Composite Optical Filter Angle Incidence Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical filters face performance degradation when the angle of incidence changes, leading to increased manufacturing costs, complexity, and size due to the need for apertures or field flatteners to manage light angles effectively.
Innovation Solution
A composite optical filter is designed with a first low angle shift filter and a second high angle shift filter deposited on a common substrate, allowing for controlled transmission and reflection based on angle of incidence without the need for apertures or field flatteners, by configuring passbands to restrict angles of incidence effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single optical filter is used, then the device complexity is low, but the filter performance degrades when the angle of incidence changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining multiple optical filter layers with different angle shift characteristics (low angle shift and high angle shift filters) to create a composite optical filter. This composite structure maintains stable filter performance across varying angles of incidence while avoiding the need for additional components like apertures or field flatteners, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and filter performance reliability.
2Reliability
If apertures or field flatteners are added to manage light angles, then the filter performance is improved, but the manufacturing cost and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the angle management function into the optical filter itself by integrating low angle shift and high angle shift filter layers directly onto the substrate. This eliminates the need for separate apertures or field flatterer components, thereby improving filter performance while reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite optical filter structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides spectral filtering while also managing angles of incidence through the combined angle shift characteristics of its layers. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate angle management components, reducing both device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining improved filter performance.
3Reliability
If apertures or field flatteners are added to manage light angles, then the filter performance is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the angle management function into the optical filter itself by integrating low angle shift and high angle shift filter layers directly onto the substrate. This eliminates the need for separate apertures or field flatterer components, thereby improving filter performance while reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost.
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 reduces the cost, complexity, and size of optical packages by allowing light at configured angles to pass through while blocking light at greater angles, achieving field flattening without additional components.
Implementation Method 1
an optical interference filter
Data Source
AI summary
A filter may include a first component filter associated with a first angle shift and a first passband. The filter may include a second component filter associated with a second angle shift and a second passband, wherein the first angle shift, the first passband, the second angle shift, and the second passband are configured to make the filter transmissive to a spectral range of light at a first angle of incidence and reflective to the spectral range of light at a second angle of incidence.