Colored Layer Optical Element for Stray Light Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical elements, such as parallax barriers, zone plates, and glass scales, suffer from inefficiencies in light shielding and stray light suppression due to internal reflections and crosstalk, leading to suboptimal performance in applications like stereoscopic displays and optical encoders.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a colored layer within the glass body of optical elements, positioned from the surface to the inside, which acts as a light-shielding surface in conjunction with adjacent light-transmissive surfaces, effectively absorbing stray light and reducing crosstalk by maintaining a refractive index similar to the glass substrate, thereby enhancing optical function surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a light-shielding pattern is formed on a transparent glass plate surface, then light shielding function is achieved, but internal reflections and crosstalk occur reducing optical performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light-shielding pattern with the glass substrate itself by forming a colored layer within the glass body, merging the substrate and light-shielding function into a single integrated structure. This eliminates the interface between separate layers that causes internal reflections, while maintaining effective light shielding performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The colored light-shielding layer is nested within the glass substrate body, positioned at the optical function surface. This nested structure allows the light-shielding function to be embedded inside the glass rather than applied externally, preventing stray light generation at interfaces while maintaining optical performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional light-scattering features are added to suppress stray light, then stray light reduction is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light-shielding function directly into the glass substrate by forming a colored layer within the glass body, eliminating the need for separate light-scattering features or additional optical elements. This integrated approach reduces device complexity while effectively suppressing stray light.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a colored layer is positioned at the optical function surface inside the glass body, then stray light is absorbed and crosstalk is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the manufacturing approach by forming the colored layer through chemical or thermal processes during glass fabrication, rather than requiring precise post-manufacturing positioning. This parameter change in the manufacturing method enables the colored layer to be integrated into the glass body at the optimal location without adding significant manufacturing complexity.
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 solution significantly reduces stray light and crosstalk, improving the quality of stereoscopic images and positional detection precision by ensuring light is absorbed rather than externally escaping, and eliminates the need for additional light-scattering features, thus enhancing the overall performance of optical elements.
Implementation Method 1
effectively absorbing stray light and reducing crosstalk by maintaining a refractive index similar to the glass substrate
Implementation Method 2
maintaining a refractive index similar to the glass substrate, thereby enhancing optical function surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
An optical element includes a glass body including a colored layer provided inside the glass body and positioned at an optical function surface of the optical element. An optical apparatus including the optical element is also provided.