Folded Optical Path for Large Aerial Image in Compact Display

The patent employs a folded optical path using reflective members (mirrors) to redirect light beams in multiple directions. The optical path extends in three-dimensional space rather than a straight line, allowing the aerial image to be formed in a direction different from the light beam emission direction. This dimensional transformation enables the aerial image size to exceed the display portion size without proportionally increasing the housing volume.

The patent arranges the optical path folding members and reflective members in a nested or compact configuration within the housing. Multiple optical components are positioned to utilize space efficiently, with light beams being reflected multiple times through a compact sequence of mirrors and optical elements. This nesting approach allows the extended optical path to fit within a constrained housing volume.

The patent divides the optical path into multiple segmented sections, each handled by individual reflective members or optical path folding members. Instead of using a single complex optical element, the system employs multiple simpler mirrors or reflective surfaces that work in sequence. Each segment reflects or redirects the light beam in a controlled manner, making the overall system more manageable and easier to design and manufacture.

The patent introduces optical path folding members (such as prisms or additional mirrors) as intermediary elements between the display portion and the aerial image formation region. These intermediaries redirect and fold the optical path in a controlled sequence, simplifying the overall optical design by breaking down the complex light routing into manageable steps performed by standardized optical components.