Segmented Lens Array for Relaxed Alignment in Light Emitting Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light emitting apparatuses for image display systems require precise alignment of light sources and optical elements to maintain accurate light intensity distribution, leading to increased assembly time and sensitivity to misalignment, which complicates the detection of pointer positions on projection surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A light emitting apparatus with a configuration of multiple lens groups, each comprising small lenses of varying sizes arranged in orthogonal directions, allowing for relaxed alignment accuracy while minimizing light intensity deviations and noise by overlapping light distributions from adjacent lenses, thus enhancing the detection of pointer positions on projection surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single lens is used for spreading light, then the device structure is simple, but alignment accuracy between light source and lens must be high, increasing assembly time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single lens into multiple small lenses arranged in an array. Each small lens has a specific focal length and aperture, and they are positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the light source to be aligned more easily with the lens array structure, reducing assembly time while maintaining light spreading performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different small lenses in the array have different focal lengths and apertures tailored to their specific positions relative to the light source. This local optimization ensures that each lens contributes effectively to the overall light spreading function, reducing sensitivity to alignment errors while maintaining optical performance.
2Device complexity
If a single lens is used for spreading light, then the device structure is simple, but light intensity deviation becomes significant when alignment is poor
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the single lens into multiple small lenses with different positions, focal lengths, and apertures, the patent creates a distributed optical system. This segmentation ensures that even if alignment is not perfect, multiple lenses contribute to maintaining relatively uniform light intensity distribution across the target area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent varies key parameters (focal length, aperture size, position) across different small lenses in the array. This parameter diversification allows the system to compensate for alignment errors and maintain consistent light intensity distribution, reducing the impact of manufacturing and assembly tolerances.
3Ease of operation
If multiple small lenses are arranged in an array, then alignment accuracy can be relaxed, but interference fringes may occur between lights from adjacent lenses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different focal lengths and aperture sizes to small lenses based on their specific positions in the array. This local differentiation causes light from adjacent lenses to diverge at different angles and patterns, disrupting the coherent interference conditions that would otherwise create fringes, while maintaining ease of alignment.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple lens groups with varying small lens sizes are used, then noise in intensity distribution is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into multiple lens groups, where each group contains small lenses with specific size variations. This segmentation approach reduces noise in the intensity distribution by creating overlapping light patterns from different lens groups, while the modular group structure helps manage the overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite lens array structure where multiple small lenses with different properties (focal length, aperture, position) work together as an integrated optical system. This composite approach achieves superior intensity distribution uniformity and noise reduction while maintaining a manageable device structure through systematic arrangement.
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 apparatus reduces assembly time and maintains accurate light intensity distribution across the projection surface, even with relaxed alignment, while minimizing noise and interference fringes, enabling effective detection and projection of pointer trajectories.
Implementation Method 1
a collimator lens that light emitted from the light source enters
Implementation Method 2
an optical element that spreads the light transmitted through the collimator lens in a direction corresponding to a predetermined direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the light source
Implementation Method 3
each of the plurality of small lenses is formed to spread entering light in a direction corresponding to the predetermined direction
Implementation Method 4
each of the plurality of small lenses is formed to spread entering light in a direction corresponding to the predetermined direction so that the lights spread by the small lenses adjacent to each other in the second direction are superimposed
Data Source
AI summary
A light emitting apparatus includes a light emitting unit. The light emitting unit includes a light source, a collimator lens, and an optical element that spreads light transmitted through the collimator lens in a direction corresponding to a width direction. The optical element has a plurality of lens groups arranged in a first direction (stacking direction), each of the plurality of lens groups has a plurality of small lenses arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and crossing an optical axis, each of the plurality of small lenses is formed to spread entering light in a direction corresponding to the width direction so that the lights spread by the small lenses adjacent in a second direction are superimposed, and the plurality of lens groups have the small lenses with the small lenses adjacent in the first direction and the second direction in different sizes from each other.