Multi-laser device, in particular RGB laser module and device including this multi-laser device

Abstract

To provide a multi-laser device arranged in a head-mounted display.SOLUTION: A multi-laser device includes: a housing 2 including a housing cap 3 and a base plate 4; an opening formed in the housing cap; and a transparent member associated with the opening for passing electromagnetic radiation. A first laser 6 emitting light in a red spectral range, a second laser 7 emitting light in a green spectral range, and a third laser 8 emitting light in a blue spectral range are arranged within the housing. An electrical connection line is routed through the housing to each laser. During operation of the lasers, a majority of the laser's emitted light passes through the transparent member. Each laser is arranged on a pedestal 5 (a) and arranged spaced apart from the lower surface of the base plate (b), and the lasers are aligned with one another (c). The main direction of laser emission is substantially parallel to the base plate of the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-laser device, particularly an RGB laser module and a device including this multi-laser device.

Background Art

[0002] With the continuous improvement of the detection and digital processing of analog data, not only can these data be digitally reproduced, but there is also a possibility of adding new virtual data that can provide users with an extended reality representation, also referred to as augmented reality, to the digitized data.

[0003] Corresponding devices include, for example, glasses also referred to as AR glasses. In these glasses, a virtual image is superimposed on the image of a real object perceived through the glasses by a projection device that is usually attached to the glasses frame. This type of device is also referred to as a head-mounted display as an upper concept or in a generalized sense.

[0004] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0044042 discloses this type of AR glasses also referred to as Google Glass. International Publication No. 2019 / 067042 describes yet another AR glasses referred to as Microsoft Hololens.

[0005] European Patent No. 1285303 describes a mobile system for generating a virtual display for a mobile phone. According to this, the display device includes individually controllable cells, and these cells can be driven in a passive mode or an active mode. In this case, these cells are light-transmissive in the passive mode and generate an image for the virtual display in the active mode. A drawback of this device is that the cells in the passive mode may have an adverse effect on the light passing through them.

[0006] German Patent Application Publication No. 102018106 describes a semiconductor laser and projector, wherein a support for the semiconductor chip is made of, for example, aluminum nitride or silicon carbide, which can be coated with Ti, Pt and / or Au for the contact surface, and which is mechanically and electrically connected using a particular AuSn soldering process. Disclosed are aluminum nitride, silicon carbide or diamond-like carbon, as well as metals such as gold, platinum, nickel, palladium, titanium or silver, which are placed between the semiconductor lasers, as thermal conductive materials to improve the thermal coupling between each semiconductor laser, but not as a support for the semiconductor laser.

[0007] There is considerable interest in compact, electronically controllable light sources that supply colored light electronically, with the aim of providing the highest possible wearing comfort and a high-quality visual experience for head-mounted displays or especially AR glasses supports. Furthermore, it is desirable that these light sources be advantageously integrated into other units that support them. [Overview of the Initiative] [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This is achieved by the multi-laser device described in claim 1, particularly by using the RGB laser module disclosed in claim 1, in which case other advantageous embodiments can be inferred from the dependent claims, further disclosures in the specification, and the drawings.

[0009] The present invention relates to a multi-laser device, particularly an RGB laser module, and includes a housing comprising a housing cap and a bottom plate. The housing cap has at least one opening, and this opening is fitted with a transparent member positioned in the opening to allow electromagnetic radiation to pass through. in this case, A first laser that emits light in the visible spectrum, particularly in the red spectral region, A second laser that emits light in the visible spectrum, particularly in the green spectral region, Preferably, a third laser emitting in the visible spectrum, particularly in the blue spectral region, It is located inside the housing, in this case, Electrical wires are guided through the housing to each individual laser. When the laser is in operation, the main portion of the laser's emitted light penetrates the transparent material and travels through it. In this case, each laser is, i) Preferably on a base, ii) It is positioned spaced apart from the bottom surface of the base plate, iii) The lasers are aligned with each other, in this case, The primary direction of laser radiation occurs substantially parallel to the bottom plate of the housing.

[0010] By using a base, the laser can be precisely positioned within the housing, further optimizing the housing geometry, and in particular miniaturizing it while simultaneously supplying the main portion of the laser radiation as effective light. The main portion of the laser light is understood to be the proportion of light emitted from each laser through its end face in the direction of the transparent material that exceeds 80%, preferably exceeds 85%, and most preferably exceeds 90%.

[0011] Furthermore, the base may include a material having a heat capacity and specific thermal conductivity determined by its size, thereby allowing the individual lasers to dissipate heat during operation as intended, and thus allowing heat to be removed from those lasers as intended, and in the process, released to the outside of the housing.

[0012] Advantageously, in the case of this multi-laser device, each laser can be electronically controlled separately, especially with the bottom plate involved. In this case, depending on the displayed color or intensity, that is, depending on the brightness or chromaticity of the displayed image signal, not all lasers may emit light simultaneously, and there may be no emission at all during the blanking or dark phase. In this case, there is little optical interaction between the individual lasers within the housing, and even with relatively strong emission, that is, even if one of the lasers is electronically adjusted to its maximum level, it will not lead to optical interaction with one of the other lasers, especially when that laser is emitting light at, for example, a very small intensity.

[0013] For example, one advantage of semiconductor devices that irradiate a beam perpendicular to a base plate is improved integration performance for RGB laser modules, especially in applications where only a small amount of space is available. This is because, in this case, the base plate can be formed as a supporting unit, and this base plate can accommodate, for example, another optical unit, specifically tuned to the light emitted from the laser.

[0014] Generally, within the scope of this disclosure, the blue spectral region is assumed to be a wavelength range from 450 nm to 490 nm, the green spectral region a wavelength range from 490 nm to 560 nm, and the red spectral region a wavelength range from 630 nm to 700 nm. Therefore, the millilaser devices disclosed herein can provide a color space advantageous for displaying virtual signals.

[0015] Alternatively, two or more of these lasers, or all of them, can emit light in the same spectral region, which may be advantageous, for example, when a multi-laser system is used for illumination purposes.

[0016] Within the scope of this disclosure, the principal direction of laser radiation is understood to mean the optical axis of the laser light emitted from each individual laser, or at least the propagation direction of the maximum intensity associated with the maximum value of the transverse intensity distribution of the emitted laser light, that is, the axial translation direction of the maximum transverse intensity.

[0017] For the sake of brevity within the scope of this disclosure, the term "principal radiation direction" is also used in relation to the principal direction of laser radiation.

[0018] The statement that the principal direction of laser radiation occurs substantially parallel to the bottom plate of the housing means that this principal direction of laser radiation is not more than 5° higher than the plane defined by the bottom plate or the lower surface of the bottom, nor is it inclined more than 5° below this surface.

[0019] A particularly advantageous device can be obtained if the housing cap contains or is made of metal, the bottom plate contains or is made of metal, and the housing cap is joined to the bottom plate by welding.

[0020] The statement "including metals" here is intended to disclose that, for example, a metal body can be partially or completely covered with a non-metallic coating, such as an oxide layer or lacquer, especially a highly absorbent matte lacquer.

[0021] Joining the housing cap to the base plate by welding or melting provides a significant advantage in terms of the continuous operation tolerance of the multi-laser device. This is because it allows for a liquid-tight and airtight joint between the housing cap and the base plate that conforms to, for example, standard MIL-STD 883, Method 1014.

[0022] When soldering such a housing, for example, when soldering a housing cap to a ceramic substrate preferably coated with a metal coating as a bottom plate, a flux such as formic acid is often used in a nitrogen atmosphere or a hydrogen atmosphere, and their residues remain in the housing later. Even if they are only traces, they already interact with the semiconductor material of the semiconductor laser that emits radiation in the blue spectrum region and may damage this semiconductor material.

[0023] This does not apply to the embodiments described in this specification. The reason is that in the case of this embodiment, for example, a transparent member can be first attached to the housing cap by a soldering process, and then, especially after cleaning the housing cap, a welding process with the bottom plate can be performed. This can ensure that there is only H2O with a content of less than 5000 ppm in the atmosphere inside the housing, and that the airtight design of the housing does not exceed the partial pressure of this water that is still allowed so far over the entire service life of the component, which conforms to the standard MIL883, Method 1018.

[0024] If the pedestal is integrally formed with the bottom plate, it brings manufacturing - technical advantages. This is because in this way, a correspondingly shaped bottom plate can be supplied at low cost by already performing surface - processing treatment by material cutting or a stamping process.

[0025] However, if the base plate contains or consists of a metal such as CRS1010, which is, for example, cold-rolled steel, and the pedestal consists of or contains a material different from the base plate, particularly oxygen-free high-conductive copper, OFHC (Oxygen-free high conductive Copper), and preferably the pedestal is press-fitted, soldered or welded to the base plate, then a pedestal with a defined advantageous specific heat conductivity can be provided, the heat capacity of which is brought about by its structural dimensions, its specific heat capacity and further by its material selection. By doing so, efficient temperature management is achieved by the intended heat dissipation of each laser.

[0026] In this case, the above description of the materials is merely illustrative. Instead, other materials may be used, such as aluminum, steel or special steel, as well as austenitic special steel and ferritic special steel, etc., but preferably only when they remain stainless when implementing the present invention. Furthermore, basically titanium can also be used, as well as Monel alloys with a high copper content, or fusible alloys containing NiFe alloys or NiFeCo alloys can also be used.

[0027] [[ID=⑧]]According to still another advantageous embodiment, a FAC lens (Fast-Axis-Collimating lens) is arranged on the pedestal, preferably spaced from the end face of the laser, thereby reducing the intensity loss due to the shading of the diverging beam bundle of the emitted laser light and enabling as efficient beam shaping as possible.

[0028] Particularly preferably, the transparent member can contain or consist of glass. In this case, the glass of the transparent member can contain, for example, quartz glass or borosilicate glass. Furthermore, the transparent member can also be made of sapphire or can contain sapphire, particularly as a crystalline material.

[0029] However, generally speaking, when the transmittance of a transparent material is measured in the direction of radiation emitted from a laser, it has a transmittance of more than 80% in the spectral region having wavelengths of 250 to 2000 nm, and is particularly preferably more than 90%.

[0030] In the context of this disclosure, the phrases "light emitted from a laser" and "radiation emitted from a laser" are understood to have the same meaning and are used as synonyms.

