Switching Mirror Optical Member for Thin See-Through Light Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical members with mirrored components struggle to achieve thinner designs while maintaining effective light guidance and minimizing visibility reduction in the external view, particularly in applications like blind spot assistance devices.
Innovation Solution
An optical member design featuring a mirror and a switching mirror that are arranged in parallel, with asymmetric reflection angles, allowing the switching mirror to switch between transparent and reflective states, thereby guiding light without protruding prisms and ensuring continuity of the external view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional mirrored components are used to guide light, then light guidance function is achieved, but the optical member thickness cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetric reflection by configuring the first reflective layer with an inclined plane that reflects incident light at a reflection angle different from the incident angle. Specifically, the asymmetric mirror reflects light at a smaller angle than conventional mirrors, changing the light path geometry to enable thinner optical member design while maintaining effective light guidance functionality
2Reliability
If protruding prisms are used to guide light, then light guidance is achieved, but visibility reduction in external view increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the protruding prism structure entirely and replaces it with a flat asymmetric mirror surface. The light guidance function is maintained through the asymmetric reflection property of the flat mirror, eliminating the harmful visual pattern while preserving the functional light guidance capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a switching mirror that can change its optical state between transparent and reflective. When in transparent state, it allows external view without blocking; when in reflective state, it guides light. This dynamic state change eliminates the need for fixed protruding prisms and prevents visibility reduction from static patterned structures
3Object-affected harmful factors
If switching mirror is made transparent to maintain external view, then visibility is improved, but light guidance capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a switching mirror that can dynamically change its optical state between transparent and reflective based on operational requirements. This dynamic property allows the system to adapt: transparent state for maintaining external view visibility, reflective state for light guidance, thereby resolving the contradiction between these two requirements
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 design enables a thinner optical member that maintains high reflectance and transparency, allowing seamless external view perception by users, reducing visibility reduction and enhancing the visibility of blind spots without patterned light exit.
Implementation Method 1
The switching mirror is configured to reflect an incident light having an incident angle of θ at a reflection angle of φ larger than θ in the reflective state
Implementation Method 2
The mirror is configured to reflect an incident light having an incident angle of φ at a reflection angle of θ
Implementation Method 3
a switching mirror that is switchable between a transparent state in which light is transmitted and a reflective state in which light is reflected
Data Source
AI summary
An optical member includes a mirror that reflects light and a switching mirror that is switchable between a transparent state in which light is transmitted and a reflective state in which light is reflected. The switching mirror is disposed in parallel with the mirror. The switching mirror is configured to reflect an incident light having an incident angle of θ at a reflection angle of φ larger than θ in the reflective state. The mirror is configured to reflect an incident light having an incident angle of φ at a reflection angle of θ.