Geodesic Faceting for Continuous Light Field Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic displays and cameras are limited in their ability to accurately capture and display the full photonic environment, and they are typically bulky and uncomfortable for users, lacking true emulated transparency and high-resolution light field reproduction.

Innovation Solution

A flexible circuit board with geodesic faceting that integrates a plurality of rigid sensor and display facets, forming a continuous sensing and display surface, enabling accurate light field capture and display through microlens arrays and in-layer signal processing, allowing for unidirectional emulated transparency and high-resolution, lightweight, and comfortable light field reproduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a flexible circuit board with gaps between facet locations is used, then the board can be formed into a three-dimensional shape, but the gaps prevent continuous sensing and display surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethree-dimensional shapeVSAvoidcontinuous surface
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit board is divided into multiple rigid facets separated by flexible gaps, allowing each facet to maintain structural integrity while the gaps provide flexibility for forming three-dimensional shapes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gaps between rigid facets are designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing the board to dynamically change from a flat configuration with visible gaps to a three-dimensional configuration where gaps are substantially eliminated and continuous surfaces are formed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If multiple separate micro displays are assembled on a flexible circuit board, then high-resolution light field reproduction is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight field reproduction accuracyVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate micro displays are assembled on a single flexible circuit board to form a unified multi-facet display system, combining the advantages of high-resolution individual displays with the flexibility of a single integrated structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible circuit board serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for multiple micro displays, enables three-dimensional configuration, allows for continuous surface formation, and facilitates light field reproduction across multiple facets

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If traditional electronic displays are used, then they can capture and display light fields, but they are bulky and uncomfortable for users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight field capture accuracyVSAvoiddisplay weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The display system uses a flexible circuit board with thin rigid facets instead of traditional bulky rigid structures, significantly reducing weight and improving comfort for wearable applications while maintaining light field capture and display capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP3750184B1Three-dimensional electronics distribution by geodesic faceting
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP
  • EP3750184B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3750184B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3750184B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

In one embodiment, a flexible circuit board includes: a plurality of facet locations that each correspond to a particular one of a plurality of rigid sensor facets and a particular one of a plurality of rigid display facets. The flexible circuit board also includes a plurality of wire traces that serially connect the plurality of facet locations, The facet locations are arranged into a plurality of facet coIumns. When the flexible circuit board is flat, at least some of the facet locations are separated from one or more adjacent facet locations by a plurality cf gaps, When the flexible circuit board is formed, into a three-dimensional shape, the plurality of gaps are substantially eliminated, thereby permitting the plurality of rigid sensor facets to form a continuous sensing surface and the plurality of rigid display facets to form a continuous display surface.