Integrated light pipe for optical projection
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsMoshe Kriman, Adar Magen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical device includes a first plate having a first transparent region defining an exit face of the device, and a second plate having a second transparent region defining an entrance face of the device. At least one lens is formed over at least one of the first and second transparent regions. First and second planar reflectors are spaced apart and fixed between the first and second plates in mutually-parallel orientations diagonal to the first and second plates, thereby defining an optical path through the device from the entrance face, reflecting from the first and second reflectors, through the exit face and passing through the at least one refractive surface.
Claims17
An optical device, comprising:
- a first plate having a first transparent region defining an exit face of the device;
- a second plate having a second transparent region defining an entrance face of the device;
- at least one lens formed over at least one of the first and second transparent regions;
- and
- first and second planar reflectors, spaced apart and fixed between the first and second plates in mutually-parallel orientations diagonal to the first and second plates,
- thereby defining an optical path through the device from the entrance face, reflecting from the first and second reflectors, through the exit face and passing through the at least one refractive surface.
A method for producing an optical device, the method comprising:
- fixing together first and second planar reflectors in mutually-parallel orientations with a predefined spacing between the first and second planar reflectors;
- providing first and second plates having respective first and second transparent regions that respectively define exit and entrance faces of the device, with at least one lens formed over at least one of the first and second transparent regions;
- and
- fixing the first and second plates to the fixed-together planar reflectors in an orientation diagonal to the planar reflectors, so as to define an optical path through the device from the entrance face, reflecting from the first and second reflectors, through the exit face and passing through the at least one refractive surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.