Curved Light Guide Member for Parallel Emission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light guide members with curved outgoing surfaces fail to maintain a constant incident angle for light, resulting in non-parallel light emission.

Innovation Solution

A light guide member design featuring an incident surface, at least one reflective surface, and an outgoing surface formed as a curved surface, where the reflective surface reflects light in a direction that maintains a constant incident angle for the outgoing surface, ensuring parallel light emission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the outgoing surface is a curved surface, then the light guide member can emit light in a wider field of view, but the incident angle of light on the outgoing surface becomes non-constant, resulting in non-parallel light emission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of viewVSAvoidincident angle consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature to the outgoing surface to expand the field of view, but simultaneously uses a specifically designed reflective surface geometry to maintain constant incident angles. The curved outgoing surface is combined with a reflective surface that has been shaped to compensate for the curvature, ensuring that light rays strike the outgoing surface at consistent angles despite the curved geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent differentiates the functional properties of different surfaces: the outgoing surface is curved to provide wide field of view, while the reflective surface is specifically shaped to maintain constant incident angles. Each surface is optimized for its specific function, with the reflective surface's geometry carefully designed to counteract the angular variations introduced by the curved outgoing surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Volume of moving object

If the outgoing surface is a curved surface, then the light guide member can achieve compact design, but parallel light emission is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidparallel light emission

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The curved outgoing surface enables compact device design by allowing the light guide member to be smaller in volume. The curvature is specifically designed to work in conjunction with the reflective surface geometry, achieving both compact size and parallel light emission within a reduced device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent carefully controls the geometric parameters of both the outgoing surface and reflective surface to maintain parallel light emission. By precisely adjusting the curvature radius, surface orientations, and relative positions, the system achieves compact design while preserving the parallel light emission property through optimized parameter selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If a reflective surface is added to control light direction, then parallel light emission is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight emission parallelismVSAvoidsurface structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the reflective surface and outgoing surface into an integrated light guide member structure. The reflective surface is positioned within the light guide member body, and both surfaces are formed as part of the same component, reducing the need for separate assemblies and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining parallel light emission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide member is designed to perform multiple functions: guiding light from the light source, reflecting light at controlled angles through the reflective surface, and emitting parallel light through the curved outgoing surface. This multi-functionality is achieved within a single integrated component, reducing device complexity despite the added reflective surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 effectively converts light into parallel light, facilitating the formation of stereoscopic images with consistent depth perception and reducing light leakage.

Implementation Method 1

at least one reflective surface configured to reflect the light having entered from the incident surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a first reflective surface that totally reflects the light having entered from the incident surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS12038595B2Light guide member, lighting device, and display device

Publication Date: 2024.07.16 OMRON CORP

AI summary

Parallel light traveling in a direction perpendicular to an outgoing surface having a curved surface is emitted. A light guide member according to one or more embodiments may include: an incident surface where light from a light source enters; at least one reflective surface that reflects the light having entered from the incident surface; and an outgoing surface that is formed of a curved surface and emits the light reflected by the reflective surface. The reflective surface reflects the light having entered from the light source in a direction in which the incident angle of the light incident on the outgoing surface is constant.