[0031] In yet another embodiment, the transparent member can be formed as an FAC lens (Fast-Axis-Collimating lens), or similarly, the transparent member can include an FAC lens (Fast-Axis-Collimating lens), particularly attached to the transparent member.

[0032] Alternatively, the transparent member can be formed as a fiber plate, or the transparent member can include a fiber plate.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the transparent member is held in place by glass solder to the housing cap, or by glass solder to a frame positioned in the housing cap.

[0034] In yet another preferred embodiment, which preferably has smaller dimensions than the previously described embodiment in which glass solder is used to join the transparent member to the housing cap, the transparent member can be held in place by using metal solder, preferably AuSn solder.

[0035] Yet another embodiment includes a transparent member welded to the housing cap.

[0036] At a minimum, if the wall of the housing cap on which the transparent member is located is formed at an inclination with respect to the bottom plate, and the inclination angle of the housing cap wall is in the range of 35° to 60° relative to the normal direction of the bottom surface of the bottom plate, preferably in the range of 40° to 50°, and particularly preferably in the range of 43° to 48°, then the reflection of the synchrotron radiation back to one or more lasers in the opposite direction at the transparent member can be suppressed very effectively. This structural configuration usually eliminates the need for an anti-reflective coating on the transparent member, and in doing so, does not cause any defects in the functionality of the multi-laser device due to reflected or scattered light.

[0037] The aforementioned tilt angle is preferably selected to intentionally generate back reflection, which is used to measure the laser output using a monitoring photodiode, also referred to herein as a monitor diode.

[0038] However, to suppress direct back reflections of individual lasers in an RGB laser module to the laser resonator, even smaller angles, typically 7° to 15°, are already sufficient.

[0039] In this case, a particular advantage is that the monitor diode can also be placed below the transparent member, and the laser light reflected back from the transparent member strikes the monitor diode, thereby allowing a sensing signal to be obtained regarding the intensity of the light emitted from each laser assigned to the monitor diode. In this way, a fast and effective feedback signal can be obtained, which enables precise control and management of the multi-laser device.

[0040] In this case, the expression "downward" should be understood as a direction relative to the base plate and the housing cap. The direction perpendicular to the base plate, i.e., the normal direction, in the direction of the housing cap, is understood to be upward. Therefore, in this respect, one object can be located above, below, or at the same height as another object in this direction. Referring to the Cartesian coordinate system, which will be explained later, the upward direction also represents the positive Z direction in this coordinate system.

[0041] Alternatively or additionally, monitor diodes can be placed behind the lasers, particularly on a support arranged around those lasers, preferably with at least one unique monitor diode for each laser, and the support may have a conductive coating as an electrical conductor for the individual monitor diodes.

[0042] In the intent of this disclosure, the laser's light-emitting surface facing the transparent member is defined as the front surface, and the propagation direction of the laser light coming through this light-emitting surface is defined as being emitted in the "forward direction" or radiated in the "forward direction". The expression "located behind the laser" defines a position located in front of another light-emitting surface of the laser that is on the opposite side from the transparent member.

[0043] Preferably, the monitor diode can be placed on a support, preferably containing or made of ceramic, and the normal direction of the surface of the support on which the monitor diode is placed can be formed at an angle relative to the principal radiation direction of at least one of the lasers, in which case the angle is within an angular range of 3° to 15°, preferably 5° to 10°, and particularly preferably 6° to 8° relative to the principal radiation direction. This allows the light emitted from the back of the laser to be reflected very effectively from the monitor diode so that this light no longer strikes one of the lasers back, and thus no undesirable optical interactions occur, such as mode coupling of the resonator modes of the individual lasers.

[0044] In yet another preferred embodiment, at least the normal direction of the wall of the housing cap on which the transparent member is located is formed at an angle relative to the principal radiation direction of at least one of the lasers, where the angle of inclination is within an angular range of 3° to 15°, preferably 5° to 10°, and particularly preferably 6° to 8° relative to the principal radiation direction. This allows the light emitted from the front of the lasers to be reflected very effectively from the surface of the transparent member so that this light no longer strikes back into one of the lasers, and thus no undesirable optical interactions occur, such as coupling of the resonator modes of the individual lasers.

[0045] According to an alternative embodiment, the housing cap may include a plurality of openings, in which case one transparent member is assigned to each of these openings, or one transparent member is assigned to all of these openings in common.

[0046] In yet another advantageous embodiment, the housing cap includes a plurality of openings, each of which a transparent member is placed in one of these openings, and this opening forms an optical element for beam shaping, and this optical element is Spherical plano-convex or concave-convex lenses, spherical or hemispherical lenses, aspherical plano-convex or concave-convex lenses It is selected from a group of optical elements that include [this element].

[0047] This allows the multi-laser device to be made significantly more compact and integrated into an external optical system in a state where it is optically pre-adjusted as needed, based on its precise dimensions, that is, already adjusted in terms of the axial and lateral positions of the optical elements. In this case, the base plate of the multi-laser device can be fitted into a pre-formed and precisely positioned notch in yet another optical system, and can be housed in a state where it is already adjusted to the other optical system by its positioning. Moreover, the contact between the base plate and the other optical system allows heat from the multi-laser device to be released as specified, and additional heat dissipation from the lasers of the multi-laser device can be performed via yet another optical system.

[0048] Further structural flexibility is provided if the photoconductive fibers are connected to the housing, and more particularly to the housing cap, and preferably to fiber connectors, especially detachable fiber connectors or permanently connectable fiber connectors. This is because it allows the multi-laser device to be positioned, for example, further apart from another optical system, which will be explained in more detail later, merely illustratively, in relation to yet another optical system provided by AR glasses.

[0049] If each laser in a multi-laser device is assigned one photoconductive fiber, and the fibers assigned to the lasers are bundled into a single fiber bundle, and within this fiber bundle the fibers are more preferably densely adjacent to each other within their individual fiber cores, and preferably a common fiber cladding is formed surrounding these fiber cores, then this can further contribute to the structural compactness of the system consisting of the multi-laser device and yet another optical system. In this case, for example, if multiple optical fibers are arranged adjacent to each other in a plane extending in the row direction of the assigned imaging device, then, for example, if yet another optical device is provided to generate an image for each row, the superposition of the optical component of the first laser emitting in the red spectral region of the visible spectrum, the optical component of the second laser emitting in the green spectral region of the visible spectrum, and the optical component of the third laser emitting in the blue spectral region of the visible spectrum occurs in the row direction, so that these individual color components are rapidly superimposed in each row, and if the color changes can no longer be resolved by the human eye, then a white color impression can already be produced to the human eye. This eliminates the fiber splicing process, which can sometimes lengthen the fibers, and allows for the formation of significantly shorter individual fibers in this embodiment.

[0050] Within the scope of this disclosure, the terms fiber, optical fiber, and photoconductive fiber are used to refer to fibers suitable for guiding the light of blue, green, and red lasers across the entire spectral range emitted by those lasers and transmitting it from its input end to its output end with minimal loss. Such fibers are well known to those skilled in the art of this specification and do not require further explanation.

[0051] Advantageously, a multi-laser system may include glass-metal feedthroughs for the conductors leading to the lasers and / or monitor diodes.

[0052] If each monitor diode has a color filter, and especially if each has a color filter formed as a bandpass filter for the emission wavelength of the laser it is assigned to, then each can suppress the light from other lasers, and an improved signal / interference ratio or improved signal / noise ratio can be obtained for the sensing signal of the monitor diode.

[0053] If the bottom plate of the housing is formed to guide the current as a reference potential, this simplifies the electronic wiring of the multi-laser device and provides an operationally safe housing for the user.

[0054] In yet another advantageous embodiment, the bottom plate can be formed to support the optical unit, and in particular, to protrude structurally below the housing cap.

[0055] To suppress scattered light, the inside of the housing cap can be blackened, particularly with a matte finish, and a lacquer or coating such as black chromium or zinc-nickel coating can be applied, and this can also be applied as an electrolytic coating. In this way, in the spectral range of light emitted from the laser, the coated surface can absorb more than 98% of the light that strikes it.

[0056] Advantageously, the housing may have a protective device for the glass of the transparent member, which is in particular formed as a section that protrudes laterally from the transparent member.

[0057] For example, if the housing includes housing dimensions of 1.0–3.5 mm in height, particularly in the X direction, and / or 4–10 mm in width, particularly in the Y direction, and / or 4–10 mm in length, then a structurally attractive multi-laser device can be provided for many cases, especially for mobile applications. The directions mentioned here, particularly the individual X, Y, and Z directions, will be explained in more detail within the framework of the detailed explanation below, with particular reference to the Cartesian coordinate system depicted in Figure 4.

[0058] Such mobile applications could relate, for example, to AR glasses or eyeglasses including such multi-laser devices, or to head-up displays for helmet visors, such as head-up displays for helmet visors of protective helmets such as motorcycle helmets or police or security force helmets, or to head-up displays for avionics equipment or devices.

[0059] Projectors, too, can benefit from the multi-laser devices disclosed herein and their extremely small dimensions, particularly when applied to mobile devices.

