Stacked Light Guide Plate Spacer Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical elements face challenges in accurately guiding incident light due to issues with gap uniformity between stacked light guide plates, leading to bending and distortion, which affects the flatness of the total internal reflection surface and the accuracy of light propagation.
Innovation Solution
A light guide plate apparatus comprising a plurality of stacked light guide plates with a first optical system for total internal reflection and a second optical system for emitting light, along with spacers arranged between the plates at positions deviated from total internal reflection positions to reduce bending and distortion, ensuring accurate light guidance without affecting the propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If spacers are provided between adjacent light guide plates to maintain gap uniformity, then gap uniformity is improved, but spacers may be positioned at total internal reflection positions causing light propagation interference
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer arrangement density varies in different regions: higher density in outer peripheral portions and lower density in propagation regions. This local differentiation allows the spacers to effectively maintain gap uniformity at plate edges while minimizing their impact on light propagation in central regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer configuration is asymmetric with respect to light propagation paths. Spacers are deliberately positioned to be denser at plate peripheries and sparser in propagation regions, creating an asymmetric distribution that optimizes both structural stability and optical performance.
2Shape
If multiple spacers are arranged to reduce bending and distortion of light guide plates, then plate flatness is improved, but the complexity of spacer arrangement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer arrangement is segmented into distinct zones: outer peripheral portions with higher spacer density for structural support, and propagation regions with lower spacer density for light transmission. This segmentation simplifies the overall design by assigning different functions to different regions.
Solution Approach 2:
Spacers are provided with sufficient density in outer peripheral portions to adequately prevent plate bending and distortion, while using minimal spacers in propagation regions. This partial action approach ensures plate flatness is achieved without unnecessarily increasing overall complexity.
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 effectively enhances the accuracy of light guidance and reduces gap variations between light guide plates, improving the flatness of the total internal reflection surface and ensuring precise propagation of light beams, even for multiple wavelengths, without requiring advanced optical designs.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical system that causes incident light to enter each of the plurality of light guide plates so as to satisfy a total internal reflection condition inside the light guide plate
Implementation Method 2
a second optical system that causes the light propagating inside each of the plurality of light guide plates while being totally internally reflected to be emitted outward from the light guide plate
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a light guide plate apparatus capable of accurately guiding incident light. A light guide plate apparatus according to the present technology includes: a plurality of stacked light guide plates; a first optical system that causes incident light to enter each of the plurality of light guide plates so as to satisfy a total internal reflection condition inside the light guide plate; a second optical system that causes the light propagating inside each of the plurality of light guide plates while being totally internally reflected to be emitted outward from the light guide plate; and at least one spacer provided between two adjacent light guide plates of the plurality of light guide plates, in which the spacer is arranged at a position deviated from a total internal reflection position of the light in opposite surfaces of each of the two adjacent light guide plates.