Apparatus, systems, and methods for heat transfer in optical devices
An optical device may include (i) a heat source that produces heat while operating, (ii) a thermally conductive optical element that is optically transparent and that dissipates the heat produced by the heat source, and (iii) a thermally conductive connector that transfers the heat between the heat source and the thermally conductive optical element. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
1. An optical device comprising:
a heat source that produces heat while operating;
a thermally conductive optical element that is optically transparent and that dissipates the heat produced by the heat source, wherein the thermally conductive optical element transmits light waves and directly facilitates presentation of visual data to a user; and
a thermally conductive connector that transfers the heat between the heat source and the thermally conductive optical element,
wherein the optical device corresponds to an augmented reality device.
2. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the heat source comprises a display element of the optical device.
3. The optical device of claim 2 , wherein the display element comprises an organic light emitting diode screen.
4. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the heat source comprises a computing chip.
5. The optical device of claim 4 , wherein the computing chip comprises a system-on-a-chip integrated circuit.
6. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive optical element comprises silicon carbide.
7. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive optical element comprises optically transparent ceramics.
8. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive optical element comprises a thermally conductive film affixed to a non-thermally-conductive optical element.
9. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive optical element comprises a layer of optically transparent gemstone.
10. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive optical element comprises one or more lenses of a head-mounted display.
11. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive optical element comprises an optical waveguide.
12. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive connector comprises graphite.
13. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive connector comprises conductive foam.
14. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive connector comprises a gas in a controlled gap between the heat source and the thermally conductive optical element.
15. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive connector comprises a thermal strap.
16. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the optical device comprises a head-mounted display for interacting with augmented reality environments.
17. The optical device of claim 1 , further comprising an additional thermally conductive connector that connects the thermally conductive optical element to a heat sink.
18. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive optical element dissipates the heat via convection.
19. A method comprising:
identifying a component of an optical device that comprises a heat source that produces heat while operating;
identifying a thermally conductive optical element of the optical device that is optically transparent and that dissipates the heat produced by the heat source, wherein the thermally conductive optical element transmits light waves and directly facilitates presentation of visual data to a user; and
connecting the heat source and the thermally conductive optical element via a thermally conductive connector that transfers the heat between the heat source and the thermally conductive optical element,
wherein the optical device corresponds to an augmented reality device.
20. A system comprising:
a heat source that produces heat while operating;
a thermally conductive optical element that is optically transparent and that dissipates the heat produced by the heat source, wherein the thermally conductive optical element transmits light waves and directly facilitates presentation of visual data to a user;
a thermally conductive connector that transfers the heat between the heat source and the thermally conductive optical element; and
a frame that is configured to be worn on a user's head and that houses the heat source, thermally conductive optical element, and thermally conductive connector,
wherein the optical device corresponds to an augmented reality device.