[0060] Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments based on the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0061] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the multi-laser device according to the present invention, with the housing cap partially depicted as transparent, viewed from a diagonally forward and upward angle. [Figure 2] Similarly, the housing cap is depicted as transparent, and this is a plan view showing the first embodiment of the multi-laser device according to the present invention as shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figures 1 and 2 are plan views showing the bottom plate of the first embodiment of the multi-laser device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] Figures 1 to 3 show yet another perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the multi-laser device according to the present invention, with the housing cap depicted as opaque from a viewpoint viewed from diagonally in front and above. [Figure 5] Figures 1 to 4 show a perspective view of the bottom plate of a modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the multi-laser device according to the present invention, which has recesses provided in the base for arranging the individual lasers, viewed from diagonally in front and above. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the base plate shown along the cut surface A-A'. [Figure 7] The electrical wires guided through the base plate are shown along with bonding wires attached to them. This is a perspective view showing the base plate of the first embodiment of the multi-laser apparatus according to the present invention, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, viewed from diagonally in front and above. [Figure 8] This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment in which the cut surface extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers. [Figure 9] This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region between the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers and the housing wall. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers. [Figure 11] This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers. [Figure 12] This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers. [Figure 13] Figure 12 shows an excerpt from a plan view of the bottom plate of the fifth embodiment, with the housing cap removed. [Figure 14] This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a sixth embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers. [Figure 15] Figure 14 is a plan view of the bottom plate of the sixth embodiment, shown with the housing cap removed. [Figure 16] Figure 15 shows an excerpt from a perspective view of the bottom plate of the sixth embodiment, with the housing cap removed. [Figure 17] This is a cross-sectional view, again from the oblique front, of a third embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cut surface extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers, and the transparent member is attached to a frame held in the housing cap by glass solder. [Figure 18] This is a cross-sectional view, taken obliquely from the front, of one embodiment of a multi-laser device similar to the third embodiment, in which the cut surface extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers, and the transparent member is held to the housing cap by Au-Sn solder. [Figure 19] This cross-sectional view shows a seventh embodiment, which is similar to the fifth embodiment shown in Figure 12, but the base is integrally formed with the bottom plate, and the cross-section extends parallel to the housing cap sidewall in the region between the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers and the housing cap sidewall. [Figure 20] This is a cross-sectional view of the seventh embodiment shown in Figure 19, taken from an oblique front view, in which the cut surface extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region between the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers and the side wall of the housing cap. [Figure 21] This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the multi-laser device depicted in Figure 9, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the sidewall of the housing cap in the region between the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers and the housing wall, and it is shown that the light emitted from the rear light emission surface of the laser is absorbed by the coated housing cap. [Figure 22] This is a cross-sectional view showing the housing cap, which is coated on the inside, along with a transparent member that houses the FAC lens, extending almost horizontally through the center of the housing cap. [Figure 23] This is a perspective view from the front at an oblique angle of an eighth embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which a transparent component is positioned obliquely to the main direction of laser emission. [Figure 24] This is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the multi-laser device depicted in Figure 22, where the cut surface extends parallel to the upper wall of the housing cap, directly below the upper wall of the housing cap. [Figure 25] This is a perspective view showing, from an oblique front angle, the housing cap of a ninth embodiment of a multi-laser device, with the transparent component removed and the housing cap containing multiple openings for laser light to pass through. [Figure 26] This is a cross-sectional view showing a ninth embodiment belonging to the housing cap of the multi-laser device depicted in Figure 25, where the cut surface extends parallel to the upper wall of the housing cap, directly below the upper wall of the housing cap. [Figure 27] This is a cross-sectional view of a tenth embodiment in which light emitted from a laser is coupled to a fiber whose incident end is positioned near the laser's light emission surface, and this fiber is held in a housing cap, with the cross-section extending parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers. [Figure 28] This is a cross-sectional view showing an eleventh embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which a transparent member is formed as a fiber plate, and the cut surface extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers. [Figure 29] This is a perspective view from obliquely above of a twelfth embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the bottom plate is formed to protrude forward below the housing cap as a support for the optical unit. [Figure 30] This figure shows an excerpt from the perspective view depicted in Figure 29, along with the individual beam paths of the lasers in operation. [Figure 31] The cross-sectional view shows a comparison between a multi-laser device with a rectangular housing cap and a multi-laser device with a housing cap having an angled, particularly inclined, housing wall that supports a transparent member, with the cross-section extending parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers. [Figure 32] Figures 32a to 32d are cross-sectional views showing a comparison of different structural configurations between a multi-laser device with a rectangular housing cap and a multi-laser device with a housing cap having an angled, particularly inclined, housing wall supporting a transparent member. The cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers. [Figure 33] This is an exemplary perspective view showing a partially cutaway view of AR glasses including a multi-laser device according to the present invention. [Figure 34] This is a perspective cross-sectional view, taken from the oblique front, of a thirteenth embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region between the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers and the housing wall, and the housing cap includes multiple openings for laser light to pass through, each of which holds an optical element formed by thermoforming. [Figure 35] This is a perspective cross-sectional view, taken from the oblique front, of a 14th embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region between the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers and the housing wall, the housing cap includes multiple openings for the laser light to pass through, and pre-formed, particularly biconvex, optical elements are held in each of these openings, preferably by soldering or mechanical pressing. [Figure 36] This is a perspective cross-sectional view, taken obliquely from the front, of a fifteenth embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region between the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers and the housing wall, the housing cap includes multiple openings for the laser light to pass through, and each of these openings holds a pre-formed optical element, particularly a plano-convex one, especially using solder glass. [Figure 37] This is a perspective cross-sectional view, taken obliquely from the front, of a 16th embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region between the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers and the housing wall, the housing cap includes multiple openings for the laser beam to pass through, and pre-formed, particularly aspherical, optical elements are held in each of these openings, particularly by thermoforming and preferably by mechanical pressing. [Figure 38] This is a perspective cross-sectional view, taken from the oblique front, of a 17th embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region between the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers and the housing wall, and the region in front of the laser's light emission surface inside the housing is coated with an absorbent material. [Figure 39] This is a side cross-sectional view of the 18th embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region between the conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers and the housing wall, and the light emitted from the laser is coupled to a fiber whose incident end is located near the light emission surface of the laser, and this fiber is held in the housing cap and leads to a plug-in connection with an external fiber. [Figure 40] This is a side cross-sectional view of a 19th embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region between a conductor leading to one of the multiple lasers and the housing wall, and the light emitted from the laser is coupled to a fiber whose incident end is positioned near the light emission surface of the laser, and this fiber is held in the housing cap by an external plug connector. [Figure 41] This is a cross-sectional view showing a 20th embodiment of a multi-laser device, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the upper wall of the housing cap directly below the upper wall of the housing cap, and the light emitted from the laser is coupled to a fiber whose incident end is located near the light emission surface of the laser, and this fiber is held in the housing cap and leads to a plug-in connection portion with an external fiber. [Figure 42a] This figure shows the intensity distribution at the output end of a photoconductive fiber bundle coupled to a multi-laser device, where each individual fiber, coupled to one laser of the multi-laser device, is positioned adjacent to another in a plane extending the scanning direction of the imaging device to which it is assigned. The distribution is in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the fiber bundle. [Figure 42b] This figure shows the intensity distribution at the output end of a photoconductive fiber bundle coupled to a multi-laser device, where the individual fibers, each coupled to one of the lasers of the multi-laser device, are positioned adjacent to each other in the densest possible spatial arrangement. The distribution is in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the fiber bundle. [Figure 42c] This is a cross-sectional view showing a photoconductive fiber bundle coupled to a multi-laser device, where the cross-section B-B' extends in a direction that transcends the longitudinal direction of the fiber bundle, spaced apart from the exit end of the fiber bundle, with individual fibers coupled to one laser of the multi-laser device positioned adjacent to each other in the densest possible spatial arrangement, and scattering elements extending in the longitudinal direction of the fibers positioned between each fiber. [Figure 42d] Figure 42c shows the intensity distribution at the output end of a photoconductive fiber bundle coupled to a multi-laser device, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the fiber. [Figure 43] This is an illustrative perspective view showing a partially cut-out section of yet another pair of AR glasses, in which the multi-laser device according to the present invention is connected to a further optical unit using photoconductive fibers. [Figure 44] This is an exemplary perspective view showing a base plate, along with its pedestal, that has undergone mechanical load testing using a method that applies a specific simulated force. [Figure 45] This figure shows a configuration for performing a mechanical load test by applying a simulated specified force to the base plate in order to identify the deformation caused by applying force to the base plate on which the base is placed, or to the base plate on which the base and cap housing are placed. [Figure 46] This figure shows the deformation caused by applying a simulated specified force to the base plate during a mechanical load test. [Figure 47] This figure shows one embodiment of the base plate, together with a housing cap held therein, and a base for the multi-laser device disclosed herein, which is attached to the base plate. [Figure 48] This figure shows the results of a load test obtained by applying a simulated specified force to the bottom plate in the embodiment shown in Figure 47. [Figure 49] This figure shows yet another embodiment of the base plate, in which the housing cap has a lateral projection protruding from the base plate, along with the housing cap held to the base plate, and the base of the multi-laser device disclosed herein, which is attached to the base plate. [Figure 50] This figure shows the results of a load test obtained by applying a simulated specified force to the bottom plate in the embodiment shown in Figure 49. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0062] In the following description of preferred embodiments, the same reference numerals represent the same or similarly functioning units or components. For the sake of clarity only, the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0063] Figure 1 will be referred to below. This figure shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the multi-laser device 1 according to the present invention, viewed from an oblique, front-up perspective.

[0064] The housing 2 of the multi-laser device 1 includes a housing cap 3, which is held in a liquid-tight and airtight manner on the bottom plate 4.

[0065] The housing cap 3 includes a metal or metal alloy, in particular a deep-drawable metal or deep-drawable metal alloy, or consists of a metal or metal alloy, in particular a deep-drawable metal or deep-drawable metal alloy.

[0066] As previously described, the base plate 4 also contains metal or a metal alloy, or is made of metal or a metal alloy, and is joined to the housing cap 3 by welding.

[0067] Figure 9 illustrates, simply as an example, the weld line S formed between the housing cap 3 and the base plate 4, which extends substantially across the entire contact surface between the housing cap 3 and the base plate 4, beneath the lateral overhang As of the housing cap 3 that forms the weld flange.

[0068] The process of creating the weld line S is carried out at an extremely short time interval, and the materials of the housing cap 3 and the bottom plate 4 can dissipate the heat generated during this process so that the base 5 and the lasers 6, 7, and 8 placed thereon, which are formed as semiconductors, are heated only slightly. As a result, these semiconductors, and in some cases other semiconductor materials such as monitor diodes provided inside the housing, are not damaged or malfunctioned.

[0069] Furthermore, unlike processes such as soldering, no fluid medium is required, and the interior of the housing 2 can be reliably sealed to be both liquid-tight and airtight, preferably under a protective gas atmosphere such as dry nitrogen, without the presence of harmful atmospheric components.

[0070] In the intent of this disclosure, the object in question, for example, the housing of a multi-laser device, when filled with He and subjected to a pressure difference of 1 bar, will produce 1 × 10⁻¹⁶ units at room temperature. -3 If the leakage rate is less than mbar·l / sec, the object will be considered airtight or similarly liquid-tight.

