Holographic Light Guide for Color Image Detection Without Image Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing color-dependent image recording systems face challenges with light source alignment, leading to oblique lighting and image content shift, which cannot be effectively compensated without increasing installation space using optical elements like prisms.
Innovation Solution
A device with a carrier medium acting as a light guide, equipped with a light coupling device and holographic elements that use internal reflection and multiplex diffraction structures to transmit and couple light of different wavelengths, allowing for color-dependent detection without shifting the light source's position and reducing the need for additional space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the light source is positioned off the optical axis to enable color-dependent illumination, then color-dependent image capture is achieved, but the image content shifts due to oblique illumination
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide serves as an intermediary component between the light source and the object to be illuminated. The light guide transmits light from an off-axis light source to the optical axis, enabling color-dependent illumination without image content shift. The light guide receives light from the LED at one end and emits it at the optical axis position, mediating the spatial relationship between source and target.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical optical elements (lenses, mirrors, prisms) with a light guide that uses internal reflection and diffraction structures. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical alignment while achieving the same optical function of directing light along the optical axis without image displacement.
2Manufacturing precision
If optical elements like prisms are used to compensate for image content shift, then position accuracy is improved, but the device requires more installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide functions as a thin, flexible optical element that can be integrated into compact spaces. Unlike rigid prisms requiring specific orientation and space, the light guide can be shaped and positioned flexibly, reducing the overall device volume while maintaining optical precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from using multiple separate optical elements in three-dimensional space to a single integrated light guide structure. By confining light transmission within the light guide's internal pathways (utilizing internal reflection), the system achieves precise optical control in a more compact, planar configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources are used for color-dependent detection, then spectral coverage is improved, but alignment complexity and image shift increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide serves multiple functions simultaneously: it transmits light from different wavelength LEDs, maintains optical axis alignment, and prevents image content shift. This single multi-functional component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate alignment systems for each light source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple light sources (different wavelengths) into a single integrated system where all LEDs couple light into the same light guide. This merging approach simplifies alignment since all light sources share the same transmission pathway, eliminating the need for individual alignment of each source.
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
Enables color-dependent image detection without optical axis displacement, saving space and allowing for a flatter design, while effectively guiding and recording light across different wavelength ranges, including infrared and visible spectra.
Implementation Method 1
The carrier medium is designed to transmit the coupled-in light from the light coupling device to the measuring region by means of internal reflection
Implementation Method 2
the measuring region is designed as a holographic element with a first diffraction structure which is designed to couple coupled-in light with the first wavelength, which is incident on the first diffraction structure, out of the carrier medium and to couple light with the first wavelength, which is incident on the first diffraction structure from outside the carrier medium, into the carrier medium in the direction of the coupling-out region
Implementation Method 3
The first diffraction structure is further designed as a multiplex diffraction structure which is designed to additionally couple in light in a second wavelength range, which falls onto the diffraction structure from outside the carrier medium, in the direction of the coupling-out region
Implementation Method 4
The coupling-out region is designed as a holographic element with a second diffraction structure, which is designed as a multiplex diffraction structure and is designed to couple light of the first wavelength and light of the second wavelength range, which is incident on the second diffraction structure from the direction of the measuring region, from the carrier medium to a camera device
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (10) for color-dependent detection of image content, comprising a carrier medium (12) designed as an optical fiber for transmitting coupled light, a light coupling device (24), a measuring area (18), and an output coupling area (16) arranged in different sections of the carrier medium, wherein the light coupling device (24) couples light with a first wavelength into the carrier medium (12). The measuring area (18) is designed as a holographic element (14) with a first diffraction structure (20) that couples the coupled light out of the carrier medium (12) and couples light of the first wavelength and light of a second wavelength range, which is incident on the first diffraction structure (20) from outside the carrier medium, back into the carrier medium (12).The output coupling area (16) is designed as a holographic element (14) with a second diffraction structure (22) that couples the back-coupled light from the carrier medium (12) onto a camera device (32); wherein the camera device (32) captures image data that correlates with the captured light.