Low-Profile Beam Splitter With Diffractive Illumination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing VR, AR, and MR systems are bulky and not compact enough, limiting their potential for enhancing user experience.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile beam splitter is designed with a reduced height and incorporates a diffractive optical element to maintain illumination coverage, reducing the size of the beam splitter without compromising optical functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a beam splitting surface is arranged at 45 degrees to the input surface, then proper beam splitting function is achieved, but the height of the beam splitter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the angle parameter of the beam splitting surface from the conventional 45 degrees to a shallower angle (e.g., 30 degrees), thereby reducing the height of the beam splitter while maintaining its beam splitting functionality through adjusted optical path design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent compensates for the reduced height by optimizing the lateral dimensions and optical path length, redistributing the optical functionality across different spatial dimensions to maintain performance despite the reduced vertical profile
2Length of stationary object
If the height of the beam splitter is reduced, then the overall system size is decreased, but illumination coverage may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies diffractive optical elements at specific locations on the beam splitting surface to enhance and redistribute light, ensuring adequate illumination coverage in the reduced-height configuration by concentrating optical energy where needed
Solution Approach 2:
The diffractive optical element acts as an intermediary that modifies the optical path and redistributes light energy, compensating for the reduced illumination coverage that would result from the smaller beam splitter height
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 low-profile beam splitter enables more compact VR, AR, and MR systems, providing improved user experience through reduced size and weight while maintaining image quality.
Implementation Method 1
incorporates a diffractive optical element to maintain illumination coverage
Implementation Method 2
a third surface being a polarization splitting prism, arranged at 45° to the second surface and reflective to light of a first polarization state and transmissive to light of a second polarization state
Data Source
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AI summary
Examples of light projector systems for directing input light from a light source to a spatial light modulator are provided. For example, an optical device is disclosed which includes a first surface having a diffractive optical element, a second surface normal to the first surface, and a third surface arranged at an angle to the second surface. The third surface may be a beam splitting surface that is reflective to light of a first state and transmissive to light of a second state. The diffractive optical element may receive an input beam made up of light having the first state, and convert the input beam into at least a first diffracted beam at a first diffraction angle such that the first diffracted beam is directed toward the third surface and is reflected by the third surface in a direction substantially parallel to the first surface.