Planar Display with Actively Controllable Viewing Directions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lighting devices, such as LEDs, are either designed for directional or diffuse illumination and cannot switch between the two, nor can the illumination direction be internally adjusted once manufactured.

Innovation Solution

A lighting apparatus comprising a waveguide layer, a lenslet layer, a first active layer, and a redirecting layer, which allows for adjustable beam direction and divergence by decoupling and redirecting the optical beam, using liquid crystal materials and prism decouplers to control the beam's direction and intensity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional lighting devices are designed for directional or diffuse illumination, then the illumination pattern is fixed, but the device cannot switch between directional and diffuse illumination or adjust the beam direction after manufacturing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of illumination directionVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs liquid crystal layers that can dynamically change their optical properties (from transparent to opaque, or changing refractive index) in response to applied voltages. This allows the illumination direction and pattern to be adjusted in real-time without mechanical movement, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity by using an electrically controllable dynamic medium instead of mechanical adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the refractive index parameter of the liquid crystal material through voltage control to alter the light propagation path. By modifying this physical parameter of the existing structure, the system achieves adjustable illumination directions without adding complex mechanical components, thus improving adaptability while maintaining relatively simple device structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a waveguide layer guides an optical beam, then the light propagation is confined, but the beam direction cannot be changed without additional active control layers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrollability of beam directionVSAvoidnumber of layers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid crystal layer serves multiple functions: it acts as a waveguide mode controller, a beam direction adjuster, and an intensity modulator all in one component. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control mechanisms for each function, thereby achieving beam direction controllability while minimizing the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid crystal layer acts as an intermediary between the waveguide layer and the external control system. By placing this controllable medium at the interface, it mediates the light propagation from the waveguide, enabling external voltage control to influence the beam direction without requiring direct mechanical interaction with the waveguide structure itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables real-time control of light direction and divergence, providing energy efficiency, viewing privacy, and multi-user three-dimensional displays without the need for special glasses, by mechanically or electronically adjusting the beam angle using micro-optic structures and active materials.

Implementation Method 1

a waveguide layer to guide an optical beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a first active layer, coupled to another surface of the waveguide layer, to allow the portion of the optical beam to decouple from the waveguide layer by passing through the first active layer in at least one selectable region of the first active layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectro-optic effect: Electro-Optic Effects

Implementation Method 3

a redirecting layer, coupled to or proximate to the first active layer, to redirect the portion of the optical beam decoupled from the waveguide towards the lenslet layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction