Integrated Hologram Optical Element for Polarization Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical elements that use holograms for enhancing LED projector luminance either fail to produce linearly polarized light efficiently or require a large number of parts, leading to high manufacturing costs and optical loss.
Innovation Solution
An optical element with a hologram layer that includes a first hologram for diffracting and polarizing light in a specific direction and a second hologram for converting orthogonal polarized light, reducing the number of parts and enhancing directivity while maintaining high efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a configuration with multiple layers (light guide body, diffusion hologram layer, polarization-conversion layer, polarization-separation layer) is used to obtain linearly polarized light with specific direction, then the polarization performance is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the diffusion hologram layer, polarization-conversion layer, and polarization-separation layer into a single integrated optical element. This merging of multiple functional layers into one component reduces device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining the ability to produce linearly polarized light with specific directionality through the holographic diffraction and polarization conversion mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated optical element performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a light guide, diffusion hologram for light distribution, polarization-conversion layer for converting polarization states, and polarization-separation layer for selecting specific polarization directions. This multi-functionality in a single component eliminates the need for separate layers while achieving the same polarization performance.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple layers are used to convert light to linearly polarized light with specific direction, then the polarization conversion efficiency is improved, but the optical loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple functional layers into a single integrated optical element, the patent reduces the number of interfaces and optical paths that light must traverse. This minimizes reflection losses and absorption losses that occur at each interface, thereby reducing overall optical loss while maintaining high polarization conversion efficiency through the holographic diffraction mechanism.
3Device complexity
If a simple hologram layer is used to diffract light, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to produce linearly polarized light with specific direction is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated optical element is designed to perform multiple functions within a single component: it guides light through the light guide body, diffracts light according to the hologram pattern, converts polarization states through the polarization-conversion layer, and separates/selects specific polarization directions through the polarization-separation layer. This multi-functionality enables the production of linearly polarized light with specific directionality while maintaining low device complexity.
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 achieves high-efficiency conversion of light to linearly polarized light with specific directionality, reducing the number of parts and optical losses, thereby improving the luminance and efficiency of LED projectors.
Implementation Method 1
a first hologram that diffracts in a predetermined direction, from among light irradiated from the light source, first linearly polarized light in which the polarization component is in a specific direction and emits the result as first linearly polarized light of a first phase state
Implementation Method 2
a second hologram that both diffracts in the same direction as the first linearly polarized light, and moreover, at an equal radiation angle, from among light irradiated from the light source, second linearly polarized light in which the polarization component is in a direction orthogonal to that of the first linearly polarized light and converts it to the first linearly polarized light
Implementation Method 3
converts it to the first linearly polarized light, and that emits the result as first linearly polarized light of a second phase state that differs from the first phase state
Data Source
AI summary
A hologram layer (13) is irradiated by light from an optical element (10). The hologram layer (13) is provided with a first hologram (14) that diffracts in a predetermined direction, from among incident light from the optical element (10), X-polarized light in which the polarization component is in a specific direction and emits the light as X-polarized light of a first phase state (P1), and a second hologram (15) that both diffracts in the same direction as the X-polarized light of the first phase state (P1) and moreover at an equal radiation angle, from among incident light from the optical element (10), Y-polarized light in which the polarization component is in a direction orthogonal to that of the X-polarized light and converts it to X-polarized light, and emits the light as X-polarized light of a second phase state (P2) that differs from the first phase state (P1).