Remotely Positioned Light Sources for Waveguide Displays
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current light emissive display systems face challenges such as high energy consumption for high-color content artwork, large non-graphic light spreading regions that reduce visible area, costly waveguide materials, and difficulties in aligning multi-layer displays due to beam angle limited light sources, leading to inefficient light distribution and reduced appeal in thin geometry applications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of remotely positioned light sources combined with propagation direction changing features, such as Fresnel lenses or gratings, to spread and mix light before entering photoluminescent waveguides, reducing waveguide thickness and non-graphic regions while ensuring sufficient light distribution and maximizing visible graphic area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If beam angle limited light sources are used to illuminate waveguide display systems, then light can be delivered to the graphic region, but a large light spreading region is required which increases display system size and reduces visible graphic area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions light sources remotely at the ends of the waveguide rather than along the edges, utilizing the length dimension of the waveguide to deliver light to the graphic region. This dimensional repositioning eliminates the need for a large light spreading region along the width, thereby maximizing the visible graphic area.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the light spreading function from the visible graphic area by positioning light sources at the waveguide ends. The light spreading occurs within the waveguide structure itself rather than occupying additional space in the visible region, separating the illumination function from the display function.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are used to illuminate the waveguide display system, then light distribution can be improved, but the periodicity of light source placement creates a light mixing region with uneven illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts multiple light sources from the edge position and relocates them to the waveguide ends. This repositioning eliminates the periodic light mixing region problem that occurs with edge-mounted sources, as light now propagates through the waveguide from the ends where it naturally distributes more uniformly without creating stagnant mixing zones.
3Adaptability or versatility
If photoluminescent layers are made transparent in the non-energized state to view physical objects, then aesthetic presentation is improved, but a dark background cannot be provided for image contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic alternation between transparent and opaque states of the photoluminescent layers. When transparent, physical objects can be viewed; when opaque, a dark background is provided for illuminated graphics. This temporal separation of functions resolves the contradiction between aesthetic versatility and image contrast requirements.
4Quantity of substance
If photoluminescent ink is increased to support high color content artwork, then color content is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the waveguide as an intermediary that efficiently transports excitation light from remotely positioned sources to the photoluminescent ink. This intermediary structure enables high color content artwork with sufficient ink coverage while minimizing energy consumption by reducing light loss and ensuring effective light delivery to all ink regions.
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 solution reduces energy consumption, minimizes non-graphic regions, lowers costs by eliminating unnecessary waveguide thickness, and enhances the appeal of thin geometry displays by maximizing visible graphic area and simplifying multi-layer alignment.
Implementation Method 1
The remotely positioned light source is configured to produce ultra-violet, violet, or blue light. The first waveguide that receives the light from the remotely positioned light source.
Implementation Method 2
The first propagation direction changing feature receives the light from the first waveguide and reorients the direction of the light into the second waveguide.
Implementation Method 3
The first propagation direction changing feature receives the light from the first waveguide and reorients the direction of the light into the second waveguide.
Implementation Method 4
Photoluminescent printed waveguides based on lightwave coupling can be produced using various photoluminescent colorants which are transparent when non-energized, yet emit color when subjected to ultra-violet, violet, or blue light energy.
Data Source
AI summary
A display system 10 comprising a remotely positioned light source 21 configured to produce ultra-violet, violet, or blue light, a first and second waveguides 14, 16, and a first propagation direction changing feature 20. The first waveguide 14 that receives the light from the remotely positioned light source 12. The second waveguide 16 is disposed at an angle relative to the first waveguide 14. The second waveguide 16 includes a photoluminescent printed image 18. The first propagation direction changing feature 20 reorients the direction of the light into the second waveguide 16, making image 18 visible. A visible light source may illuminate a translite graphic layer 26 or a physical object providing an image that is viewable from the display system when the second light source is illuminated and the first remotely positioned light source is not illuminated.