Reflective Plate for DMD Light Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image display devices face inefficiencies in light management, leading to significant light loss at each step of the optical chain, which is particularly undesirable in personal and near-eye displays where high optical efficiency is crucial for maintaining sufficient illumination.
Innovation Solution
The use of a partially transmissive and reflective plate instead of expensive prisms like TIR or RTIR prisms to direct light to and from a modulator, such as a DMD, to manage light flow and reduce losses, allowing for high-quality image display without the need for costly optical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional prisms (TIR or RTIR) are used to direct light to and from the modulator, then light management efficiency is improved, but device cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive prisms with a partially transmissive and reflective plate that is significantly cheaper to manufacture. The plate performs the same light directing function (acting as a 'traffic cop' for light) but at a fraction of the cost of conventional TIR or RTIR prisms, directly resolving the contradiction between light management efficiency and device cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the optical parameters of the light directing component from high-reflection prisms to a plate with specific transmissive and reflective properties. By adjusting the plate's optical parameters (transmissivity and reflectivity ratios), the system maintains effective light management while reducing cost, thereby resolving the contradiction between energy loss and manufacturing cost.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple optical components are used in the optical chain, then light direction and image quality are improved, but light loss increases at each step
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light directing function from complex multi-component prism assemblies and consolidates it into a single partially transmissive and reflective plate. This reduction in the number of optical components directly reduces light loss at each interface while maintaining the necessary light direction control, thereby resolving the contradiction between image illumination quality and light loss.
3Reliability
If expensive optical components like TIR or RTIR prisms are used, then optical efficiency is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The partially transmissive and reflective plate performs multiple functions: it directs light to the modulator, reflects modulated light back, and maintains optical efficiency—all in a single component. This multi-functionality replaces the need for multiple specialized prisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability and optical efficiency.
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
This solution effectively reduces light loss and maintains high image quality in personal and near-eye displays by optimizing light management, enabling efficient image display with reduced reliance on expensive optical components.
Implementation Method 1
a plate that is partially transmissive and partially reflective in lieu of expensive prisms such as TIR or RTIR prisms to direct light to and from a modulator
Implementation Method 2
a plate that is partially transmissive and partially reflective in lieu of expensive prisms such as TIR or RTIR prisms to direct light to and from a modulator
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (110), system (100), and method (900) for displaying an image (880). Instead of using an expensive configuration of prisms (310) such as TIR prisms (311) or RTIR prisms (312) to direct light (800) to and from a DMD (324), a plate (340) with transmissive (374), reflective (372), and/or polarization (373) characteristics is used. The plate (340) can be implemented in a wide variety of different embodiments using a wide variety of different components and configurations.