Flexible Light Path Guide Device for Compact Projection Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional projection imaging devices have a large volume due to the need for a straight optical guide member, leading to high optical energy loss and low brightness, which is not suitable for miniaturization in the era of compact electronic devices.

Innovation Solution

A flexible light path guide device with a light path coupling member and a flexible optical guide member that includes a chamber to guide visible light from the coupling member to the outer side, minimizing volume and optimizing light travel for high brightness and low energy loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the optical guide member is kept straight without bending, then the light travel is easy to calculate, but the volume of the projection imaging device becomes over-large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight travel calculation accuracyVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The optical guide member is designed with a curved or bent configuration instead of being straight, allowing the device to achieve compact volume while maintaining optical functionality. The curvature enables the light path to be folded or redirected within a smaller spatial envelope.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The light path is redirected by transitioning to different spatial dimensions or planes through the curved optical guide member, allowing the optical system to fit within a compact three-dimensional space while maintaining adequate light travel distance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the optical guide member is kept straight without bending, then the light path is simple, but the optical energy loss is high and brightness is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight path complexityVSAvoidoptical energy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The curved configuration of the optical guide member optimizes the light path geometry to reduce unnecessary reflections and scattering, thereby minimizing optical energy loss while maintaining manageable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical guide member's physical parameters such as curvature radius, cross-sectional shape, or material properties are optimized to reduce optical energy loss during light transmission through the curved path, improving brightness efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the optical guide member is kept straight without bending, then the structure is simple, but the length cannot be shortened for miniaturization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidoptical guide member length

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By curving the optical guide member, the effective optical path length is maintained while the physical footprint and overall device length are significantly reduced, enabling miniaturization without excessive structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The curved optical guide member allows the light path to be folded or nested within a compact structure, effectively packing a longer optical path into a shorter physical length similar to nesting concepts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 flexible design achieves high brightness and low optical energy loss while significantly reducing the overall volume of the projection imaging device, making it suitable for miniaturization.

Implementation Method 1

the visible light being guided by the light path to the at least one chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11221439B2Flexible light path guide device

Publication Date: 2022.01.11 KDH ADVANCED RES PTY LTD

AI summary

A flexible light path guide device includes at least one light path coupling member for receiving at least one visible light and at least one flexible optical guide member having a first end, a second end extending in a direction away from the first end, a light path positioned between the first and second ends and at least one chamber positioned in the light path in adjacency to the second end. The first end is coupled with the visible light corresponding to the light path coupling member. The visible light is guided by the light path to the chamber. The chamber guides the visible light to outer side of the flexible optical guide member. Accordingly, when the visible light reaches a projected object, the effects that the visible light has high brightness and low optical energy loss and the total volume of the projection imaging device is minimized are achieved.