Optical Imaging System for Floating Display with Orthogonal Light Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional floating display technologies face challenges in achieving high resolution and cost-effectiveness due to large system volume and high costs associated with retroreflectors or lens groups, and integrated imaging methods require numerous micro-display units.
Innovation Solution
An optical imaging system that defines an object plane, a first image plane, and a second image plane along its optical axis, with at least one imaging unit having different light-converging capabilities in orthogonal directions, and a main diffusor diverging light along the second direction, allowing a light beam to form line images in both planes, thereby creating a floating image with unidirectional parallax while maintaining a slimmer design and lower cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If retroreflectors or lens groups are used to achieve floating display, then the floating display effect is realized, but the volume of the display system becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical system into distinct functional components: a first optical element for converging light in the first direction, a second optical element for diverging light in the second direction, and a display panel. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized independently and reduces the overall system volume compared to traditional retroreflector or lens group approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces orthogonal directions (first direction and second direction) for light control, where the first optical element operates primarily in the first direction for convergence and the second optical element operates in the second direction for divergence. This dimensional separation enables compact system design by distributing optical functions across different spatial dimensions.
2Area of stationary object
If the size of the floating image is increased, then the visual impact is improved, but the volume of the display system needs to be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses orthogonal optical elements that operate in different directions to control light propagation. The first optical element expands light in the first direction to create larger floating images, while the second optical element controls divergence in the second direction. This directional independence allows image size expansion without proportionally increasing system volume.
3Reliability
If integrated imaging is used with many micro-display units to project floating images, then the floating display is achieved, but the resolution is difficult to achieve high and the cost is too high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the imaging function from multiple micro-display units and consolidates it into a single display panel combined with orthogonal optical elements. The first and second optical elements perform the light manipulation that would otherwise require multiple micro-display units, thereby achieving high resolution with a single high-quality display panel instead of many lower-resolution units.
4Reliability
If conventional floating display technologies are used, then the floating display effect is achieved, but the cost is too high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive retroreflectors and complex lens groups with simpler, more cost-effective optical elements. The first optical element (converging lens or mirror) and second optical element (diverging lens or mirror) are standard optical components that are significantly cheaper than precision retroreflectors or integrated imaging systems, while still achieving the desired floating display effect.
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 system achieves a floating display with unidirectional parallax and a slimmer design at a lower cost, effectively addressing the limitations of existing technologies by optimizing light convergence and divergence for improved resolution and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one imaging unit has different light-converging capabilities in a first direction and a second direction
Implementation Method 2
a main diffusor diverging light along the second direction
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an optical imaging system (100) and a device for floating display, and a surround-view display device (2000). The optical imaging system (100) sequentially defines, along the optical axis thereof, an object plane (10), a first image plane (101) and a second image plane (102), and the optical imaging system (100) comprises at least one imaging unit (110) arranged between the object plane (10) and the first image plane (101) on the optical axis, with the at least one imaging unit (110) having different light converging capabilities in a first direction and in a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction being orthogonal to the optical axis, respectively; and a main diffusion screen (120) diverging light in the second direction, the optical imaging system (100) being configured such that a light beam from a point on the object plane (10) forms a line image in the first direction on the first image plane (101), and the light beam from a point on the object plane (10) forms a line image in the second direction on the second image plane (102), with the second image plane (102) being a floating image plane.