Micro-layered Lens for Pepper's Ghost Projection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing projection systems, such as Pepper's Ghost holography, face challenges in maintaining image quality and visibility in bright environments due to light loss through refraction and secondary reflections, which are exacerbated by the thickness of materials used in reflective displays like Augmented Reality Goggles.
Innovation Solution
A micro-layered transparent lens structure with multiple semi-reflective layers of varying refractive indices, arranged in an inclined position, captures and retransmits light lost in refraction, enhancing reflectivity without compromising transparency, allowing the background to be clearly viewed while sustaining a visible optical field in bright environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a thin transparent medium is used to reduce material thickness, then portability is improved, but visual disturbance from secondary reflection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single transparent medium into multiple thin layers, each with different refractive indices. This segmentation allows control over light reflection and refraction at each interface, reducing unwanted secondary reflections while maintaining overall transparency and portability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different layers are assigned specific refractive indices tailored to their position and function. The first layer has a higher refractive index than the second layer, creating optimized local optical properties at each interface to control light behavior and minimize visual disturbances.
2Illumination intensity
If the reflective surface is darkened or densely polarized to compete with external light, then image visibility in bright environments is improved, but the genuine background becomes obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure of multiple transparent layers with different refractive indices. This composite material approach enhances reflectivity and image visibility in bright environments through controlled optical interference, while maintaining overall transparency to preserve the genuine background view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters (refractive indices) of different layers to optimize light reflection and transmission. By carefully selecting refractive index values, the system enhances image visibility without darkening the overall structure, thus preserving background visibility.
3Device complexity
If a single-layer transparent medium is used, then device complexity is reduced, but light energy loss through refraction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical system into multiple layers with different refractive indices. This segmentation reduces light energy loss by controlling refraction at each interface, directing more light toward the desired reflection path while maintaining manageable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of refraction (which causes light energy loss) into a beneficial mechanism. By strategically designing refraction at each layer interface, the system redirects light that would otherwise be lost, enhancing the reflected image brightness.
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 micro-layered structure effectively redirects lost light energy, resulting in a stronger, clearer, and brighter projected image that appears to float behind the lens, improving the visibility of Pepper's Ghost projections and similar optical illusions without darkening or polarization.
Implementation Method 1
The micro-layered structure is configured to reflect incident light as multiple reflections. A first portion of the incident light is reflected by the first front surface as a first reflection, a second portion of the incident light is reflected by the first rear surface as a second reflection, a third portion of the incident light is reflected by the second front surface as a third reflection and a fourth portion of the incident light is reflected by the second rear surface as a fourth reflection.
Implementation Method 2
The micro-layered material disclosed herein is intended to limit the loss of light energy, due to refraction
Data Source
AI summary
A micro-layered structure for use in an optical projection system is configured to reflect incident light as multiple closely aligned reflections. A first semi-reflective transparent layer of the structure has a first index of refraction, a first front surface and a first rear surface. A second semi-reflective transparent layer of the structure has a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction, a second front surface and a second rear surface. The second front surface abuts the first rear surface of the first semi-reflective transparent layer. Portions of the incident light are respectively reflected by the first front surface, first rear surface, second front surface and second rear surface as first, second, third and fourth reflections which collectively form a projection of the image perceived by a user of the optical projection system.