Optical Modulation Structure With Regional Cell Gaps for Tunable Focus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smart glasses technologies face challenges in expanding the range of adjustable refractive power due to limitations in cell gap, leading to manufacturing difficulties and issues with uneven medium layer distribution.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device incorporates an optical modulation structure with a greater cell gap in the optical modulation region compared to the non-optical modulation region, achieved through etching processes on the substrates to form grooves and adjust substrate thickness, along with a high-resistivity film to stabilize electric fields, allowing for continuous tunable focusing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the height of the spacer is increased to expand the cell gap, then the range of adjustable refractive power is increased, but manufacturing difficulties increase and medium layer distribution becomes uneven

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverange of adjustable refractive powerVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulties
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different cell gap heights in different regions of the optical modulation structure. The optical modulation region has a first cell gap height that is greater than the second cell gap height in the non-optical modulation region. This localized variation allows the optical modulation region to achieve a wider range of adjustable refractive power while the non-optical modulation region maintains a smaller, more manageable cell gap that is easier to manufacture and provides more uniform medium layer distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the height of the spacer is increased to expand the cell gap, then the range of adjustable refractive power is increased, but medium layer overflow occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverange of adjustable refractive powerVSAvoidmedium layer distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by differentiating the cell gap dimensions between the optical modulation region and the non-optical modulation region. The optical modulation region employs a larger first cell gap height to enable broader refractive power adjustment, while the non-optical modulation region uses a smaller second cell gap height that prevents medium layer overflow and ensures uniform distribution. This spatial differentiation of structural parameters simultaneously achieves both objectives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If a larger cell gap is used in the optical modulation region, then the range of adjustable refractive power is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverange of adjustable refractive powerVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating spatially differentiated cell gap structures where the optical modulation region has a first cell gap height greater than the second cell gap height in the non-optical modulation region. This localized structural variation allows the system to achieve enhanced refractive power adjustment range only where needed, while maintaining simpler structures in other regions, thereby balancing performance enhancement with device complexity management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4398024B1Electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 INNOLUX CORP
  • EP4398024B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4398024B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4398024B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device that has an optical modulation region and a non-optical modulation region is provided, and the electronic device includes a first substrate, a first transparent electrode layer, and a second transparent electrode layer. The first transparent electrode layer is disposed on the first substrate. The second transparent electrode layer is disposed on the first transparent electrode layer and has an opening. The optical modulation region overlaps the opening, and the non-optical modulation region overlaps the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer. A cell gap of the optical modulation region is greater than a cell gap of the non-optical modulation region.