Compact Image Display Apparatus Using Retroreflective Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image display apparatuses that form aerial images require relative inclination of components, leading to increased volume and bulkiness due to the need for secure optical path lengths and positioning of display and retroreflective elements.
Innovation Solution
An image display apparatus utilizing a light guide plate that internally totally reflects light and incorporates a retroreflective element on its surface, allowing for compact design by eliminating the need for relative inclination and securing optical path lengths without volume increase, along with diffractive and polarized light management for efficient image formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If components are arranged with relative inclination to form aerial images, then the aerial image can be displayed without overlapping the display unit, but the volume of the entire image display apparatus becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional spatial inclination arrangements to a planar integrated configuration where the light guide plate and retroreflective element coexist in the same plane. This dimensional change allows the aerial image to be formed without requiring components to be inclined relative to each other, thereby reducing the overall volume of the apparatus while maintaining the ability to display aerial images without overlap.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the light guide plate and retroreflective element into a single integrated structure where the retroreflective element is provided on the surface of the light guide plate. This combining of functions eliminates the need for separate inclined components and reduces the volume of the apparatus while preserving the aerial image display capability.
2Reliability
If the display unit and retroreflective element are arranged with relative inclination, then the aerial image can be formed at appropriate positions, but the optical path length requires increased space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reconfigures the optical path from a three-dimensional inclined arrangement to a two-dimensional planar arrangement. The light guide plate guides light in a planar direction and the retroreflective element is positioned on its surface, allowing the aerial image to be formed at appropriate positions without requiring increased optical path length, thus maintaining reliable image formation within a compact space.
3Ease of manufacture
If components are disposed with relative inclination, then the aerial image does not overlap the display unit, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light guide plate and retroreflective element into an integrated assembly where the retroreflective element is provided on the surface of the light guide plate. This merging simplifies the component arrangement by eliminating the need for relative inclination positioning, reducing device complexity while maintaining precise aerial image positioning that avoids overlap with the display unit.
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 solution enables a compact image display apparatus capable of forming aerial images at greater distances without increasing volume, allowing for flexible and efficient image display in various orientations and configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide plate on which light emitted by the image display element is incident and which internally and totally reflects the light satisfying a total reflection condition to guide the light
Implementation Method 2
a retroreflective element that is provided on a surface of the light guide plate and retroreflects the light guided in the light guide plate
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image display apparatus that has a small overall apparatus volume and can be miniaturized. The image display apparatus includes an image display element; a light guide plate on which light emitted by the image display element is incident and which internally and totally reflects the light satisfying a total reflection condition to guide the light; and a retroreflective element that is provided on a surface of the light guide plate and retroreflects the light guided in the light guide plate.