Optical Element With Refractive Index Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical elements for display devices, such as spectacle lenses, face challenges in achieving high optical quality while maintaining mechanical strength, as materials like polycarbonate and polyurethane compromise optical clarity due to microcrystallites and scattering issues.
Innovation Solution
An optical element is designed with a first part made of cycloolefin polymers and a second part made of polyurethane, connected with an adhesive composition, where refractive index differences are minimized to < 0.02 between 380 nm and 800 nm, ensuring high mechanical strength and optical quality by embedding an optically effective structure that prevents aberrations and scattering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If plastics like polycarbonate or polyurethane are used for high mechanical strength, then mechanical resilience is improved, but optical quality deteriorates due to microcrystallites and scattering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two different plastic materials (first and second materials) with different refractive indices to create a composite optical element. This composite structure allows each material to contribute its advantageous properties while compensating for the disadvantages of the other, achieving both high mechanical strength and excellent optical quality by eliminating the microcrystallite scattering issue inherent in single-material plastics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different materials to different regions of the optical element, with the first material having a first refractive index and the second material having a second refractive index. This local differentiation of material properties allows optimization of both mechanical strength and optical quality in different zones of the lens, addressing the scattering problem while maintaining structural integrity
2Ease of manufacture
If a single material is used for the optical element, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but optical quality deteriorates due to inability to compensate for scattering and aberrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure with two materials of different refractive indices bonded together, where each layer is optimized for specific optical functions. This composite approach maintains manufacturing feasibility through established lamination and bonding techniques while dramatically improving optical quality by eliminating scattering and correcting aberrations that cannot be addressed by single-material design
3Adaptability or versatility
If refractive index differences between materials are large, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but optical quality deteriorates due to scattering at material interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the refractive index parameters of the two materials used in the composite structure. By selecting materials with specific refractive indices that are optimally matched, the invention reduces interfacial scattering while maintaining the manufacturing flexibility and optical correction benefits of using multiple materials. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between manufacturing versatility and optical quality
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 achieves excellent internal and external optical quality with high mechanical strength, making it ideal for spectacle lenses with integrated optics, such as data input applications.
Implementation Method 1
the two parts being connected to one another with an adhesive composition made of a second material
Implementation Method 2
the refractive index differences for at least one wavelength between 380 nm and 800 nm between the first and the second material and between the second and the third material are each ≤ 0.02
Implementation Method 3
the decoupling section having an optically effective structure which causes a deflection of the light bundles for decoupling
Implementation Method 4
a light guide channel which is suitable for guiding light bundles of pixels of the generated image
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 7~8
AI summary
The invention relates to an optical element for a display device (1) which can be placed onto the head of a user and can generate an image, wherein the optical element has a front face (18) and a rear face (15), an input portion (11) and an output portion (13) spaced apart from the input portion (11) and a light-guiding channel (12) which is suitable for guiding light beams (9) of pixels of the generated image, which are input into the optical element (3) via the input portion (11) of the optical element (3), in the optical element (3) to the output portion (13), from which they are output from the optical element (3). The output portion (13) has an optically effective structure which effects a deflection of the light beams (9) for output, and the optical element has a first part (19) made of a first material, which comprises the optically effective structure, and the optical element has a second part (22) made of a second material. The two parts (19, 22) are connected to one another by an adhesive composition (31) of a third material, wherein the first material comprises one or more cycloolefin polymers, the first and third material are different from one another, the second and third material in each case comprise at least one organic polymer, and the refractive index differences for at least one wavelength between 380 nm and 800 nm between the first and the second material and between the second and the third material are in each case between ≤ 0.02. The invention further relates to the display device comprising the optical element and to a method for producing the optical element.