Variable Shear Holographic Optical Element for Aberration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Holographic optical elements with non-uniform grating vectors face challenges in maintaining image quality due to aberrations when sheared uniformly, as the amount of shear required varies across the surface, leading to unfocused and dimmed imagery.
Innovation Solution
An optical device comprising a flexible holographic optical element sandwiched between two rigid substrates, with a transparent flexible material having a variable shear transmission property across its in-plane direction, allowing for variable shear force distribution to minimize aberrations by matching the shear force to the non-uniform grating vector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If uniform shear is applied to the flexible holographic optical element, then the device structure is simple, but image quality deteriorates due to aberrations from non-uniform grating vectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the shear transmission property spatially varying across the transparent flexible material. Different regions of the material transmit different amounts of shear force, with the shear transmission coefficient γ(x) varying as a function of position x. This allows each local region to receive the appropriate amount of shear compensation matching its specific grating vector requirements, thereby maintaining image quality without requiring a completely complex device architecture.
2Manufacturing precision
If variable shear transmission property is implemented, then image quality is maintained across larger eyebox, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the shear transmission coefficient γ(x) of the transparent flexible material as a spatial parameter. This coefficient varies continuously or discretely across the material's surface, transforming a uniform material property into a graded property. The variable shear transmission property is achieved through controlled variations in material composition, thickness, or structural characteristics, allowing precise control of shear force distribution while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
3Ease of operation
If uniform shear force is applied across the holographic optical element, then the application is simple, but aberrations increase due to non-uniform grating vectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the transparent flexible material with variable shear transmission property - that mediates between the applied shear force and the flexible holographic optical element. This intermediary layer receives the applied shear force and selectively transmits variable amounts of it to different regions of the HOE, effectively decoupling the simplicity of force application from the complexity of shear distribution requirements. The intermediary material transforms a simple uniform application into a sophisticated spatially-varying shear profile.
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 enables precise control of the shear force applied to the flexible holographic optical element, reducing aberrations and maintaining image quality across a larger eyebox with variable shear transmission properties, ensuring high-quality imagery.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent flexible material having a variable shear transmission property across an in-plane direction of the flexible holographic optical element
Implementation Method 2
Holographic optical elements can be sheared to bring an incident beam into or out of Bragg condition, and deflect the incident beam in a predefined angle
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device including a first rigid substrate, a flexible holographic optical element, a transparent flexible material having a variable shear transmission property across an in-plane direction of the flexible holographic optical element, and a second rigid substrate, where the flexible holographic optical element and the transparent flexible material are located between the first and second rigid substrates, where the variable shear transmission property of the transparent flexible material transmits variable amounts of a shear force applied to the first or second rigid substrates across the in-plane direction of the flexible holographic optical element.