Imaging Device Light Guide Plate Frustum Protrusion Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The image quality of existing imaging devices with pinholes is affected by processing accuracy, degradation of the pinhole interior, and light leakage, requiring specific processing methods for each material and leading to restricted angles of view.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device is designed with a light guide plate having frustum-shaped protrusions, a light shielding film covering the protrusions, and an appearance component covering the upper portion, where the flat face of the protrusion is exposed, allowing for improved image quality and reduced sensitivity to processing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pinhole is opened on the surface of an appearance component to improve designability, then the designability is improved, but the image quality becomes sensitive to processing accuracy and degrades due to pinhole interior issues
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the imaging system into separate functional components: the appearance component with pinholes for design, the light guide plate for light transmission and angle control, and the imaging element. This segmentation allows the appearance component to focus on designability while the light guide plate handles optical precision, resolving the contradiction between design freedom and manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate acts as an intermediary between the pinholes in the appearance component and the imaging element. It receives light from the pinholes, controls the angle of incident light through its refractive properties, and transmits it to the imaging element. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for high precision in pinhole processing while maintaining image quality.
2Device complexity
If a pinhole is used for imaging, then the structure is simple, but image quality deteriorates due to degradation of the pinhole interior and mixing of moisture and dust
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate serves as a protective intermediary that covers the pinhole interior. Moisture and dust can enter the pinhole opening without degrading image quality because the light guide plate's refractive structure controls light transmission regardless of pinhole interior conditions. The adhesive layer further seals the interface between the light guide plate and appearance component, preventing moisture and dust contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive layer acts as a thin film seal between the light guide plate and the appearance component, creating a barrier that prevents moisture and dust from entering the pinhole interior. This flexible sealing approach maintains structural simplicity while improving reliability by protecting against environmental degradation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a pinhole is opened to allow light passage, then light transmission is achieved, but light leakage occurs and angle of view is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate changes the optical parameters of light transmission by utilizing refraction and total internal reflection. The refractive index difference between the light guide plate material and surrounding media controls the critical angle, allowing light to pass through the pinhole while blocking oblique light rays that would cause leakage. This parameter-based control achieves both transmission and leakage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate typically has a curved or tapered structure that converges light rays from the pinhole toward the imaging element. This curved geometry helps control the angle of incident light, restricting the field of view to appropriate angles while allowing sufficient light transmission, thereby preventing light leakage from oblique directions.
4Manufacturing precision
If processing accuracy is increased to ensure image quality, then image quality improves, but the processing method must be adjusted for each appearance component
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the imaging system into the appearance component, light guide plate, and imaging element, the invention transfers the precision requirements from pinhole processing to light guide plate manufacturing. The light guide plate can be produced using standardized optical manufacturing processes, eliminating the need to develop specialized processing methods for each different appearance component material.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate serves multiple functions: controlling light angle, transmitting light, and protecting the pinhole interior. This multi-functionality allows a single standardized component to address multiple image quality issues, reducing the need for customized processing methods for each appearance component and simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
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
This configuration enhances image quality by stabilizing it regardless of processing accuracy, prevents image degradation due to pinhole interior issues, and allows for omnidirectional imaging without excessive light leakage or angle restrictions.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide plate having a frustum-shaped protrusion
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device includes a light guide plate, a light shielding film, and an appearance component (20). The light guide plate includes a frustum-shaped protrusion (12). The light shielding film covers a surface of the protrusion, the surface being other than the flat face (12A) of the top of the protrusion (12). The appearance component (20) covers the upper portion of the light guide plate in a state where the flat face (12A) of the protrusion is exposed to the outside.