Directional Optical Waveguide for Stereoscopic Display Resolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Stereoscopic display devices using wave optical directional backlight technology face a reduction in stereoscopic pixel resolution relative to two-dimensional plane display physical pixel resolution, limiting multi-angle and rotatable viewing capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A directional optical waveguide with stacked N layers, each with a pixel-type grating, where source light rays are diffracted multiple times, resulting in diffraction angles and azimuth angles that enhance stereoscopic display pixel resolution by superimposing first-order diffraction light rays with different angles, thereby improving resolution relative to two-dimensional plane display physical pixel resolution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wave optical directional backlight technology with pixel-type nano-grating is used to achieve multi-angle and rotatable viewing, then viewing angle and rotational capability are improved, but stereoscopic display pixel resolution is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-angle and rotatable viewing capabilityVSAvoidstereoscopic display pixel resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a single-layer two-dimensional grating structure to a multi-layer three-dimensional stacked grating structure. Each layer contains pixel-type gratings with different orientation angles, and the stacking arrangement enables light rays to undergo multiple diffractions at different angles, thereby achieving multi-angle and rotatable viewing capabilities while maintaining pixel resolution through the layered configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical waveguide is divided into multiple stacked layers, with each layer containing pixel-type gratings of specific orientation angles. This segmentation allows different layers to handle different viewing angles and rotational directions, distributing the diffraction function across multiple segments rather than concentrating all orientation angles in a single layer, thus resolving the resolution loss problem

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple pixel-type nano-grating orientation angles are used to diffract light rays into multiple directions, then multi-directional light guide is improved, but display pixel resolution is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-directional light guide capabilityVSAvoiddisplay pixel resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds the vertical dimension by stacking multiple grating layers, allowing light to be diffracted in multiple directions through sequential diffractions at each layer. This three-dimensional approach enables multi-directional light guide without requiring all orientation angles to coexist in a single two-dimensional plane, thereby preserving pixel resolution while achieving omnidirectional viewing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Different orientation angles are segmented across different layers rather than being combined in one layer. Each layer's pixel-type gratings are oriented at specific angles to diffract light in particular directions, and the cumulative effect of multiple layers achieves comprehensive multi-directional light guide while maintaining resolution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 increases stereoscopic display pixel resolution by effectively combining diffraction light rays with varied angles, enhancing the display's ability for multi-angle and rotatable viewing without compromising two-dimensional image quality.

Implementation Method 1

a light ray propagating along one direction is regulated through orientation angles in the nano-grating, so that the light ray propagating along the direction is diffracted into a plurality of light rays having different propagation directions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

after the source light rays introduced by each layer of the optical waveguides are diffracted for corresponding times, diffraction angles and diffraction azimuth angles of the plurality of first-order diffraction light rays that are formed are different. Therefore, from a macroscopic point of view, when the directional optical waveguide provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure is applied to a display device, an image displayed by each display pixel of the display device is formed by superimposing the plurality of first-order diffraction light rays with different diffraction angles and diffraction azimuth angles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuperposition: Interference

Data Source

PatentEP3598203B1Directional optical waveguide, directional backlight module and display device
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 CLOUDMINDS (SHENZHEN) ROBOTICS SYST CO LTD
  • EP3598203B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3598203B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3598203B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A directional optical waveguide, a directional backlight module, and a display device are provided, which relate to the field of stereoscopic display, to resolve a problem that a stereoscopic display pixel resolution R3D of the display device applying a wave optical directional backlight stereoscopic display technology is low. The directional optical waveguide (1) includes a time division multiplexing unit (3) and N layers of optical waveguides (1N1) that have a same light-emitting direction and that are stacked, a light-emitting surface of each layer of optical waveguide (1N1) being provided with a pixel-type grating (1N2); the time division multiplexing unit (3) being configured to hierarchically control, within each frame video stream cycle, the N layers of optical waveguides (1N1) to introduce a source light ray into a corresponding pixel-type grating (1N2) during a corresponding frame video period, and the source light ray that is introduced into the pixel-type grating (1N2) being diffracted in the pixel-type grating (1N2) to form a plurality of first-order diffraction light rays that have different diffraction angles and diffraction azimuth angles and are in a one-to-one correspondence with display pixels, to be incident on a next layer of optical waveguides (1N1). The directional backlight module includes the directional optical waveguide (1). The directional optical waveguide (1) is used in the display device.