Functionalized Waveguide Diffractive Coupling Transparency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transparent surfaces such as windows and windshields primarily serve to protect against environmental influences while lacking additional optical functionalities, limiting their ability to efficiently direct and process radiation for applications like detection and projection systems.
Innovation Solution
A functionalized waveguide with a partly transparent input coupling region and output coupling region, utilizing diffractive structures like volume holograms, allows for the efficient deflection and propagation of radiation while maintaining transparency, enabling additional optical functionalities like imaging and radiation detection or projection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a transparent base body is used to maintain transparency, then visibility through the surface is improved, but the ability to efficiently deflect and process radiation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct regions with different optical properties: transparent regions for visibility and functional regions with diffractive structures for radiation deflection. The diffractive structures are localized to specific areas rather than covering the entire surface, allowing simultaneous transparency and functional performance in different locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes optical parameters by introducing diffractive structures that modify the interaction between light and the transparent base body. These structures alter the deflection efficiency and coupling characteristics without fundamentally changing the transparent material itself, enabling enhanced radiation processing while maintaining overall transparency.
2Productivity
If diffractive structures are added to improve radiation coupling, then input coupling efficiency is improved, but transparency of the coupling region deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The diffractive structures are confined to specific input coupling regions rather than being uniformly distributed. This localized application allows high coupling efficiency in functional areas while preserving transparency in other regions, resolving the contradiction between coupling performance and overall transparency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs partial action by implementing diffractive structures only where needed for radiation coupling, rather than across the entire surface. This selective application achieves sufficient coupling efficiency for the intended function while minimizing the impact on overall transparency and visual appearance.
3Ease of manufacture
If the transparent base body is made plane-parallel, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but optical functionality for radiation deflection is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical functionality by integrating separate diffractive structures into the plane-parallel base body. Rather than requiring the entire base body to have complex curved geometry, the segmentation allows a simple plane-parallel form factor with localized functional elements that provide the necessary radiation deflection capability.
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 enhances the optical functionality of transparent surfaces by efficiently directing radiation for detection and projection systems without compromising transparency, allowing for integrated and invisible optical components in applications like vehicle windows.
Implementation Method 1
The partly transparent input coupling region can comprise a diffractive structure used to maintain the transparency of the input coupling region during normal viewing through it
Implementation Method 2
The reflections can be in particular total internal reflections at the front and/or rear side of the transparent base body. However, it is also possible for reflective layers or coatings or partly reflective layers or coatings to be provided for this purpose.
Data Source
AI summary
A waveguide for a detector system includes a transparent main body with a partially transparent incoupling region and a decoupling region that is spaced apart therefrom in a first direction. The incoupling region includes a diffractive structure which deflects only part of radiation coming from an object to be detected and impinging on the front face such that the deflected part propagates as coupled-in radiation in the main body by reflections up to the decoupling region and impinges on the decoupling region. The decoupling region deflects at least part of the coupled-in radiation impinging thereon such that the deflected part exits the main body via the front face or rear face in order to impinge on the detector system. The extent of the incoupling region in a second direction transverse to the first direction is greater than the extent of the decoupling region in the second direction.