Microlens Array Floating Display via Fourier Transform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating displays using retroreflective films are bulky, inefficient, and prone to image breakup due to lateral offsets in corner-cube arrays, while polarization-sensitive solutions face limitations in efficiency and image quality.
Innovation Solution
The use of microlens array (MLA) based lens systems with in-tandem pairs of Fourier Transform (FT) microlens arrays that reconverge light without gaps, providing high efficiency imaging and avoiding phase errors, scatter, and tiling effects, allowing for compact and scalable designs suitable for electronic devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If retroreflective films with corner-cube arrays are used for floating displays, then the display can be achieved, but the device becomes bulky and suffers from image breakup due to lateral offsets
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the optical system into multiple lens array assemblies, each containing multiple lens arrays that process different portions of the light field. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high-quality imaging without requiring bulky retroreflective structures, as each lens array independently processes spatial frequency information.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical retroreflective film structure with an optical lens array system that uses refraction and Fourier transform properties to achieve the same floating display function. This substitution eliminates the need for physical corner-cube arrays and their associated lateral offset problems.
2Loss of energy
If retroreflective films are used for floating displays, then the display function is achieved, but the system becomes inefficient due to losses at reflections and absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces reflection-based retroreflective films with a transmission-based lens array system. Light passes through the lens arrays which perform Fourier transforms and reconvergence without requiring reflections, thereby eliminating the associated losses from reflection and absorption at multiple interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens arrays utilize phase transformations through Fourier optics to redirect and reconverge light rays. The phase information is preserved and manipulated through the lens arrays, allowing efficient light transmission without the energy losses inherent in reflection-based systems.
3Loss of energy
If polarization-sensitive solutions are used to improve efficiency, then some loss is reduced, but the system becomes polarization-sensitive and limits efficiency and image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces polarization-sensitive optical elements with a lens array system that operates independently of polarization state. The lens arrays process light based on spatial frequency and phase information, making the system insensitive to polarization while maintaining high optical efficiency.
4Loss of energy
If microlens array based lens systems with in-tandem pairs of Fourier Transform microlens arrays are used, then high efficiency imaging is achieved without gaps, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention embeds multiple lens arrays within a compact structural framework where lens arrays are positioned in specific spatial relationships. The in-tandem pairing of Fourier transform lens arrays creates a nested optical processing chain that achieves high efficiency while maintaining a manageable overall structure suitable for integration.
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 MLA-based lens systems achieve high efficiency and quality in forming real, non-inverted images with improved fill factor, reducing losses and distortions, and enabling compact, scalable, and wavelength-independent floating displays.
Implementation Method 1
microlens array (MLA) based lens systems with in-tandem pairs of Fourier Transform (FT) microlens arrays that reconverge light without gaps
Implementation Method 2
providing high efficiency imaging and avoiding phase errors, scatter, and tiling effects
Data Source
AI summary
A lens system includes a first lens array assembly including a first plurality of cells, each cell of the first plurality of cells configured to exhibit a pair of first Fourier transform lenses, and a second lens array assembly including a second plurality of cells, each cell of the second plurality of cells configured to exhibit a pair of second Fourier transform lenses. The first and second lens array assemblies are positioned relative to one another along an optical axis of the lens system such that light diverging from an object at a plane disposed at an object conjugate distance from the first lens array assembly reconverges at an image plane after passing through the first and second lens array assemblies. The image plane is disposed at an image conjugate distance from the second lens array assembly in accordance with the object conjugate distance.