Holographic Lightguide Structure With Narrow-Angle Outcoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing holographic illumination concepts are costly due to the need for high-quality light sources and complex beam shaping components, limiting their mass production and effectiveness in enhancing safety and operability in vehicle applications.
Innovation Solution
A simple and inexpensive holographic light guide structure with a planar light guide and holographic outcoupling structure that uses a limited acceptance angle spectrum, eliminating the need for beam shaping components and allowing for efficient electromagnetic radiation guidance and representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high-quality light sources and complex beam shaping components are used to ensure sufficient holographic illumination quality, then the holographic representation quality is improved, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the beam shaping components from the illumination system. By using a light guide with integrated holographic outcoupling structures, the system removes the need for separate beam shaping elements, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining holographic representation quality through the light guide's optical design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the light guide function with the holographic outcoupling function into a single integrated structure. The light guide simultaneously performs light transmission and holographic image generation, eliminating the need for separate beam shaping components and reducing overall system complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If high-quality light sources and beam shaping components are used to achieve sufficient holographic illumination, then the holographic representation quality is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs standard, inexpensive light sources (such as LEDs) instead of high-quality, expensive light sources. The cost reduction is achieved by using commercially available, mass-produced light sources that can be easily integrated into the light guide structure without requiring specialized or expensive components
3Manufacturing precision
If the acceptance angle spectrum of the holographic outcoupling structure is reduced to at most 10° (particularly at most 5°), then the image representation quality is improved, but the brightness may be reduced due to limited light outcoupling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the acceptance angle spectrum parameter of the holographic outcoupling structure to a specific range (at most 10°, particularly at most 5°). This parameter change improves image representation quality by reducing angular dispersion, while the brightness is compensated through the light guide's efficient light transmission and the use of sufficient light sources
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 enables a cost-effective, user-friendly, and robust holographic operating element suitable for mass production, achieving high-quality image representation with improved brightness and efficiency without complex setup requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide configured for guiding electromagnetic radiation of at least one first spectrum
Implementation Method 2
at least one holographic outcoupling structure configured for outcoupling electromagnetic radiation guided in the light guide structure from a first main surface of the light guide structure within an acceptance angle spectrum of the outcoupling structure
Data Source
AI summary
A lightguide structure for illumination, detection and/or holographic representation includes at least one planar lightguide for guiding electromagnetic radiation of at least a first spectrum, at least one illumination arrangement located on the first side face of the lightguide, and at least one holographic outcoupling structure for coupling out electromagnetic radiation guided in the lightguide structure. The light radiated in by the illumination arrangement can have a large angular range, the holographic outcoupling structure having a small angular range. Also provided is a production method for such a lightguide structure and to an operating element comprising a lightguide structure.