Optical Member Light Guide Total Internal Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical members using semi-transmissive mirrors suffer from high light absorption rates, leading to dark and variable brightness and color tone in the viewed scene, and increased manufacturing costs due to dependency on wavelength and angle of incidence.
Innovation Solution
An optical member design that eliminates the need for a semi-transmissive mirror by using a light guide body with flat and prism portions, where light is internally reflected and emitted, maintaining consistent brightness and color tone without absorption, and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a semi-transmissive mirror is used in the optical member, then the light can be reflected, but the light absorption rate increases leading to dark and variable brightness and color tone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the semi-transmissive mirror from the optical system and replaces it with a light guide body that uses total internal reflection. This extraction of the problematic component eliminates the light absorption issue while maintaining the light reflection function through the light guide body's geometric structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the optical mechanism of a semi-transmissive mirror with a geometric optical system using total internal reflection in a light guide body. This substitution eliminates wavelength and angle dependency, providing consistent brightness and color tone across different viewing conditions.
2Reliability
If a semi-transmissive mirror is used, then light reflection is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase due to dependency on wavelength and angle of incidence
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the semi-transmissive mirror and its associated wavelength and angle dependency issues, the patent simplifies the manufacturing process. The light guide body can be manufactured using standard optical manufacturing techniques without the complex coatings and precision requirements of semi-transmissive mirrors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of light reflection from coating-based (semi-transmissive mirror) to geometry-based (total internal reflection in light guide body). This parameter change eliminates the need for precise wavelength and angle control during manufacturing, improving both reliability and ease of manufacture.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a semi-transmissive mirror is used, then light can be reflected, but the brightness and color tone become variable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the semi-transmissive mirror system with a light guide body that uses total internal reflection. This substitution creates a wavelength-independent reflection mechanism, eliminating color tone variation and providing stable brightness and color characteristics across different viewing angles and lighting conditions.
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 optical member effectively guides incident light internally, reducing light loss and maintaining consistent brightness and color tone across different viewing angles, while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The flat portions totally reflect the incident light toward the second surface
Implementation Method 2
The second surface totally reflects a reflected light reflected by the flat portion toward the first surface
Data Source
AI summary
An optical member includes a light guide body. The light guide body has an incident surface on which an outside light is incident, a first surface having flat portions and prism portions, an incident light incident on the incident surface reaching the first surface for the first time, and a second surface arranged opposite to the flat portions. The flat portions totally reflect the incident light toward the second surface. The second surface totally reflects a reflected light reflected by the flat portion toward the first surface. The prism portion has an ejection surface to emit the incident light to outside.