[0071] However, preferably, when filled with He and there is a pressure difference of 1 bar, 1 × 10 -8 A leakage rate of mbar·l / s is achieved. However, the required sealing value may depend on the internal volume of the housing, so the sealing value achieved here ensures that the partial pressure of water inside the housing of the multi-laser device does not exceed 5000 ppm throughout the entire service life of the components.

[0072] Furthermore, this welded joint helps ensure that housing 2 satisfies standard MIL-STD 883, Method 1014 and Method 1018 with continuous operation tolerance.

[0073] A base plate 4 is provided with a base 5, or, according to yet another embodiment, for example, according to the embodiments shown in Figures 9, 10, 17-21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 31, and 32, the base 5 is formed by the base plate 4 itself.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment, the housing 2 contains a first laser 6 that emits in the red spectral region of the visible spectrum, a second laser 7 that emits in the green spectral region of the visible spectrum, and a third laser 8 that emits in the blue spectral region of the visible spectrum.

[0075] Alternatively, two or more lasers 6, 7, and 8, or all of lasers 6, 7, and 8, may emit light in the same spectral region, which may be advantageous, for example, when the multi-laser device 1 is used for illumination purposes.

[0076] Each of the aforementioned lasers 6, 7, and 8 is positioned on a base 5, and each of these lasers 6, 7, and 8 is mounted on this base 5 at a specified distance from the bottom surface 9 of the base plate 4. The bottom surface 9 of the base plate refers to the underside of the base plate, as can be seen, for example, in Figure 3.

[0077] In this way, when incorporating the multi-laser module, the specified positions of lasers 6, 7, and 8 are defined in relation to the distance to the bottom surface of the base plate, thereby enabling the multi-laser device 1 to be incorporated into another unit with high mounting precision.

[0078] Instead of arranging separate lasers 6, 7, and 8, these lasers can also be formed as a multi-laser module, each comprising multiple lasers already aligned with each other, and potentially pre-assembled.

[0079] This is further facilitated by the fact that lasers 6, 7, and 8 are arranged on the base 5 in a manner that is aligned with one another.

[0080] To facilitate or ensure high-precision relative alignment of lasers 6, 7, and 8 during assembly, recesses E6, E7, and E8 can be provided on the upper surface of the base 5, as can be seen in Figures 5 and 6, respectively. Lasers 6, 7, and 8 can be aligned relative to each other within these recesses E6, E7, and E8, and can preferably be housed by a shape-based coupling. The recesses E6, E7, and E8 can be engraved into the base 5 during its manufacture, or they can be fabricated through an independent precision manufacturing step, for example, using a material cutting process, such as milling or electrical discharge machining. This also facilitates the automated manufacturing of the multi-laser device 1 using, for example, pick-and-place manufacturing technology.

[0081] In this case, the spacing between lasers 6, 7, and 8 in the Z direction is not defined by the height H from the top surface of the base 5 to the bottom surface 9 (or lower surface 9) of the base plate 4, as in another disclosed embodiment, but rather by the individual spacing He, as shown in Figure 6, that is, by the individual spacing from the bottom surface 9 or lower surface 9 of the base plate 4 to the lowered surfaces OE6, OE7, or OE8 of the recesses E6, E7, or E8. As far as dimensions for height H are disclosed, they generally apply to height He as well with respect to the embodiments described in this paragraph and the previous paragraph. Specifically, the height of the base 5 can be 0.5 to 1 mm, and the height He can be correspondingly 0.35 to 0.9 mm.

[0082] The alignment here can include the following: the main radiation directions H6, H7, and H8 of lasers 6, 7, and 8 extend parallel to each other, and the spacing between the front-side light-emitting surfaces 10, 11, and 12, that is, the spacing between the individual effective light-emitting surfaces of lasers 6, 7, and 8, is predetermined in the lateral direction. This provides a precisely predetermined connection geometry for the optical unit to which the multi-laser device 1 is to be connected, which allows for the precise integration of the multi-laser device 1 into another external unit, for example, see Figure 2. From this figure, you can see the positions of the main radiation directions H6, H7, and H8.

[0083] Please refer to Figure 4 for a clearer definition of the terms "lateral," "front," "rear," "up," or "down." This figure shows yet another perspective view of the first embodiment of the multi-laser device according to the present invention shown in Figures 1 to 3, and the coordinate axes X, Y, and Z of the Cartesian coordinate system, where the reference numerals X, Y, and Z are located at the positive terminals of the individual bidirectional arrows in this coordinate system.

[0084] Therefore, the phrase "arranged in a lateral alignment with respect to each other" refers to the individual spacing between lasers 6, 7, and 8, and in particular to the spacing in the Y direction between their front light-emitting surfaces 10, 11, and 12.

[0085] Therefore, the height positions of lasers 6, 7, and 8, that is, their arrangement in the Z direction, are determined by the distance from the bottom surface 9 of the base plate 4 to the height H of the pedestal 5, as previously described, which can be seen, for example, in Figure 6. Equally clearly visible in Figure 6 is that, according to this embodiment, the lower surface of the pedestal 5 is exposed downwards, thus allowing for further connections downwards to other units, although these are not shown in the drawings, and that the lower surface of the pedestal 5 extends within a plane defined by the bottom surface or lower surface 9 of the base plate 4.

[0086] Laser emission in the positive X direction is represented as being directed forward, while laser emission in the negative X direction is represented as being directed backward or in the opposite direction.

[0087] An opening 13 is formed in the housing cap 3 in front of the light-emitting surfaces 10, 11, and 12 on the front side of lasers 6, 7, and 8, and a transparent member 14 is attached to this opening 13 from the inside of the housing 2. For details, please refer to Figure 4 and other figures.

[0088] The transparent member 14 may include glass or be made of glass. In this case, the expression "including glass" means that the transparent member may be coated or, depending on the application, may be formed in multiple layers, for example by a color filter device.

[0089] However, according to many embodiments of the multi-laser device 1, which will be discussed in more detail later, it is unnecessary to apply an anti-reflective coating to the transparent member 14, for example, by adjusting the gradient or inclination of the transparent member 14 relative to the main radiation directions H6, H7, H8 of the lasers 6, 7, and 8.

[0090] According to a preferred embodiment, the transparent member 14 is held to the housing cap 3 or frame R using, for example, glass solder, which can be clearly seen, for example, in Figure 9, and according to this embodiment itself, it is held to the housing cap 3 using a soldering process.

[0091] This frame R can be made of, for example, NiFe alloy "Alloy52" and manufactured as a diaphragm with a thickness of approximately 0.15 mm.

[0092] According to an alternative embodiment, the transparent member 14 is held to the housing cap 3 itself by using gold solder, for example, AuSn solder.

[0093] By using gold solder, the window 14 can be directly attached to the housing cap 3 with minimal structural dimensional requirements for both the transparent component 14 and the housing cap 3.

[0094] A reasonable comparison can be observed from Figures 17 and 18.

[0095] Figure 17 shows a cross-sectional view from the front at an oblique angle of an embodiment of the multi-laser device 1, also referred to as the third embodiment. In this case, the cross-section is in the region of the conductor Z leading to one of the lasers 6, 7, or 8, and extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap 3. Furthermore, in this case, the transparent member 14 is attached to the frame R by glass solder G, and the frame R itself is held by the housing cap 3.

[0096] Figure 18 shows a diagonal front cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the multi-laser device 1 similar to the third embodiment described above, in which the cross-section is in the region of the conductor Z leading to one of the lasers 6, 7, or 8, and also extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap 3, and in this case the transparent member 14 is held to the housing cap 3 by Au-Sn solder A.

[0097] What is noteworthy here is that the area covered by the transparent material 14 or frame R in the housing cap 3 is smaller when using gold solder A than when using glass solder G, and this allows the housing 2 itself to be made smaller.

[0098] For example, by using gold solder A, the width Bg of the glass solder layer G that holds the transparent member 14 or frame R can be reduced from 0.85 mm to a width Ba of 0.35 mm.

[0099] This makes it possible to reduce the height Hg of the rectangular cross-section housing 2 shown in Figure 17, where gold solder G is used, from, for example, approximately 3.16 mm to, for example, approximately 2.16 mm Ha of the rectangular cross-section housing 2 shown in Figure 18, where gold solder A is used.

[0100] As the height Ha extending in the Z direction is reduced, and in proportion to this reduction by the coefficient Ha / Hg, other dimensions of the housing cap 3, and thus the housing 2, in the X and Y directions can also be reduced.

[0101] At a minimum, if the wall of the housing cap 3 on which the transparent member 14 is placed is formed at an inclination relative to the bottom plate 4, a further reduction in the height of the housing 2 can be achieved.

[0102] Figure 31 shows a comparison between the multi-laser device 1 on the left side of the figure, which has a housing cap 3 with a rectangular cross-section, and the multi-laser device 1 on the right side of the figure, which has a housing cap 3 with an angled, particularly inclined, housing wall supporting a transparent member 14.

[0103] The inclination angle α shown in the embodiment depicted on the right side of Figure 31 can be set to, for example, 45°, as shown in this figure. This allows the height of the housing 2 to be reduced by the value of cos(45°), or by a coefficient of approximately 0.7.

[0104] In yet another embodiment, instead of setting the inclination angle α of the wall of the housing cap 3 relative to the normal direction N of the bottom surface 9 of the bottom plate 4 to exactly 45°, it can be set to be broadly within the range of 35° to 60°, preferably 40° to 50°, and particularly preferably within the range of 43° to 48°.

[0105] Overall, the measures described above result in attractive changes to the size of housing 2, particularly its height, which are illustrated exemplarily in Figure 32 to scale.

[0106] Figures 32a to 32d also show cross-sectional views comparing different structural configurations of a multi-laser device 1 equipped with a rectangular housing cap 3 and a multi-laser device 1 equipped with a housing cap 3 having an angled housing wall that supports a transparent member 14. In these figures, the cross-section extends parallel to the housing cap side wall in the region of the conductor Z leading to one of the lasers 6, 7, or 8.

[0107] Figure 32a shows a housing 2 with a rectangular cross-section. In this case, the transparent member 14 is fixed to the housing cap 3 by glass solder, particularly using a frame R, and the housing height of 3.16 mm is achieved as described above.

