Integrated Prism Opto-Mechanical Module for Projection Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current opto-mechanical modules in projection devices are prone to assembly difficulties and increased size due to harsh environmental conditions, leading to increased costs and compromised optical effects, as they require larger prism sets and adhesives that are not tolerant to vibrations and high temperatures.

Innovation Solution

An opto-mechanical module design featuring a light valve, a first prism, and a second prism, where the first prism does not overlap with the light valve and the illumination beam does not pass through optical elements or fixing glue between the prisms, allowing for simplified assembly without additional spacers, maintaining a good optical effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adjacent total internal reflection prisms are adhered by a light-transmitting spacer and/or an edge dispenser, then the prisms can be assembled together, but the assembly cannot tolerate harsh environmental conditions such as vibration tests at high temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental toleranceVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the first and second total internal reflection prisms into a single integrated prism structure, eliminating the need for adhesives or spacers between them. This integration resolves the technical contradiction by removing the weak adhesive joints that failed under harsh environmental conditions, while simultaneously simplifying the assembly structure by reducing the number of components and assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the size of the prism set is increased to increase the adherence area of the light-transmitting spacer, then environmental tolerance is enhanced, but the cost increases and the size becomes too large affecting the configuration of the light valve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental toleranceVSAvoidprism set size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the first and second prisms into a single unified structure, the patent eliminates the need to increase prism size to compensate for weak adhesive bonds. The integrated design achieves both compact size and high environmental tolerance, resolving the contradiction between reliability and volume by removing the adherence interface that required enlarged dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the light-transmitting spacer and edge dispenser from the prism assembly, eliminating the need for large adherence areas. This extraction resolves the technical contradiction by removing the component that caused the size increase, while the integrated prism structure maintains environmental tolerance without requiring expanded dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If the illumination beam passes through optical elements or fixing glue between the first prism and the second prism, then the prisms can be connected, but the assembly difficulty increases and optical effects are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidoptical precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The integration of the first and secondprisms into a single structure eliminates the need for fixing glue or intermediate optical elements, resolving the technical contradiction by removing the assembly steps that required high precision while maintaining excellent optical effects. The unified structure ensures optimal light transmission without interference from adhesive layers or additional optical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Simplifies the assembly of the prism set while maintaining a good optical effect by eliminating the need for connection means like light-transmitting spacers or fixing dispensers, reducing the size and cost of the prism set, and enhancing environmental tolerance.

Implementation Method 1

at least two total internal reflection prisms are disposed on the light transmission path

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3851914A1Opto-mechanical module and projection device
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 CORETRONIC CORPORATION
  • EP3851914A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3851914A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3851914A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An opto-mechanical module, including a light valve, and first and second prisms is provided. The light valve and the first prism are disposed on a transmission path of the illumination beam. The second prism is disposed on transmission paths of the illumination and image beams, and located between the light valve and the first prism. The first prism does not overlap with the light valve in an extension direction of the reflection surface parallel to the light valve. The illumination beam does not pass through an optical element or a fixing glue on a transmission path between the first and second prisms. The shortest distance from an intersection point of the illumination beam entering the first prism to the light valve is smaller than that from an intersection point of the image beam exiting the second prism to the light valve. A projection device including the opto-mechanical module is provided.