Diffuser Screen Using Transverse Anderson Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fibre faceplates in displays often emit light in a cone-shaped ring rather than a solid cone, leading to uneven illumination and reduced image quality, necessitating additional diffuser screens to achieve uniform illumination over an appreciable cone angle.

Innovation Solution

The use of transverse Anderson localization in fibre faceplates, where waveguides with randomly selected optical properties are arranged to emit light in a solid cone, independent of wavelength, eliminating the need for separate diffuser screens by convolving output ray angles with a Gaussian profile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a fibre faceplate is used to transfer images, then image display is enabled, but light is emitted in a cone-shaped ring rather than a solid cone causing uneven illumination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination uniformityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the fibre faceplate with a diffuser screen into a single integrated component. The diffuser screen is positioned within the fibre faceplate structure, combining the image transfer function and light diffusion function into one device, thereby achieving uniform illumination without requiring separate components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a diffuser screen as an intermediary element between the fibre faceplate and the external environment. This diffuser screen acts as a mediator that converts the cone-shaped ring light emission into a solid cone emission pattern, achieving uniform illumination across the display area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If additional diffuser screens are added to achieve uniform illumination, then illumination uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination uniformityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the diffuser screen functionality directly into the fibre faceplate structure, eliminating the need for separate diffuser screens. The diffuser screen is integrated within the fibre faceplate, achieving uniform illumination while reducing the overall number of components in the system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional fibre faceplates are used, then image display is achieved, but resolution and brightness consistency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveresolutionVSAvoidbrightness consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The diffuser screen acts as an intermediary element that improves both resolution and brightness consistency. By diffusing the light uniformly across the fibre faceplate, it enhances the spatial frequency response (resolution) while maintaining consistent brightness across the display area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the fibre faceplate system by introducing the diffuser screen, which modifies the light emission pattern from a cone-shaped ring to a solid cone. This parameter change results in improved resolution and brightness consistency across the display

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 results in a more uniform image with higher quality illumination across a wider cone angle, enhancing user experience without the requirement for additional diffuser screens, and improves resolution and brightness consistency.

Implementation Method 1

The use of transverse Anderson localization in fibre faceplates, where waveguides with randomly selected optical properties are arranged to emit light in a solid cone, independent of wavelength, eliminating the need for separate diffuser screens by convolving output ray angles with a Gaussian profile.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTransverse Anderson localization:

Data Source

PatentEP3923041A1Diffuser screen
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 BAE SYSTEMS PLC
  • EP3923041A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3923041A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3923041A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A diffuser screen for visible light utilizing transverse Anderson localization is disclosed. The diffuser screen comprises a first part comprising: a first face and second face substantially parallel to each other, a first array of a plurality of waveguides forming an optical path between the first face and the second face. A value of an optical property of each of the plurality of waveguides is selected randomly from a set of values of the optical property. The first array of a plurality of waveguides is arranged such that each of the plurality of waveguides has an optical axis that is substantially parallel to its nearest neighbour. Substantially all the waveguides of the first array are sized below a size that would allow a single mode of visible light to propagate along each waveguide