IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,724,291
Granted Patent B2
US 12,724,291 · App. 18/409,506 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Optical device for aerial display apparatus, and aerial display apparatus

Inventor: Yasuhiro Daiku (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: TOPPAN Holdings Inc.
G02B30/56G02B5/045
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,724,291
App. No.
18/409,506
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aerial display apparatus includes: a display device configured to display an image; and an optical device arranged to receive light from the display device and reflecting the light from the display device to a side opposite to the display device. The optical device includes a planar base member, and a plurality of optical elements provided below the base member as viewed from a viewer, each extending in a first direction and aligned in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Each of the optical elements has an incident surface and a reflection surface which are inclined with respect to a normal direction of the base member and are in contact with each other.

Claims (53)

1 . An aerial display apparatus comprising:

a display device configured to display an image; and

an optical device arranged to receive light from the display device and reflecting the light from the display device to a side opposite to the display device,

wherein the optical device includes a planar base member, and a plurality of optical elements provided below the base member as viewed from a viewer, each extending in a first direction and aligned in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction,

each of the optical elements has an incident surface and a reflection surface which are inclined with respect to a normal direction of the base member and are in contact with each other,

the optical device is arranged in such a manner as to be capable of receiving, on the incident surface, light that is included in the light from the display device and contributes to image formation, and the optical device is configured to form an aerial image in an aerial space on the side opposite to the display device, and

the optical device forms an aerial image at a position parallel to the optical device.

2 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

an angle of the reflection surface with respect to the normal direction of the base member is set such that an incident angle of light incident on the reflection surface is larger than a critical angle.

3 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

an angle of the incident surface with respect to the normal direction of the base member is set such that an incident angle of light incident on the incident surface is smaller than a critical angle.

4 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the display device and the optical device are arranged in parallel to each other.

5 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a light control device arranged between the display device and the optical device and transmitting part of the light from the display device.

6 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the light control device includes a plurality of transparent members and a plurality of light shielding members which are alternately arranged, and

the light shielding members are inclined with respect to a normal direction of the light control device.

7 . An aerial display apparatus comprising:

a display device configured to display an image; and

an optical device arranged to receive light from the display device and reflecting the light from the display device to a side opposite to the display device,

wherein the optical device includes a planar base member, and a plurality of optical elements provided below the base member as viewed from a viewer, each extending in a first direction and aligned in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction,

each of the optical elements has an incident surface and a reflection surface which are inclined with respect to a normal direction of the base member and are in contact with each other,

the optical device is arranged in such a manner as to be capable of receiving, on the incident surface, light that is included in the light from the display device and contributes to image formation, and the optical device is configured to form an aerial image in an aerial space on the side opposite to the display device, and

the display device and the optical device are arranged in parallel to each other.

8 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the optical device forms an aerial image at a position parallel to the optical device.

9 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

an angle of the reflection surface with respect to the normal direction of the base member is set such that an incident angle of light incident on the reflection surface is larger than a critical angle.

10 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

an angle of the incident surface with respect to the normal direction of the base member is set such that an incident angle of light incident on the incident surface is smaller than a critical angle.

11 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a light control device arranged between the display device and the optical device and transmitting part of the light from the display device.

12 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

the light control device includes a plurality of transparent members and a plurality of light shielding members which are alternately arranged, and

the light shielding members are inclined with respect to a normal direction of the light control device.

13 . An aerial display apparatus comprising:

a display device configured to display an image;

an optical device arranged to receive light from the display device and reflecting the light from the display device to a side opposite to the display device; and

a light control device arranged between the display device and the optical device and transmitting part of the light from the display device,

wherein the optical device includes a planar base member, and a plurality of optical elements provided below the base member as viewed from a viewer, each extending in a first direction and aligned in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction,

each of the optical elements has an incident surface and a reflection surface which are inclined with respect to a normal direction of the base member and are in contact with each other,

the optical device is arranged in such a manner as to be capable of receiving, on the incident surface, light that is included in the light from the display device and contributes to image formation, and the optical device is configured to form an aerial image in an aerial space on the side opposite to the display device,

the light control device includes a plurality of transparent members and a plurality of light shielding members which are alternately arranged, and

the light shielding members are inclined with respect to a normal direction of the light control device.

14 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

an angle of the reflection surface with respect to the normal direction of the base member is set such that an incident angle of light incident on the reflection surface is larger than a critical angle.

15 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

an angle of the incident surface with respect to the normal direction of the base member is set such that an incident angle of light incident on the incident surface is smaller than a critical angle.

16 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

the optical device forms an aerial image at a position parallel to the optical device.

17 . The aerial display apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

the display device and the optical device are arranged in parallel to each other.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 21, 2024
From: TOPPAN INC.
To: TOPPAN HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 068736/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2024
From: DAIKU, YASUHIRO
To: TOPPAN INC.
Reel/Frame 066284/0794 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2021-114801 · Jul 12, 2021 · national
JP 2022-093210 · Jun 8, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2022027381 · Jul 12, 2022
Related Publication 20240142798A1 · May 2, 2024
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