[0108] Figure 32b shows a housing 2 with a rectangular cross-section, in which case the transparent member 14 is fixed to the housing cap 3 with gold solder, achieving a housing height of approximately 2.16 mm as described above.

[0109] In the case of housing 2 shown in Figure 32c, the transparent member 14 is fixed to the inclined wall of the housing cap 3 with glass solder, and in this case, a housing height of approximately 2.52 mm is achieved.

[0110] In the case of housing 2 shown in Figure 32d, the transparent member 14 is fixed to the inclined wall of the housing cap 3 with gold solder, and in this case, a housing height of approximately 2.12 mm is achieved.

[0111] This housing height is very appealing for many applications, especially mobile ones, and just one example of such an application is the AR glasses depicted in Figure 33, which will be discussed in more detail later.

[0112] The inclination angle α of the transparent member 14, as shown in the embodiment depicted on the right side of Figure 31, can also be utilized for further structural advantages, particularly when, for example, monitor diodes 19, 20 and / or 21 are positioned below the transparent member 14 and the laser light reflected back from the transparent member 14 strikes the monitor diodes, as depicted in Figures 1, 2 and 8, for example, and referred to below.

[0113] Figure 8 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a first preferred embodiment, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor Z leading to one of the lasers 6, 7, or 8.

[0114] Monitor diodes 19, 20, and 21 are positioned below the transparent member 14, and each of them receives the light from the assigned lasers 6, 7, or 8 that has been reflected back from the transparent member 14.

[0115] This will be explained below, simply as an example, by referring to the main emission direction H6 of laser 6, which emits light in the red spectral region.

[0116] Light emitted from laser 6 in the main radiation direction H6 strikes the transparent member 14, and since it is positioned at a 45° angle to the main radiation direction H6, the reflected component of this light is deflected vertically downwards at the transparent member 14 towards the monitor diode 19.

[0117] Similarly, this occurs with respect to the light from laser 7 in the main radiation direction H7 and the light reflected perpendicularly therefrom, as well as the monitor diode 20, and also with respect to the light from laser 8 in the main radiation direction H8 and the light reflected perpendicularly therefrom, as well as the monitor diode 21.

[0118] The intensity of each reflected light component is sufficient to obtain extremely accurate sensing signals with respect to the individual intensities of the light emitted from lasers 6, 7, and 8.

[0119] In this case, it is advantageous if the light emitted from the FAC lens 18, after leaving the FAC lens 18, has only a very small amount of radiative divergence in the horizontal direction and consequently in the Z direction through the emission surface 22. In particular, this prevents unwanted false light from being emitted to individual monitor diodes.

[0120] In a preferred embodiment of the multi-laser device 1, the FAC lens (Fast-Axis-Collimating lens) 18 is positioned on the base 5, preferably spaced apart from the end faces of the lasers 6, 7, and 8, in which case the end faces of the lasers 6, 7, and 8 correspond to the aforementioned light-emitting surfaces 10, 11, and 12 of these lasers, respectively. This allows for significantly more efficient beam shaping, and the spacing minimizes thermal effects, such as heating of the base 5.

[0121] This allows, for example, the beams of light emitted from individual lasers 6, 7, or 8 in their respective main emission directions H6, H7, or H8 to be generated with a beam diameter Ds in the Z direction of only about 0.3 mm.

[0122] If each monitor diode 19, 20, and 21 has a color filter, and especially if each has a color filter formed as a bandpass filter for the radiation wavelength of the laser 6, 7, or 8 that is assigned to it, then each can suppress the light of the other lasers, and in this embodiment, and in all other embodiments disclosed herein having these monitor diodes 19, 20, and 21, an improved signal / interference signal ratio or improved signal / noise ratio of the sensing signals of the monitor diodes 19, 20, and 21 can be obtained.

[0123] Figure 22 shows that the transparent member is formed as an FAC lens (Fast-Axis-Collimating lens) 15, or that there is an alternative arrangement configuration including an FAC lens (Fast-Axis-Collimating lens) 15. In this case, the FAC lens 15 can be placed on a substrate 16 parallel to the plane, or it can be integrally formed, for example, by engraving it into a suitable mold for forming the FAC lens.

[0124] Figure 22 similarly shows that the inside of the housing cap 3 is formed in a blackened state, particularly in a matte blackened state, as illustratively indicated by reference numeral T. For this purpose, a lacquer or coating such as black chromium or zinc-nickel coating can be applied, for example, and can be applied particularly as an electrolytic coating.

[0125] Figure 21 illustrates a second embodiment of the multi-laser device 1, in which light emitted from the rear light-emitting surfaces of lasers 6, 7, and 8 is absorbed at the coated housing cap 3. Since many coatings can interfere with welding, the welding flange can be left uncoated even when viewed from the underside of the housing cap 3. This welding flange is formed by a lateral overhang As, where a weld line S, as shown in Figure 9, is formed, and therefore the coating described herein does not interfere with the airtight joint between the housing cap 3 and the bottom plate 4.

[0126] Alternatively, the monitor diodes 19, 20, and 21 can be placed behind the lasers 6, 7, and 8, particularly on the support 23 assigned to these lasers, as illustrated, for example, in Figures 12 and 14.

[0127] According to the embodiments shown in Figures 12 and 13, light emitted in the opposite direction from lasers 6, 7, and 8 is reflected by the inclined rear wall of housing 2 and then strikes monitor diodes 19, 20, and 21, respectively, which are positioned directly above their individual conductors Z.

[0128] In this case, Figure 12 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the multi-laser device 1, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor Z leading to one of the multiple lasers. Furthermore, Figure 13 shows an excerpt from a plan view of the bottom plate 4 of the fifth embodiment depicted in Figure 12, with the housing cap 3 removed.

[0129] Alternatively, the monitor diodes 19, 20, and 21 may be placed on a support 23 which preferably contains or is made of ceramic, as shown in Figures 14, 15, and 16.

[0130] Figure 14 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the multi-laser device 1, in which case the cross-section extends parallel to the side wall of the housing cap in the region of the conductor Z leading to one of the multiple lasers.

[0131] Figure 15 shows a plan view of the bottom plate 4 of the sixth embodiment depicted in Figure 14, with the housing cap 3 removed. As can be seen from this figure, similar to Figure 16, in this embodiment, the normal direction Nt of the plane of the support 23 on which the monitor diodes 19, 20, and 21 are located is formed at an angle of at least relative to the main radiation direction H7 of the laser 7. In this case, the inclination is within an angular range of 3° to 15°, preferably 5° to 10°, and particularly preferably 6° to 8° relative to the main radiation direction H7.

[0132] As shown in Figure 16, the monitor diodes 19, 20, and 21 can be connected by conductors mounted on the ceramic support 23, and conductors 24 and 25 are shown in Figure 16 as an example for monitor diode 19.

[0133] Similar to the disclosure regarding the support 23, the wall of the housing cap 3 on which the transparent member 14 is located can also be formed at an angle relative to the main radiation direction of at least one of the multiple lasers, as illustrated exemplarily in Figures 23 and 24.

[0134] Figures 23 and 24 show an eighth embodiment of the multi-laser device 1, respectively, in which the normal direction Nw of the wall of the housing cap 3 on which the transparent member 14 is located is formed in an inclined state relative to at least the main radiation direction H6 of the laser 6, and in this case the inclined posture having angle γ is within an angular range of 3° to 15°, preferably 5° to 10°, and particularly preferably 6° to 8° relative to the main radiation direction.

[0135] Figure 27 shows a cross-sectional view of the tenth embodiment, in which light emitted from the laser 6 is guided into or incident into a photoconductive fiber 27 whose incident end 26 is located near the light emission surface 12 of the laser 6. In this case, the fiber 27 is held in a housing cap 3 or a transparent member 14 having a feedthrough for the fiber 27 using substantially spherical glass melting sections 28 and 29.

[0136] As described for laser 6, additional fibers can be similarly positioned at the locations of lasers 7 and 8 and held in the housing cap 3 or the transparent member 14.

[0137] In yet another embodiment, the transparent member 14 may be formed as a fiber plate, as illustrated in Figure 28, or the transparent member 14 may include a fiber plate 17. In the case of this type of fiber plate, which is well known to those skilled in the art, a number of optical fibers are arranged adjacent to each other, and light incident on the fiber plate 17 is also guided through these fibers, thereby reducing the divergence of the light from lasers 6, 7, and 8 and allowing the light to be guided substantially parallel to each other.

[0138] Another embodiment in which the housing cap 3 includes multiple openings 30, 31, and 32 is shown in Figures 25 and 26.

[0139] Figure 25 shows a perspective view of the housing cap 3 of a ninth embodiment of the multi-laser device 1, in which the transparent member 14 is removed and the housing cap 3 includes three openings 30, 31, and 32 to allow laser light to pass through.

[0140] Figure 26 shows a cross-sectional view of a ninth embodiment belonging to the housing cap 3 of the multi-laser device depicted in Figure 25. In this case, the cross-section extends parallel to the upper wall of the housing cap 3, directly below it. Furthermore, it can be seen from this figure that boundaries are formed for the laser light emitting through the apertures 30, 31, and 32, and these boundaries restrict the laser light laterally, thus serving to suppress false light.

[0141] According to this embodiment, one suitable transparent member 14 can be placed in each of these openings 30, 31, and 32, or one transparent member 14 can be placed in common in all of these openings.

[0142] Figures 25 and 26 also show the protective device 33 that the housing 2 has for the glass of the transparent member 14, which is in particular formed as a section 34 that protrudes laterally from the transparent member 14.

[0143] Further embodiments can be seen from Figures 29 and 30, in which Figure 29 shows a twelfth embodiment of the multi-laser device 1, in which the bottom plate 4 is formed to protrude forward below the housing cap 3 as a support for the optical unit, and Figure 30 shows an excerpt of the perspective view depicted in Figure 29, with the lasers 6, 7, and 8 in operation, along with their individual beam paths and main radiation directions H6, H7, and H8.

[0144] The optical unit may include, for example, beam collimators 35, 36, 37 and dichroic beam splitters or beam combiners 38, 39, 40, thereby allowing the light from lasers 6, 7, 8 to be supplied coaxially to yet another unit in a remarkably compact space, as if it were originating from a single virtual light source.

[0145] A common feature of all embodiments described herein is that the electrical wires Z, Z1, Z2, and Z3 are guided through the housing 2 to the individual lasers 6, 7, and 8, which can be seen illustratively in Figure 3.

