Method for manufacturing optical element, optical element, aerial image display device, and spatial input device
A method for manufacturing an optical element includes forming an optical element unit comprised of an optical material such as glass and having an outer shape of a regular triangle or a regular hexagon, arranging a plurality of optical element units two-dimensionally on a substrate so as to have a structure imitating a molecular structure of graphene or a carbon nanotube, and processing the substrate on which the plurality of optical element units are mounted into a desired surface shape.
1. A method for manufacturing an optical element configured for use in an aerial image display device, the method comprising:
forming an optical element unit comprised of an optical material and having an outer shape of a regular triangle or a regular hexagon;
arranging a plurality of optical element units two-dimensionally on a substrate; and,
processing the substrate on which the plurality of optical element units are mounted into a desired non-planar surface shape such that the optical elements units are not deformed, and a boundary between the optical element units is displaced, so that the desired surface shape is provided.
2. The manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical element units are arranged on the substrate so as to imitate a molecular structure of graphene or a carbon nanotube.
3. The manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the optical element units is formed by molding a glass material or a resin material using a mold or a cast.
4. The manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein the desired surface shape is a curved surface.
5. The manufacturing method according to claim 4 , wherein the optical element units are retroreflective elements.
6. The manufacturing method according to claim 4 , wherein the optical element units are micromirrors.
7. The manufacturing method according to claim 4 , wherein the optical element units are microlenses.
8. An optical element manufactured by the method according to claim 1 .
9. An aerial image display device, comprising:
a retroreflective member manufactured by the method according to claim 1 ;
a light source; and,
a beam splitter that reflects light from the light source toward the retroreflective member and transmits the light reflected by the retroreflective member.
10. A spatial input device, comprising:
an aerial image display device according to claim 9 ; and,
a detection unit that detects an approach of an object toward an aerial image displayed by the aerial image display device.