Thin Integral Image Device Micro-Lens Refraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing integral image devices struggle to achieve minimal thickness while maintaining effective optical performance, as more elaborate optical designs often require additional layers, increasing the device's thickness.

Innovation Solution

The integral image device is designed with an array of focusing micro-lenses and an image fragment plane positioned on top of the micro-lenses, where the image fragment plane is arranged to be refracted through the micro-lenses, reflected, and refracted back towards the viewer, optimizing the use of thickness and reducing the overall device thickness by utilizing the micro-lenses' structural depth twice.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If a reflective layer is added within the foil to reduce optical path length, then device thickness is reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional layers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice thicknessVSAvoidnumber of layers

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the reflective layer from the device structure entirely, extracting the harmful element that caused increased complexity. Instead of using a reflective layer to fold the optical path, the invention uses a refractive index mismatch at the air-substrate interface to achieve the same optical path compression, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining thinness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - the refractive index difference between air and the substrate material - to achieve optical path compression without requiring a reflective layer. This intermediary optical property allows light to travel a longer effective path within the thin substrate, replacing the need for additional structural layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If more elaborate optical designs are used to achieve better imaging, then image quality improves, but device thickness increases due to additional layers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoiddevice thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the existing substrate by utilizing its refractive index property. Instead of adding layers to improve imaging, the invention optimizes the use of light refraction at the air-substrate interface, allowing the thin substrate itself to function as an effective optical element that compresses the optical path while maintaining image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Length of stationary object

If the optical path is doubled by using a reflective layer, then the effective focal length is achieved in a thinner device, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical path lengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the reflective layer from the manufacturing process, eliminating the need for precise placement and alignment of reflective surfaces. The solution relies on the inherent refractive properties of the substrate material, which simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of precise assembly steps required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate material itself provides the optical function needed for path compression through its natural refractive index property. The structure serves its own optical purpose without requiring additional functional layers, making the manufacturing process simpler and more self-contained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This configuration results in a significantly thinner integral image device, achieving a thickness reduction of up to 50% compared to traditional designs, while maintaining the ability to produce perceivable integral images without the need for additional layers.

Implementation Method 1

The image fragment plane is arranged to, when being viewed refracted through the array of focusing micro-lenses away from a viewer, reflected back and refracted back through the array of focusing micro-lenses towards the viewer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10222626B2Thin integral image devices

Publication Date: 2019.03.05 ROLLING OPTIKS AB

AI summary

An integral image device (1) comprises an array (20) of focusing micro-lenses (22), optionally a reflecting layer (40) and an image fragment plane (30). The reflecting layer is positioned on a same side of the array of focusing micro-lenses as a focal plane of the focusing micro-lenses as such. The reflecting layer is arranged for reflecting at least a part of light incident on a surface (49) of the reflecting layer facing the array of focusing micro-lenses. The image fragment plane has image fragment structures (32). The array of focusing micro-lenses is positioned between the reflecting layer and the image fragment plane. The image fragment plane is arranged to, when being viewed refracted through the array of focusing micro-lenses towards the reflecting layer, reflected by the reflecting layer and refracted back through the array of focusing micro-lenses from the reflecting layer, give rise to an integral image.