[0146] For example, if the bottom plate 4 of the housing 2 is formed to guide current as a reference potential, then a multi-laser device that can already operate with just four electrical connection terminals can be provided.

[0147] Furthermore, glass-metal feedthroughs can be formed in the bottom plate 4, particularly for the purpose of improving continuous operation tolerance and the airtightness of the housing 2, for the conductors Z, Z6, Z7, Z8 leading to lasers 6, 7, and 8, and for yet another conductors Z19, Z20, Z21 leading to monitor diodes 19, 20, and 21, as illustrated in Figure 3.

[0148] These conductors Z, Z6, Z7, and Z8 can also be guided to lasers 6, 7, and 8 using bonding wires B6, B7, and B8, as illustrated in Figure 7.

[0149] For the purpose of deepening understanding of structural matters, Figure 5 shows a perspective view from an oblique front-up perspective of a modified embodiment of the base plate 4 with the base plate 5 of the first embodiment of the multi-laser device 1 according to the present invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, in which recesses E6, E7, E8 for arranging the individual lasers 6, 7, and 8 are provided in the base plate 5. Furthermore, Figure 6 discloses a cross-sectional view of the base plate shown in Figure 5 along the cut surface A-A'.

[0150] For example, the glass-metal feedthrough for the wires leading to the laser and / or monitor diode can have a height Hd of 0.75 mm, and the thickness D of the base plate 4 can be approximately 0.25 mm.

[0151] An exemplary application is shown in Figure 33 as a perspective view of AR glasses 41, in which the multi-laser device 1 according to the present invention is arranged inside the temple of the glasses, and this will be explained in detail below.

[0152] Light emitted from the multi-laser device 1 is supplied to the optical unit 42, which acts to perform beam shaping and supplies this light to the projection device 43, which projects the image onto the lenses of the AR glasses 41, superimposing it onto the real-world image perceived visually by the user.

[0153] Further sensors 44, 45, and 46 are used for ambient awareness and user identification.

[0154] The interchangeable eyeglass lenses 47 enhance user comfort.

[0155] By using a wireless transmission module 49, particularly a 5G module, communication with external devices, especially external mobile devices, is provided, particularly under the control of the processor 48.

[0156] A rechargeable battery 50 is connected to the electronic unit of the AR glasses via a safety device 51, enabling their mobile operation.

[0157] Next, refer to Figure 34. This figure shows a thirteenth embodiment of the multi-laser device 1, in which one optical element 52, 53, and 54, each particularly thermoformed, is held. The optical elements 52, 53, and 54 each form a transparent member 14, which is held in an airtight and liquid-tight manner within the housing cap 3, as disclosed herein, and this also applies to the optical elements of the embodiments shown in Figures 35, 36, and 37, respectively.

[0158] According to this thirteenth embodiment, the optical elements 52, 53, and 54 can be thermoformed within the housing cap 3, which is done as follows: For example, raw parts of each optical element 52, 53, and 54 to be thermoformed, each including glass, are fitted into the individual openings 30, 31, and 32 of the housing cap 3, and are heated, in particular above the glass transition temperature Tg and the hemispherical temperature of the raw glass, until the shape of each optical element 52, 53, and 54 is formed by the surface tension of the glass of the individual raw parts. Advantageously, the housing cap 3 forms ring-shaped flanges 55 surrounding each of the openings 30, 31, and 32, which are shown only for opening 30 as an example, and are radially bounded by ring-shaped recesses or grooves 56 surrounding each. As a result, a very precise outer boundary is created at the radial outer end of the ring-shaped flange 55 for the molten glass that is thermoformed under its own surface tension, thereby allowing for the precise formation of the specified surfaces of the individual optical elements 52, 53, and 54.

[0159] Next, we refer to Figure 35, which shows a 14th embodiment of the multi-laser device in a perspective cross-sectional view. In this embodiment as well, the housing cap 3 has a plurality of openings 30, 31, and 32 for the laser light to pass through, and in these openings are pre-formed, particularly biconvex, optical elements 57, 58, and 59, each preferably in the form of a spherical lens. The optical elements 57, 58, and 59 are each surrounded by glass solder 60, which surrounds each optical element 57, 58, and 59 in a ring shape adjacent to the optical elements 57, 58, and 59 and the housing cap 3, and holds them liquid-tight and airtight at the housing cap 3, respectively. However, for clarity, only the glass solder 60 of optical element 59 is given a reference numeral. For the individual optical elements, other lens shapes may be used instead of the spherical optical elements 57, 58, and 59, which will be described in more detail below as examples and also specified in the appended claims. For example, these can be plano-convex or concave-convex spherical lenses, spherical or hemispherical lenses, or plano-convex or concave-convex aspherical lenses.

[0160] Figure 36 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a 15th embodiment of the multi-laser device 1, in which the housing cap 3 includes a plurality of openings 30, 31, and 32 for the laser beam to pass through, and pre-formed optical elements 61, 62, and 63, particularly plano-convex, are held in these openings, respectively, using solder glass 64. The plano-convex optical elements 61, 62, and 63 are preferably formed and processed by mechanical polishing.

[0161] The optical elements disclosed in Figure 37, which shows a sixteenth embodiment of the multi-laser apparatus 1, are, for example, pre-formed, particularly aspherical, optical elements, which are held in the housing cap 3, particularly by thermoforming and / or preferably by mechanical pressing. Of these optical elements, only element 65 is given a reference numeral as an example. The front wall 66 of the housing cap 3 is formed with a thicker wall thickness to provide the required mechanical pressing force. In this case, the housing wall 66 can also form a compressed glass seal for the optical element 65, which is heat-press-fitted.

[0162] Figure 38 shows a 17th embodiment of the multi-laser device 1, in which the area in front of the light-emitting surfaces of the lasers 6, 7, and 8 inside the housing 2, and especially the area 67 of the base 5 and bottom plate 4 facing the transparent member 14, are coated with an absorbent coating. This coating may have an absorbent Ni layer, which is referred to in this field as matte Ni plating. In particular, to improve conductivity and corrosion resistance, the conductors Z may preferably be gold-coated.

[0163] Figure 39 shows an 18th embodiment of the multi-laser device 1. In this embodiment, the light emitted from lasers 6, 7, and 8 is coupled to fibers 61, 62, and 27, respectively, whose incident ends are located near the light emission surfaces 10, 11, and 12 of lasers 6, 7, and 8. See also Figure 41, which shows a corresponding arrangement of fibers 61, 62, and 27.

[0164] Fibers 61, 62, and 27 are each held in the housing cap 3 by the plug-shaped portion 70 of the optical connector 71, thus forming one part of an optically detachable connection, in particular one part of an optically detachable plug-in connection 71, where a second socket-shaped portion 72 grips the plug-shaped portion 70 from above, holding the external optical fibers 73, 74, and 75, respectively. The socket-shaped portion 72 can also hold all the external fibers 73, 74, and 75 together in a single unified housing portion, thus creating a single optical plug-in connection for the multi-laser device 1, which makes it significantly easier to integrate the multi-laser device 1 into yet another existing optical system, and also allows for standardization.

[0165] The 19th embodiment of the multi-laser device 1 shown in Figure 40 differs from the one shown in Figure 39 in the following substantial respects: the external fibers 75 are directly guided to the light-emitting surfaces 10, 11, and 12 of lasers 6, 7, and 8, respectively, and the socket-shaped portions 72 of the optical connectors 71 are hermetically held in the housing caps 3, thereby providing a permanent connection to the housing caps 3.

[0166] Figure 41 shows a cross-sectional view of the 20th embodiment of the multi-laser device 1, in which the cross-section extends parallel to the upper wall of the housing cap 3, directly below the upper wall of the housing cap 3.

[0167] The light emitted from lasers 6, 7, and 8 is coupled to fibers 27, 61, and 62, respectively, whose incident ends are located near the light emission surfaces 10, 11, and 12 of lasers 6, 7, and 8. These optical fibers 27, 61, and 62 are held in the housing cap 3 and, as described above in the embodiment shown in Figure 39, are connected to plug-in connection parts 71 with external fibers 73, 74, and 75.

[0168] An optional lens device 76 or incident lens 76 can cause the light from lasers 6, 7, and 8 to be incident on the cores of individual fibers 27, 61, and 62, respectively, preferably matched to their numerical apertures.

[0169] Fibers 73, 74, and 75 are each combined into a single fiber bundle 77, and their intensity distributions at the exit end 78 of the fiber bundle are illustrated exemplarily in Figures 42a, 42b, and 42d.

[0170] Figure 42a shows the intensity distribution at the exit end 78 of a photoconductive fiber bundle 77 coupled to a multi-laser device, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the fiber bundle 77. In this case, the individual fibers 73, 74, and 75, each coupled to one of the lasers of the multi-laser device, are arranged adjacent to each other in a single plane when viewed from the direction of arrow P in Figure 41.

[0171] In this plane where fibers 73, 74, and 75 are arranged adjacent to each other, the row direction Ze of the assigned imaging device also extends, and therefore, when appropriately incorporated, the red, blue, and green colors are superimposed, and because of this superimposition, splice connections for fibers 73, 74, and 75 are unnecessary. This makes it possible to make the length of the fiber bundle 77 extremely short, in particular, within a range of a few millimeters.

[0172] Figure 42b shows the intensity distribution at the exit end 78 of the photoconductive fibers 73, 74, and 75 of the fiber bundle 77, each coupled to the multi-laser device 1, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the fiber bundle 77. In this case, the individual fibers, each coupled to one laser of the multi-laser device, are positioned adjacent to each other in the densest possible spatial arrangement, which can be advantageous for further optical systems. In those optical systems, such spatial spacing of fibers 73, 74, and 75 is already sufficient to display one pixel of the imaging system.

[0173] Figure 42c discloses cross-sectional views of photoconductive fibers 73, 74, and 75 coupled to the multi-laser device 1, respectively. In this case, the cross-section B-B' extends across the longitudinal direction of the fiber, as shown in Figure 41, spaced apart from the fiber's exit end. Furthermore, in this case, the individual fibers 73, 74, and 75 coupled to the lasers 6, 7, and 8 of the multi-laser device 1 are positioned adjacent to each other in the densest possible spatial arrangement, and a scattering element 79 extending in the longitudinal direction of the fibers 73, 74, and 75 is positioned between the fibers 73, 74, and 75. This allows light to be coupled from one fiber 73, 74, or 75 to another fiber 73, 74, or 75, thereby providing a central region 80 of mixed light from all the fibers 73, 74, and 75.

