Aerial Image Mirror Layout for Low-Distortion High-Luminance Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerial image display devices suffer from image distortion and lower luminance, particularly when using optical elements like retroreflectors and polarizing filters, which degrade the display quality of the aerial images.
Innovation Solution
The aerial image display device employs a reflective optical system comprising a convex mirror and two concave mirrors with specific curvature relationships (Sa1 > Sa2 > Sb) to minimize distortion and maintain high luminance, using a compact design that reduces optical path length and avoids the use of beam splitters or polarizing filters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If retroreflectors and polarizing filters are used in aerial image display devices, then the device can form aerial images, but image distortion increases and display quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes retroreflectors and polarizing filters from the optical system, replacing them with a reflective optical system using only mirrors. This extraction of problematic components eliminates the source of image distortion while maintaining aerial image formation capability through the concave-convex-concave mirror arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using transmissive optical elements (retroreflectors and polarizing filters) that cause distortion, the patent inverts the approach by using a purely reflective optical system. The light path is inverted through multiple reflections off mirrors rather than transmission through optical elements, fundamentally changing the optical architecture to eliminate distortion.
2Volume of moving object
If a compact design is used to reduce optical path length, then device size is reduced, but maintaining high luminance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved mirror surfaces with specific curvature radii (first concave mirror: R1, first convex mirror: R2, second concave mirror: R3) to focus and concentrate light efficiently. The curvature of the mirrors enables compact optical path folding while maintaining high luminance by concentrating reflected light onto the aerial image formation region, solving both compactness and brightness requirements simultaneously.
3Reliability
If multiple optical elements are used to form aerial image, then image formation is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces active optical elements (retroreflectors requiring precise angular positioning, polarizing filters requiring alignment) with passive reflective mirrors. This substitution eliminates the need for complex control systems and active components, reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable aerial image formation through purely passive optical reflection.
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 device achieves reduced distortion (less than 5%) and high contrast (greater than 0.2 at 3-10 cycles/mm) with enhanced luminance, resulting in improved display quality and reduced power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a convex mirror 4 that reflects image light L emitted from the display 2
Implementation Method 2
a concave mirror 5 that reflects, in a direction different from a direction toward the convex mirror 4, the image light L reflected from the convex mirror 4 to form an aerial image R as a real image
Data Source
AI summary
An aerial image display device includes a display, a convex mirror, and a concave mirror. The convex mirror reflects image light emitted from the display. The concave mirror reflects, in a direction different from a direction toward the convex mirror, the image light reflected from the convex mirror to form an aerial image as a real image. The concave mirror has a greater curvature than the convex mirror.