Optical Element With Tooth And Stepped Lens Structures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical elements for optoelectronic components, such as light-emitting diode components, face challenges in beam shaping without visible non-optically active parts, leading to efficiency losses and reduced imaging quality due to the need for fine structure sizes in central regions.

Innovation Solution

An optical element with a tooth structure on one surface and a stepped lens structure on the other, oriented perpendicularly, allowing for beam shaping in two planes with total internal reflection and refractive means, maintaining high imaging quality and non-transparency in the central region without significant efficiency loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If diffuse lens material or scattering plates are used to make non-optically active parts invisible, then visibility of non-optically active parts is prevented, but efficiency losses increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of non-optically active partsVSAvoidefficiency losses

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The optical element is segmented into multiple functional zones: a first region with a tooth structure for total internal reflection and a second region with a stepped lens structure for refraction. This segmentation allows different parts of the optical element to perform different functions (beam shaping vs. invisibility) without compromising overall efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the optical element are assigned different optical properties: the first region uses total internal reflection to maintain efficiency while achieving invisibility, and the second region uses refraction for beam shaping. Each region is optimized for its specific function rather than using a uniform approach across the entire element

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Shape

If rotationally symmetrical or elliptical step structures with small structure size are used for beam shaping, then beam shaping capability is improved, but structure size requirements become unachievably fine in central regions reducing imaging quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam shaping capabilityVSAvoidimaging quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rotationally symmetrical or elliptical step structures with an asymmetric tooth structure featuring parallel sides and specific angular orientations. This asymmetric design achieves effective beam shaping without requiring unachievably fine structure sizes in central regions, thereby maintaining imaging quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The tooth structure introduces a new geometric dimension with parallel sides and specific angular orientations rather than relying on radial symmetry. This dimensional change allows beam shaping to be achieved through the orientation and arrangement of tooth elements rather than through fine radial variations, avoiding the central region imaging quality problem

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If a single optical element performs both beam shaping and hiding non-optically active parts, then device complexity is reduced, but achieving both functions effectively becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of optical elementsVSAvoiddifficulty of achieving dual functions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The optical element is designed with multi-functionality by integrating two distinct functional regions within a single component: the first region with tooth structure for total internal reflection (invisibility) and the second region with stepped lens structure for refraction (beam shaping). This universal design achieves both functions in one element without significantly increasing manufacturing difficulty

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the functions of beam shaping and invisibility into a single optical element by combining the tooth structure region and stepped lens structure region. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining the effectiveness of both functions through proper regional optimization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enables efficient beam shaping and collimation of electromagnetic radiation while preventing visibility of non-optically active parts, maintaining high imaging quality and efficiency, suitable for rectangular surfaces and optoelectronic components.

Implementation Method 1

the tooth structure forms a total internal reflection lens

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a stepped lens having a multiplicity of steps oriented in a first direction is arranged on the second surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS9874663B2Optical element and optoelectronic component comprising optical element

Publication Date: 2018.01.23 OSRAM OLED

AI summary

An optical element has a first surface and a second surface, wherein a tooth structure having a multiplicity of teeth oriented in a second direction is arranged on the first surface, a stepped lens having a multiplicity of steps oriented in a first direction is arranged on the second surface, and the tooth structure forms a total internal reflection lens.