Curved Retroreflective Sheet Floating Image Visibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating image display technologies suffer from reduced image overlap, which deteriorates the visibility of the floating image for the viewer.
Innovation Solution
A floating image display device comprising an image display, a beam splitter, and a curved retroreflective sheet, where the first light is retroreflected and specularly reflected to prevent the reduced image from being seen, ensuring the viewer only sees the floating image from a predetermined reference position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a half mirror and retroreflective sheet are used to form a floating image, then the floating image can be displayed in the air, but a reduced image overlaps with the floating image causing visibility deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the retroreflective sheet, transforming it from a flat surface to a curved surface. This curvature changes the reflection geometry so that reflected light directs toward the beam splitter rather than toward the viewer's eye. Consequently, the reduced image that would normally overlap with the floating image is redirected away from the viewing position, eliminating the harmful overlap and improving floating image visibility.
2Reliability
If light is retroreflected by a flat retroreflective sheet, then the floating image is displayed, but specular reflection causes reduced image to be seen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the retroreflective sheet, transforming it from a flat surface to a curved surface. This curvature changes the reflection geometry so that reflected light directs toward the beam splitter rather than toward the viewer's eye. Consequently, the reduced image that would normally overlap with the floating image is redirected away from the viewing position, eliminating the harmful overlap and improving floating image visibility.
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 enhances the visibility of the floating image by eliminating the overlap of reduced images, allowing the viewer to exclusively see the intended floating image.
Implementation Method 1
a beam splitter 11 for splitting light emitted from the display image into first light and second light
Implementation Method 2
a curved retroreflective sheet 12 for retroreflecting the first light to display a floating image based on the display image at a space in air
Implementation Method 3
a specularly-reflected light based on the first light travels from the curved retroreflective sheet toward outside of the reference area
Data Source
AI summary
A floating image display device includes an image display for displaying a display image; a beam splitter for splitting light emitted from the display image into first light and second light; and a curved retroreflective sheet for retroreflecting the first light to display a floating image based on the display image at a space in air so that the floating image is seen from a predetermined reference position, wherein the image display, the beam splitter and the curved retroreflective sheet are arranged so that the first light traveling from the beam splitter to the curved retroreflective sheet is retroreflected and specularly reflected, a retroreflected light based on the first light travels from the curved retroreflective sheet via the beam splitter to the reference area and a specularly-reflected light based on the first light travels from the curved retroreflective sheet toward outside of the reference area.