Optical Light Guide With Complementary Microstructures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical guides suffer from interference and diffraction issues when trying to superimpose an image on a scene beyond the guide, leading to poor image quality and increased manufacturing complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
An optical guidance device with a first part for propagating light beams through successive reflections and a second part with complementary microstructures separated by a transparent medium of constant thickness, minimizing diffraction and allowing for reliable, cost-effective manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If interstitial spaces are used between microstructures to enable see-through vision, then transparency is improved, but diffraction interference occurs degrading image quality
Solution Approach 1:
A layer of transparent material with refractive index different from air is introduced as an intermediary substance in the interstitial spaces between microstructures. This mediator reduces the refractive index contrast at the interfaces, thereby minimizing diffraction interference while preserving the see-through transparency function.
Solution Approach 2:
The refractive index parameter of the medium in interstitial spaces is changed from air (n≈1.0) to a transparent material with higher refractive index (n>1.0). This parameter change reduces the optical contrast at microstructure interfaces, suppressing diffraction effects while maintaining transparency.
2Ease of manufacture
If microstructures with parallel faces are used for light extraction, then manufacturing is simplified, but diffraction artifacts and parasitic images are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The microstructures are designed with asymmetric geometry, specifically with at least one face having an angle different from 90 degrees relative to the base. This asymmetric design breaks the parallel face symmetry that causes diffraction artifacts, while still allowing effective light extraction and maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a single integrated optical guide is manufactured, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical guide is segmented into multiple separate components (first optical guide portion, second optical guide portion, and transparent material layer) that are manufactured independently and then assembled. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process for each component while maintaining the structural integrity of the complete assembly through precise interfacing.
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
This solution enhances image quality by reducing interference and diffraction, ensuring clear vision of both the image and the external scene while simplifying and reducing the manufacturing costs of the optical guidance device.
Implementation Method 1
The first part, in a transparent material, adapted to propagate the light beam by successive reflections
Implementation Method 2
comprising a flat surface adapted to allow the exit from the ray-guiding device of the light beam coming hit said flat surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A device for optical guidance of a light beam comprises a first part (1.5), of a transparent material, adapted for propagating the light beam (1.6) by successive reflections. This first part comprises an extraction section comprising at least one microstructure comprising a plane surface adapted for allowing the exit from the guidance device of rays of the light beam striking said plane surface. The device also comprises a second part (1.10), of a material substantially identical to that of said first part, comprising a section comprising at least one microstructure of shape complementary to that (those) of the extraction section. The device also comprises a layer of adhesive gluing the first and second parts in such a way that any microstructure of the extraction section is separated from its complementary microstructure by a transparent medium of substantially constant thickness.