Infinity Display Beam Splitter Light Guide Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional infinity displays are large, expensive, and lack autostereoscopic views and motion parallax, restricting their application due to size and cost constraints, and do not provide an improved field-of-view (FOV).
Innovation Solution
Incorporating one or more beam splitters between spaced apart reflecting surfaces in the light guide of an infinity display system, which increases the distance reflected collimated light can travel and allows for the injection of additional images at different angles, enhancing the field-of-view by combining these images via the beam splitters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional optical components are used to create infinity displays, then the display can achieve infinity focus, but the display becomes large and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is divided into multiple sections with beam splitters positioned at specific locations. Each section handles a portion of the optical path, allowing the system to achieve infinity focus while reducing the overall size of the display by distributing the optical function across segmented components rather than requiring a single large optical element.
Solution Approach 2:
Beam splitters are integrated within the light guide structure, with one beam splitter positioned inside the light guide and another at a specific location relative to it. This nesting approach allows multiple optical functions to be contained within a compact structure, reducing the display size while maintaining infinity focus capability.
2Reliability
If conventional optical components are used to create infinity displays, then the display can achieve infinity focus, but the display becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The beam splitters serve multiple functions: they direct light paths to achieve infinity focus, they enable the light guide to be compact, and they allow for integration with standard display technologies. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized expensive components, making the manufacturing process more cost-effective while maintaining optical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Beam splitters act as intermediary elements that mediate between the light source and the final display output. By using these intermediaries, the system can achieve complex optical paths and infinity focus without requiring expensive custom-designed optical components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
3Reliability
If conventional infinity displays are used, then the display can show images, but the field-of-view is not improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the optical path by positioning beam splitters at different heights and orientations within the light guide. This dimensional arrangement allows light to be directed through multiple paths, expanding the field-of-view in both horizontal and vertical directions, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining image display capability.
4Reliability
If conventional infinity displays are used, then the display can show images, but shadow zones are present in the projected image
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light paths are merged through the beam splitters to illuminate the same display area from different angles. This combining of light paths ensures that shadow zones created by any single light path are filled in by other paths, eliminating shadows while maintaining clear image display capability.
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 provides an improved field-of-view and reduces shadow zones in the projected image, enabling larger and more cost-effective infinity displays with enhanced visual capabilities compared to conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
A first lens stack is positioned adjacent to the light guide and is configured to inject collimated light into an aperture defined by the beam splitter and the second reflecting surface. The first portion of the collimated light is reflected by the beam splitter towards the first reflecting surface
Implementation Method 2
The second portion of the collimated light is transmitted by the beam splitter towards the second reflecting surface
Implementation Method 3
The first reflecting surface is positioned at an angle to the beam splitter such that the first portion of the collimated light is reflected by the first reflecting surface towards an exit aperture of the light guide
Data Source
AI summary
A display includes a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a beam splitter. The second reflecting surface is positioned parallel with respect to the first reflecting surface, and the beam splitter is disposed between the first and second reflecting surfaces. The beam splitter includes a first transmissive substrate having opposed first and second sides and a length extending from a first end to a second end. A first layer of material is disposed on at least one of the first or second sides of the first transmissive substrate. The first layer of reflective material extends from the first end of the first transmissive substrate to a location along the length of the first transmissive substrate.