[0174] From Figure 42d, the intensity distribution at the output end 78 of the photoconductive fiber bundle 77 coupled to the multi-laser device 1 shown in Figure 42c can be seen in a direction that crosses the longitudinal direction of the fiber bundle 77.

[0175] Figure 43 shows an exemplary perspective view of yet another set of AR glasses 41', which are partially cut out and in which the multi-laser device 1 according to the present invention is connected to a further optical unit 42 by using photoconductive fibers, particularly by using a fiber bundle 77.

[0176] The inventors have confirmed that, in everyday use, for example in the AR glasses embodiments shown in Figures 33 and 43, deposits, particularly particulate deposits such as dust particles, can form on the transparent member 14. At these deposits, the light emitted from lasers 6, 7, and 8 may be scattered and reflected back. As an example, Figure 4 shows an exemplary deposit, enlarged for clarity, depicted as dust particles St.

[0177] This could have adverse effects, for example, if some of the reflected light enters the cavity of one of the lasers 6, 7, or 8, where it may couple with a resonator mode. This could trigger a phenomenon called mode hopping, which would result in undesirable fluctuations in the intensity of the laser light.

[0178] Unlike most conventional applications, in the AR glasses embodiments shown in Figures 33 and 43, the deformation of the housing 2 additionally causes the transparent member 14, along with the deposits St present therein, to move relative to the lasers 6, 7, and 8, thereby changing the spacing or inclination of the transparent member 14 relative to the individual light-emitting surfaces 10, 11, and 12 of the lasers 6, 7, and 8. Such deformation can occur, for example, when the temples of the AR glasses are bent, for example, due to a poor fit to the user wearing the glasses.

[0179] Furthermore, in the embodiments shown in Figures 10, 17, 18, 26, 29, 30, the left side of Figure 31, 32a, 32b, and 38, even if the transparent member 14 is correctly positioned during manufacturing, deformation of the housing 2 may cause the light reflected at the transparent member 14 to be incident again into the cavity of one of the lasers 6, 7, or 8, and in this case, it may even be possible that the light is incident with a significantly higher intensity than when the deposit St is on the transparent member 14.

[0180] However, even if such fluctuations in radiated intensity are not necessarily perceptible to the naked eye, they can still be disruptive, even in the case of extremely rapid electronic intensity adjustments, and may interact undesirably with these adjustments. This is because such intensity fluctuations typically have low-frequency components due to deformation and high-frequency components due to mode hopping.

[0181] However, unlike conventional optoelectronic device units, which are typically located in encapsulated environments, deformation occurs during the everyday operation of AR glasses, for example, in the embodiments disclosed herein. This deformation can already be quite significant when the spacing between the transparent members changes by approximately half a wavelength of light emitted from the lasers, because in that case, the positive interference of the reflected light can transition to negative interference, affecting other regions within the individual cavities of one of the multiple lasers. Thus, these undesirable spacing changes are within a range of only about 200 nm to 350 nm.

[0182] In embodiments disclosed herein, where the primary direction of laser radiation extends substantially parallel to the bottom plate 4 of the housing 2, the effects of such deformation are particularly significant. This is because, in this case, the deformation of the bottom plate 4 directly causes a change in the inclination or spacing of the transparent members 14 relative to the individual light-emitting surfaces 10, 11, and 12 of the lasers 6, 7, and 8.

[0183] This effect is less pronounced in structural configurations where the primary direction of laser radiation is not substantially parallel to the housing's base plate, but extends particularly perpendicularly. This is because, in such structures, the curvature of the base plate has an even less significant effect on the spacing between individual lasers relative to the emission windows, if any.

[0184] In yet another structural form of the conventional technology, a solid bottom plate can be manufactured integrally with the side walls of the housing by milling, but this is technically complicated to manufacture, and is especially complicated in the case of a structural form in which the walls of each housing cap extend diagonally.

[0185] In this regard, further technical problems arise in the case of structural forms having remarkably compact dimensions, as disclosed herein. This is because the closer the light-emitting surfaces 10, 11, and 12 of the lasers 6, 7, and 8 are to the transparent member 14, the greater the intensity of the light reflected back to the laser cavity at the aforementioned deposits. This intensity decreases with the square of the aforementioned spacing, requiring L to be as large as possible, which is directly contradictory to a compact structural form. Here, L is the spacing of the front surfaces of the base 5 in the main radiation direction of the lasers 6, 7, or 8 relative to the periphery of the base plate 4 located in the main radiation direction of the lasers 6, 7, or 8, and this is a critical value with respect to the following disclosure. This is because the larger the value of L, the less robust or mechanically stable the housing 2 will be unless special measures are taken.

[0186] Furthermore, in the embodiments shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 32c, and 32d, for example, the base 5 cannot be arbitrarily positioned near the wall of the housing cap 3 to which the transparent member 14 is attached because the wall of the housing cap 3 is inclined. Therefore, it must be formed recessed relative to the wall, which inevitably results in a longer length L compared to embodiments where the wall of the housing cap 3 extends substantially vertically.

[0187] For example, in the case of yet another structural configuration as depicted in Figures 25 and 26, the length of the spacing L may be limited in order to avoid shading of the light emitted from lasers 6, 7, and 8.

[0188] For example, in the structural configuration disclosed in International Publication No. 2020 / 004100, the path of the laser light is significantly lengthened by beam deflection components, such as mirrors that partially reflect at least the spectrum, thereby significantly lengthening the section for light that is reflected back into the individual laser cavities, resulting in a significantly lower intensity of the reflected light compared to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0189] However, beam deflection elements, particularly elements that perform at least partial reflection, such as mirrors or dichroic beam splitters or beam combiners, are not located inside the housing 2 formed by a housing cap 3 with a bottom plate 4 and a transparent member 14, especially for the sake of a compact housing structure and the possibility of remarkably flexible application. As an alternative embodiment, the embodiment shown in Figures 29 and 30 is proposed, in which the dichroic beam splitters or beam combiners 38, 39, 40 are located outside the housing 2, however, in this case the path of light that passes through the deposition area St and is reflected back into the laser cavity is not lengthened, as disclosed, for example, in International Publication No. 2020 / 004100.

[0190] However, if the purpose is to detect the light from lasers 6, 7, and 8 for measurement technical purposes, then it is already sufficient to detect the light emitted from the back of lasers 6, 7, and 8 and reflected at the housing cap 3 or by the transparent member 14, in order to adjust the intensity of the light emitted by lasers 6, 7, and 8, and in that case, it is not necessary to accept that the structural form of the housing 2 will be substantially larger.

[0191] However, in this case, the housing cap 3 or the transparent member 14 is not used, or referred to as, a mirror or a dichroic beam splitter or beam combiner, because they are not used in practice to guide the beams of light from the lasers 6, 7, and 8 emitted from the housing 2.

[0192] If the objective is to provide a compact housing structure that is convenient to manufacture from a manufacturing technology standpoint, it is also advantageous to use a housing cap 3 supplied by deep drawing, which, when properly fixed to the bottom plate 4, already provides sufficient mechanical robustness, as is the case with the embodiment of the multi-laser device 1 disclosed herein.

[0193] The inventors discovered that the aforementioned spacing L on the front surface of the base 5 in the main radiation direction of lasers 6, 7, or 8, relative to the periphery of the base plate 4 located in the main radiation direction of lasers 6, 7, or 8, i.e., the X direction, can have a significant impact on such stability. This is because deformation or strain in this region has a significant effect on the spacing from the light-emitting surfaces 10, 11, and 12 of lasers 6, 7, and 8 to the transparent member 14. In Figure 6, this spacing is represented by L, and the thickness of the base plate 4 is represented by W.

[0194] The expression "thickness W of the base plate 4" applies to the parallel regions of the upper and lower surfaces of the base plate 4 in areas where the base plate 4 does not have a recess on its upper surface. According to this embodiment, the thickness W of the base plate 4 is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 1 mm, and particularly preferably in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 mm.

[0195] According to the embodiments shown in Figures 10, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, and 32a and 32b, in which a wall extending substantially perpendicularly to the base plate 4 and a transparent member 14 positioned proportionally perpendicularly are provided, the spacing L was preferably approximately 0.7 to 2 mm, and particularly preferably 0.9 to 1.7 mm. This is because, in these embodiments, there is less need to fear sediment than in embodiments where the transparent member 14 is positioned at an angle, and a shorter distance L and the ratio V of length L to the thickness W of the base plate, which will be discussed below, resulted in a remarkably stable housing 2.

[0196] In this type of housing structure, the ratio V of the length L to the thickness W of the bottom plate, V = L / W, is achieved in a preferred embodiment with a value of 3.4 to 4.5. In this case, reducing the value of V increases the stability of the housing. However, generally, values ​​of V from 2 to 7 could be used in these embodiments.

[0197] However, in the embodiments shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, the right-hand side of Figure 31, 32c, and 32d, where the transparent member 14 is arranged at an angle, a value of approximately 2 to 4 mm, preferably 2.7 to 3.3 mm, was used for the spacing L. In this embodiment as well, the thickness W of the bottom plate 4 is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 1 mm, and particularly preferably in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 mm.

[0198] From these values, a ratio V (V = L / W) between the length L and the thickness W of the base plate was obtained for preferred embodiments, ranging from 6.6 to 13.5. However, generally, a value of V between 4 and 20 could be used in these embodiments.

[0199] Even in this structural configuration, increasing the value of V made it possible to provide a remarkably stable housing. This is because, as disclosed herein, inclining the wall of the housing cap 3 to which the transparent member 14 is attached provides an even greater robustness effect from the housing cap 3.

[0200] Generally, increasing the thickness of the base plate 4 would result in a more stable housing design 2. However, it was surprisingly discovered that even with a base plate thickness of 0.2 to 0.5 mm, as used in the preferred embodiment, sufficient stability was already achieved in the case of extremely compact housing structures.

