Polarized Light Recycling Optics for Brighter Compact Beam Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Light emitting devices lose half of their light due to the use of polarizers for polarization, reducing brightness and efficiency, and require optical lenses that increase size and weight.
Innovation Solution
An optical device that splits an unpolarized beam into beams with different polarization directions, using a polarizing beam splitting layer and phase retardation elements to convert one polarization direction to another, allowing both beams to pass through a single lens, thereby recycling light and reducing the number of lenses and optical space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a polarizer is used to filter light to obtain polarized light, then the light can emit in a single polarization direction, but half of the light is lost, causing brightness and efficiency to be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers the light that would normally be discarded by the polarizer. The reflected beam from the polarizing beam splitting layer is redirected back through the phase retardation element and combined with the transmitted beam, allowing this previously lost light to contribute to the final output and improve overall brightness and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a phase retardation element as an intermediary component between the polarizing beam splitting layer and the final output. This element transforms the polarization state of the reflected beam, enabling it to be combined with the transmitted beam through the lens, thereby recovering light that would otherwise be lost
2Area of stationary object
If an optical lens is used to enlarge the beam area, then the beam can be expanded, but the size and weight of the light emitting device are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical paths of the transmitted beam and the previously reflected beam through the phase retardation element. By combining these beams and using a single lens for both paths, the system achieves beam expansion while reducing the total number of lenses required, thereby decreasing device size and weight
Solution Approach 2:
The single lens in the patent serves multiple functions: it focuses the transmitted beam and also expands the combined beam area. By making the lens multi-functional and eliminating the need for separate lenses for different beam paths, the device achieves beam enlargement while minimizing size and weight increases
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
Improves lighting efficiency and reduces the size and weight of the device by recycling filtered light and minimizing the use of lenses.
Implementation Method 1
a polarizing beam splitting layer, located on an optical path of the beam and splitting the beam into a first beam and a second beam, wherein the first beam passes through the polarizing beam splitting layer, the second beam is reflected by the polarizing beam splitting layer, the first beam has a first polarization direction, and the second beam has a second polarization direction perpendicular to the first polarization direction
Implementation Method 2
a phase retardation element, located on an optical path of the second beam, wherein the second beam passes through the phase retardation element at least once to become a third beam with the first polarization direction
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides an optical device, including: a light source, used to emit a beam; a polarizing beam splitting layer, located on an optical path of the beam and splitting the beam into a first beam and a second beam, wherein the first beam passes through the polarizing beam splitting layer, the second beam is reflected by the polarizing beam splitting layer, the first beam has a first polarization direction, and the second beam has a second polarization direction perpendicular to the first polarization direction; a phase retardation element, located on an optical path of the second beam, wherein the second beam passes through the phase retardation element at least once to become a third beam with the first polarization direction; a lens, located on the optical paths of the first beam and the third beam, wherein the first beam and the third beam respectively pass through the lens.