Optical Device Groove Structure for Stray Light Attenuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical devices face challenges in effectively blocking stray light from waveguide layers, which is complicated and costly to address with conventional methods such as embedding wiring electrodes.

Innovation Solution

The optical device incorporates a groove with roughened side surfaces extending from a protective layer to a waveguide layer, scattering stray light into a release space to attenuate it effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If wiring electrodes are embedded in the waveguide layer to block stray light, then stray light blocking performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestray light blocking performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the stray light blocking function from the waveguide layer by introducing a separate groove structure in the protective layer. This groove structure acts as a dedicated pathway to guide stray light away from the waveguide, separating the blocking function from the waveguide itself and simplifying the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove structure serves as an intermediary element between the protective layer and the waveguide layer. It provides a dedicated pathway that intercepts stray light before it can affect the waveguide, using the protective layer as a mediator to guide stray light away without requiring direct modification of the waveguide layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If wiring electrodes are embedded to block stray light, then stray light blocking performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestray light blocking performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The groove structure uses the existing protective layer material to create the stray light blocking pathway, avoiding the need for expensive wiring electrode materials. The groove is formed by removing material from the protective layer, creating a cost-effective solution that leverages existing structural elements rather than adding expensive components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a groove structure is introduced to scatter stray light, then stray light attenuation is improved, but device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestray light attenuationVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The groove structure introduces local structural modifications only where needed to intercept and scatter stray light, rather than fundamentally redesigning the entire waveguide or protective layer structure. The groove is positioned specifically to address stray light pathways while maintaining the overall simplicity of the device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The groove structure segments the protective layer to create dedicated pathways for stray light management. By dividing the protective layer structure to form grooves, the invention creates specialized channels that handle stray light separately from the main waveguide function, improving attenuation without requiring complete structural redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 groove structure efficiently scatters and attenuates stray light, preventing it from returning to the waveguide and maintaining color balance in mixed light emission, thus simplifying and enhancing optical device performance.

Implementation Method 1

a groove which extends from the protective layer to the waveguide layer, wherein the groove includes a first side surface and a second side surface which opposes the first side surface, the first side surface and the second side surface expose end surfaces of the waveguide layer and the protective layer, and the second side surface has a rough surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS20250298299A1Optical device and imaging forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 TDK CORP

AI summary

The optical device includes: a substrate; a waveguide layer which is formed on the substrate and which has an optical waveguide for propagating light; a protective layer provided on the waveguide layer; and a groove which extends from the protective layer to the waveguide layer, wherein the groove includes a first side surface and a second side surface which opposes the first side surface, the first side surface and the second side surface expose end surfaces of the waveguide layer and the protective layer, and the second side surface has a rough surface.