Patent Publication Number: US-2018045972-A1

Title: Aerial display and image forming system having the same

Description:
The subject matter relates to displays, and particularly, to an aerial display and an image forming system having the aerial display. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Aerial displays can generate images that appear to float in the air. For example, the aerial display can include a dihedral corner reflector array (DCRA) which uses a plurality of dihedral corner reflectors disposed in an array to generate the images. Although this type of aerial display is useful, the method for making the aerial display may be costly. Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary embodiment of an imaging system having an aerial display. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of the aerial display of  FIG. 1  after a mounting frame is removed. 
         FIG. 3  is diagrammatic view showing light entering and exiting out of the aerial display of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing light of another direction entering and exiting out of the aerial display. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the exemplary embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the exemplary embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
       FIGS. 1-2  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an imaging system comprising an image source  10  and an aerial display  20 . 
     The image source  10  generates images. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the image source  10  is a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     The aerial display  20  comprises a first display layer  21  and a second display layer  22  formed on the first display layer  21 . A surface of the first display layer  21  positioned at an opposite end of the first display layer  21  facing away from the second display layer  22  forms a light incident surface  23 . A surface of the second display layer  22  positioned at an opposite end of the second display layer  22  facing away from the first display layer  21  forms a light exiting surface  24 . The image source  10  is adjacent to and faces the light incident surface  23 . 
     The first display layer  21  comprises a plurality of first strips  210  extending along a first direction (the Y direction of the coordinate system shown in  FIG. 1 ) and arranged in stacks. The second display layer  22  comprises a plurality of second strips  220  extending along a second direction (the X direction of the coordinate system shown in  FIG. 1 ) perpendicular to the first direction. As with the plurality of first strips  210 , the plurality of second strips  220  are also arranged in stacks. Each two adjacent first strips  210  define an air gap  25  (see  FIG. 3 ), and each two adjacent second strips  220  define an air gap  25  (see  FIG. 4 ). A refractive index of each of the first strips  210  and the second strips  220  is greater than that of the air gap  25 , thereby causing light entering the light incident surface  23  with a particular incident angle to be totally reflected by a contacting surface of each first strip  210  and the adjacent air gap  25 , or/and a contacting surface of each second strip  220  and the adjacent air gap  25 . As such, the light exits out of the light exiting surface  24  with an exiting angle which is equal to the incident angle (that is, as shown in  FIG. 3 , α 1 =θ 1 , α 2 =θ 2 ). 
       FIGS. 3-4  illustrate, in at least one exemplary embodiment, when the light enters the light incident surface  23 , a portion of the light which is parallel to a plane defined by the first direction and the second direction (that is, parallel to the X-Z plane as shown in  FIG. 3 ) is totally reflected by the contacting surface of each first strip  210  and the adjacent air gap  25 , passes through the second display layer  22 , and exits out of the light exiting surface  24 . A portion of the light which is parallel to a plane perpendicular to the first direction (that is, parallel to the Y-Z plane as shown in  FIG. 4 ) passes through the first display layer  21 , is totally reflected by the contacting surface of each second strip  220  and the adjacent air gap  25 , and exits out of the light exiting surface  24 . 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the refractive index of each of the first strips  210  and of the second strips  220  is greater than 1. The refractive index of the first strip  210  can be equal to that of the second strip  220 . 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the first strips  210  and the second strips are made of glass. The refractive index of each of the first strips  210  and of the second strips is greater than 1.52. 
     When the image source  10  generates images, the light from the images enters the light incident surface  23 , and is totally reflected by the contacting surface of each first strip  210  and the air gap  25 , and/or the contacting surface of each second strip  220  and the air gap  25 , exits out of the light exiting surface  24 , and converges to form images on the imaging forming surface  300  adjacent to light exiting surface  24 . As such, users can observe images that appear to float in the air and mirror-symmetrical with respect to the images generated by the image source  10 . 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the aerial display  20  further comprises a mounting frame  26  which surrounds edges of the first strips  210  and the second strips  220 , thereby securing the first strips  210  to the second strips  220 . 
     With the above configuration, since the first strips  210  and the second strips  220  can be formed of glass sheets cut by laser, and the first display layer  21  and the second display layer  22  can be formed by stacking the first strips  210  and the second strips  220  together. The aerial display  20  can thus be made by a relatively simple process, and the cost thereof is lowered. 
     It is to be understood, even though information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments, to the full extent indicated by the plain meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.