence position, then the optical path is simple, but the bounce positions are non-uniform causing color balance distortions
Solution Approach 1:
The single incidence position is segmented into multiple incidence positions (first incidence position and second incidence position). Different color beams (first color and second color) are introduced at these separate positions, which segments the optical path to achieve more uniform bounce position distribution while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light guide (corresponding to different incidence positions) are assigned different functions for introducing specific color beams. This local differentiation ensures that each color beam enters at an optimized position for uniform bounce distribution, improving color balance uniformity without requiring complete redesign of the entire optical system
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple beam splitters are used to split beams at different positions, then color balance uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Beam splitters serve as intermediary optical components that enable the separation and redirection of color beams to different incidence positions on the light guide. These intermediaries facilitate the complex function of multi-position beam introduction while maintaining a structured and manageable optical path configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-dimensional optical path (single incidence position) to a multi-dimensional configuration by introducing beams at multiple spatial positions along the light guide. This dimensional expansion allows for improved color balance uniformity while the beam splitters help manage the increased complexity through systematic spatial organization
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 approach minimizes color balance non-uniformities by ensuring uniform distribution of color beams within the light guide, resulting in improved image quality.
Implementation Method 1
the beam splitter to split the display beam to form a first offspring beam including the first beam and a first portion of the second beam, and to form a second offspring beam including a second portion of the second beam
Implementation Method 2
the incoupler to direct at least a portion of each of the first offspring beam and the second offspring beam into the light guide to form an incoupled first offspring beam and an incoupled second offspring beam respectively
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an optical element including a light guide, an incoupler, and a beam splitter disposed in an optical path of a display beam between the incoupler and a light engine to generate the display beam. The display beam may comprise first and second beams. The beam splitter may split the display beam to form a first offspring beam including the first beam and a first portion of the second beam, and to form a second offspring beam including a second portion of the second beam. The first and second offspring beams may be incident upon the incoupler at first and second incidence positions respectively. The first incidence position may be different than the second incidence position. The incoupler may direct at least a portion of each of the first and second offspring beams into the light guide to form incoupled first and second offspring beams respectively.