Optical device for presenting a stereoscopic image

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11067826-B2
Application number	US-201716318028-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2017
Priority date	Aug 4, 2016
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

An optical device includes a light guide plate configured to guide light entering therein, and cause said light to exit from an emission surface thereof and thereby form an image in a space; a group of narrow-view optical-path deflectors configured to form an image in a space within a narrow view direction taken as greater than or equal to 0° and less than a first angle relative to a reference plane that is orthogonal to the emission surface and parallel to a side surface of the light guide plate; and a group of wide-view optical-path deflectors configured to form an image in a space within a wide view direction taken as greater than or equal to the first angle and less than 90° relative to the reference plane. The group of narrow-view optical-path deflectors and the group of wide-view optical-path deflectors have different image forming conditions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical device comprising:
a light guide plate configured to guide light entering therein from a light source, and cause said light to exit from an emission surface of the light guide plate; and
a plurality of optical-path deflectors arranged in the light guide plate and configured to change an optical path of light, which has been directed to the plurality of optical-path deflectors, so that the light exits from the light guide plate and forms an image in a space;
the plurality of optical-path deflectors including a plurality of groups of optical-path deflectors, the plurality of groups of optical-path deflectors including:
a group of narrow-view optical-path deflectors configured to form an image in a space within a narrow view direction taken as greater than or equal to 0° and less than a first angle relative to a reference plane that is orthogonal to the emission surface and parallel to a side surface of the light guide plate; and
a group of wide-view optical-path deflectors configured to form an image in a space within a wide view direction taken as greater than or equal to the first angle and less than 90° relative to the reference plane;
wherein the group of narrow-view optical-path deflectors and the group of wide-view optical-path deflectors have different image forming conditions,
wherein an interval between the group of wide-view optical-path deflectors and optical-path deflectors which are adjacent to the group of wide-view optical-path deflectors and are nearest to the group of wide-view optical-path deflectors is greater than that between the group of narrow-view optical-path deflectors and optical-path deflectors which are adjacent to the group of narrow-view optical-path deflectors and are nearest to the group of narrow-view optical-path deflectors.

2. The optical device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the group of narrow-view optical-path deflectors and the group of wide-view optical-path deflectors contain a plurality of aligned groups of second optical-path deflectors made up of a plurality of second optical-path deflectors configured to form a point image, whereby the second optical-path deflectors appear to form a line image.

3. The optical device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the group of narrow-view optical-path deflectors and the group of wide-view optical-path deflectors contain a plurality of aligned groups of first optical-path deflectors made up of a plurality of first optical-path deflectors configured to form a line image, whereby the first optical-path deflectors appear to form a planar image.

4. The optical device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the group of narrow-view optical-path deflectors includes reflection surfaces configured to form an image in a space within a narrow view direction taken as greater than or equal to 0° and less than a first angle relative to the reference plane, and
wherein the group of wide-view optical-path deflectors includes reflection surfaces configured to form an image in a space within a wide view direction taken as greater than or equal to the first angle and less than 90° relative to the reference plane.

5. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the group of narrow-view optical-path deflectors and the group of wide-view optical-path deflectors are irradiated with light from a direction diagonal to the reference plane.

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Shinohara Masayuki
• Tanoue Yasuhiro
• Kurata Gouo
• Kitamura Norikazu
• Okada Kazuyuki

Classifications

• G09F19/125

  Stereoscopic displays; 3D displays · CPC title

• G09F13/18

  Edge-illuminated signs · CPC title

• F21S2/00

  Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction · CPC title

• G02B6/0036

  2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces · CPC title

• G02B6/003

  Lens or lenticular sheet or layer · CPC title