Germany-based research project working on ways to miniaturise optical components

　　A consortium of German companies are developing compact and low-profile optical components for data visualisation or illumination.

　　Together with Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering, TEMICON and Continental, Osram Opto Semiconductors aims to deliver universal processes for space-critical applications.

　　The project, known as IBELIVE, partners directly address a number of different markets, including compact and powerful head-up projection displays, ultra-thin camera flashes and selective direct display backlighting and is set to run for 3 years.

　　With the absence of a significant way to further reduce the profile of the LED chips currently being used as light sources, the consortium looks to miniaturising the optics.

　　During the course of this project, the team say it will investigate flexible design and manufacturing processes for space-critical applications for data visualisation or illumination. The hope is that the planned reduction in the thickness of the optical elements and the combinability of various optical functionalities in a microstructure will offer designers greater flexibility in integrating the components in the devices.

　　The team also believe it will offer an improvement in energy efficiency, as it believes a much greater proportion of the generated light can be used for the applications.

　　The project covers the entire value-added chain from the development of optics and volume production, to testing of the new technology in sample applications.

　　In addition to coordinating the project, Osram Opto Semiconductors is responsible for the system concept and for the design of two application-based demonstrators. It is also researching installation and testing concepts.

　　Continental says it is designing and developing two compact head-up displays with different projection light sources. The hybrid diffusers to be developed for this purpose play a central role in creating images and making efficient use of light in the head-up displays. Research here will focus on image quality as perceived by the driver.

　　The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering explains it is developing methods and algorithms for designing hybrid diffuser optics, as well as technologies for generating deterministic surface structures.

　　While TEMICON plans to use interference lithography to overlay nano-scale structures and develop injection stamping and molding technologies for replicating thin two-sided hybrid diffuser optics as series products.