Light Guide Plate Splitter for Uniform Multi-Wavelength Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light source configurations require multiple light guide plates to uniformly illuminate image display elements with light beams of different wavelengths, and diffraction elements suffer from low mass productivity due to structural changes affecting performance.
Innovation Solution
A light source apparatus with a light guide plate containing a dielectric film that splits light beams into multiple beams, where the transmittance increases along a specific direction, satisfying specific inequalities to ensure uniform illumination and efficient light utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a diffraction element is used to split light beams, then light beams can be divided into multiple beams, but the diffraction angle changes with wavelength requiring multiple light guide plates for uniform illumination across different wavelengths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a splitter with spatially varying transmittance characteristics. The splitter has different transmittance values at different positions along the light propagation direction, allowing it to compensate for wavelength-dependent diffraction effects. This enables a single light guide plate to handle multiple wavelengths uniformly, resolving the contradiction between wavelength adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmittance parameter of the splitter along the light propagation direction. By making the transmittance a function of position rather than a constant value, the system can adjust the light distribution for different wavelengths within a single light guide plate, eliminating the need for multiple plates while maintaining uniform illumination across the spectrum.
2Manufacturing precision
If a diffraction element with precise structure is used, then light splitting performance is improved, but mass productivity decreases due to sensitivity to minute structural changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/diffraction-based light splitting mechanism with an optical filtering mechanism using a splitter with controlled transmittance. Instead of relying on precise diffraction structures that are sensitive to manufacturing variations, the system uses a splitter whose transmittance can be controlled through material composition or thickness, which are more amenable to mass production with consistent quality.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple light guide plates are used to illuminate different wavelengths, then uniform illumination across wavelengths is achieved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple wavelength-specific light guide plates into a single light guide plate with a wavelength-independent splitter. The splitter's transmittance is designed to compensate for wavelength-dependent effects, allowing one integrated structure to perform the illumination function that previously required multiple separate plates, thereby reducing device size while maintaining illumination uniformity.
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 uniform illumination of image display elements with high efficiency and reduced size, while maintaining light beam uniformity and improving mass productivity.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide plate configured to propagate a light beam from the light source in a specific direction
Implementation Method 2
The splitter is configured such that a transmittance for a predetermined wavelength included in the light beam from the light source increases along the specific direction
Data Source
AI summary
The light source apparatus includes a light source, and a light guide plate configured to propagate a light beam from the light source in a specific direction. The light guide plate includes a splitter configured to split the light beam from the light source into a plurality of light beams, and to emit the plurality of light beams from the light guide plate. The splitter is configured such that a transmittance for a predetermined wavelength included in the light beam from the light source increases along the specific direction. A predetermined inequality is satisfied.