[0201] Within the framework of this disclosure, it is assumed that, in a preferred embodiment, the base 5 protrudes from the base plate 4 in the Z direction by a substantially cubic wall extending vertically, thereby providing additional stability to the base plate 4 against deformation or strain. For example, this geometric relationship can be seen in Figure 6.

[0202] Within the framework of this disclosure, the bottom plate 4 or bottom surface is understood to refer to the following housing unit. That is, electrical wires Z and in particular Z6, Z7, and Z8 extend out from this housing unit, and these are used to connect the multi-laser device 1 to another external unit as specified, thereby fundamentally different the embodiments disclosed herein from devices that emit in a vertical direction.

[0203] In general, the transparent member 14 has been found to be a remarkably advantageous component for increasing the stability of the housing 2. This transparent member 14 significantly increased the shear rigidity of the housing 2, especially when it was fixed to the housing cap 3 using gold solder A, particularly AuSn solder, or using a frame R. In this case, the preferred thickness Dt of the transparent member is about 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm, preferably 0.25 mm or 0.5 mm, for example, see the drawing on the right in Figure 31.

[0204] Simulations were conducted to gain a comprehensive understanding of the external forces acting on housing 2. The goal was to obtain a mechanically stable device that could mitigate, or even nearly completely avoid, the aforementioned drawbacks of reflected and returned light, even in a remarkably compact and manufacturingly convenient structural form.

[0205] According to these embodiments, which were used for simulated load testing, which can also be reasonably realized in yet another embodiment disclosed herein, a housing cap 3 formed by deep drawing from a deep-drawable nickel alloy and a bottom plate 4 made of cold-rolled steel CRS1010 were used.

[0206] As can be seen in Figure 9, a weld line S is formed between the housing cap 3 and the bottom plate 4, which extends substantially across the entire contact surface between the housing cap 3 and the bottom plate 4, below the lateral overhang As of the housing cap 3 that forms the weld flange, in this case the width of the lateral overhang is approximately 0.2 to 0.5 mm.

[0207] This resulted in the housing cap 3 being attached to the base plate 4 in a way that was mechanically stable even under the surrounding test conditions.

[0208] Figure 44 shows an exemplary perspective view of the base plate 4 on which the pedestal 5 is placed, and a simulated mechanical load test was conducted on this base plate 4.

[0209] In this load test, the base plate 4 was fixedly held within region B, which is shown in Figure 45 and whose boundary is defined by a dashed line, so that the base plate 4 could not be deformed within region B.

[0210] In the base plate 4 shown in Figure 45, which has a thickness W of 0.25 mm, a force represented by the force vector Kf was introduced in the Z direction to the base plate 4, with the aim of simulating as well as possible the force acting on it during normal operation, similar to other load tests disclosed herein.

[0211] In this case, the point of application of the force vector Kf was located on the side of the base plate 4, at the corner opposite to region B, as shown in Figure 45. The applied force was 10 N in all load tests disclosed herein.

[0212] In this case, if the multi-laser device is positioned on the temples of the AR glasses 41, 41' as depicted in Figures 33 and 43, then region B corresponds to the posterior section relatively close to the wearer's ears, and the location where the force vector Kf acts corresponds to the region of the individual temples of the AR glasses 41, 41', which is considerably further away from the individual wearer's ears. In this way, a typical mechanical load that occurs during everyday activities is reproduced.

[0213] In the initial tests, the housing cap was not placed on the 0.25mm thick base plate 4 in order to better understand the overall characteristics of the base plate 4.

[0214] Figure 46 shows the deformation that occurred during the load test, which reached a maximum of 1.9 mm in the region below the force vector Kf.

[0215] What is already clearly evident from these results is that the base plate 4 itself is not suitable for independently providing the required level of stability without further stabilization measures.

[0216] Thus, the combination of the housing cap 3 and the base plate 4, along with the pedestal 5 positioned on the base plate 4, becomes extremely important for the overall stability obtained from the result.

[0217] Figure 47 shows an embodiment of the bottom plate holding the housing cap 3 of the multi-laser apparatus 1 disclosed herein, in which the thickness of the bottom plate is 0.25 mm, and the thickness Wg of the material of the housing cap 3 is 0.15 mm.

[0218] Similarly, in the load test, which will be explained later with reference to Figures 49 and 50, the base 5 was held on the bottom plate 4 in order to allow the deformation of the housing 2 of the multi-laser device 1 to be observed as accurately as possible.

[0219] Figure 48 shows the results of a load test on the embodiment depicted in Figure 47, which has a bottom plate 4 and a base 5 that hold the housing cap 3. This shows that the maximum deformation was only about 0.068 mm.

[0220] Therefore, deformation of the base plate 4 was significantly reduced by the housing cap 3 and the base 5.

[0221] Figure 49 shows yet another embodiment of the base plate 4, together with a housing cap 3 held therein, and a base 5 of the multi-laser device 1 disclosed herein, attached to the base plate. According to this embodiment, the housing cap 3 has a region of sidewall formed as a laterally offset section 81. The height H of the lateral section 81 is approximately 0.5 mm and can be in the range of 0.3 mm to 1 mm. The value B representing the degree to which the section 81 is offset outward is approximately 0.4 mm and can be in the range of 0.2 mm to 1 mm.

[0222] In this embodiment, as described in Figures 49 and 50, the thickness W of the bottom plate is 0.1 mm, and the thickness Wg of the housing cap material is 0.5 mm.

[0223] Figure 50 shows the results of a load test obtained by applying a simulated specified force to the bottom plate in yet another embodiment shown in Figure 49. Surprisingly, the maximum deformation of the housing was only 0.23 mm. However, this deformation occurred substantially only on the outside of the overhang. The rest of the housing inside the laterally shifted outward section 81 deformed by less than 0.016 mm.

[0224] Since the thickness of the base plate directly affects the height of the housing 2, as previously mentioned, in order to achieve the most compact structural form possible, it is desirable to select it as small as possible rather than unnecessarily large. The embodiment described below shows one remarkably advantageous form, which provides the housing with additional and significant robustness without unnecessarily increasing its height.

[0225] In this yet another preferred embodiment, the bottom plate 4 can be extended at least at its lateral periphery, at least partially or equally completely, into the laterally offset section 81 and brought into contact therefrom by shape-utilizing joints from the inside.

[0226] According to this embodiment, the weld line S can also be extended laterally between the base plate 4 and section 81, particularly over the entire periphery of section 81 and the lateral peripheral edge Rs of the base plate 4.

[0227] In view of the disclosures described herein, one preferred embodiment is provided with respect to the multi-laser apparatus 1 described in claim 1, namely, this embodiment is: A housing cap 3 formed by deep drawing, which includes or is made of a material that can be deep drawn, The base plate 4 has the following ratio of L to W, V = L / W, that is, this ratio V is In the case of a transparent member 14 positioned perpendicular to the base plate 4, that is, in the direction normal to the base plate 4, 2 to 7, preferably 3.4 to 4.5, In the case of a transparent member 14 that is positioned at an inclination relative to the base plate 4, 4 to 20, preferably 6.6 to 13.5, In this case, the inclination angle of the wall of the housing cap on which the transparent member 14 is located is in the range of 35° to 60° relative to the normal direction of the bottom surface of the bottom plate, preferably in the range of 40° to 50°, and particularly preferably in the range of 43° to 48°.

[0228] In this embodiment, the transparent member 14 can be advantageously attached to the housing cap 3 using a solder alloy A, particularly an AuSn solder, or using a frame R, especially so that the shear rigidity is increased.

[0229] Advantageously, particularly so that the robustness is increased, the housing cap 3 has a section 81 that is arranged particularly in its lower region adjacent to the base plate 4 and is laterally offset outwards.

[0230] Within this section that is laterally offset outwards, the base plate 4 can be made to abut there by utilizing the shape from the inside, at least at its lateral peripheral edge Rs, at least partially or equally completely extending.

Explanation of Reference Signs

[0231] 1 Multi-laser device, particularly an RGB module 2 Housing 3 Housing cap 4 Base plate 5 Pedestal 6 First laser that emits in the red spectral region of the visible spectrum 7 Second laser that emits in the green spectral region of the visible spectrum 8 Third laser that emits in the blue spectral region of the visible spectrum 9 Bottom surface or lower surface of the base plate 4 10 Light-emitting surface of the laser 6 11 Light-emitting surface of the laser 7 12 Light-emitting surface of the laser 8 13 Opening of the housing cap 3 14 Transparent member 15 FAC lens, Fast-Axis-Collimating lens 16 Planar substrate 17 Fiber plate 18 FAC lens, Fast-Axis-Collimating lens 19 Monitor diode 20 Monitor diode 21 Monitor diode Emission surface from the 22 FAC lens Support for the 23 monitor diodes 19, 20, 21 Conductor on the surface of the support 23 Conductor on the surface of the support 23 Inlet end of the 26 fiber 27 27 Fiber 28 Glass melting part 29 Glass melting part Opening of the 30 housing cap 3 Opening of the 31 housing cap 3 Opening of the 32 housing cap 3 Protective device for the glass of the 23 transparent member 14 Section protruding beyond the 25 transparent member 14 in the lateral direction 35 Beam collimator 36 Beam collimator 37 Beam collimator 38 Dichroic beam splitter or beam combiner 39 Dichroic beam splitter or beam combiner 40 Dichroic beam splitter or beam combiner 41 AR glasses 41’ AR glasses 42 Optical unit 43 Projection device 44 Sensor 45 Sensor 46 Sensor 47 Replaceable spectacle lens 48 Processor 49 Wireless transmission module, especially 5G module 50 Rechargeable battery 51 Safety device 52 Optical element produced by thermoforming 53 Optical element produced by thermoforming 54 Optical element produced by thermoforming 55 Ring-shaped flange surrounding the periphery 56 Recess or groove surrounding the periphery in a ring shape 57 Preferably a pre-formed optical element in the form of a spherical lens, especially a biconvex optical element. 58 Pre-formed optical elements, preferably in the form of a spherical lens, particularly biconvex optical elements. 59 Preferably a pre-formed optical element in the form of a spherical lens, particularly a biconvex optical element. 60 Glass solder, solder glass 61 Plano-convex optical elements 62 Plano-convex optical elements 63 Plano-convex optical elements 64. Glass solder, solder glass 65 Optical elements, especially pre-formed and particularly aspherical optical elements 66 Front wall of housing cap 3 67 Area of ​​the base 5 on the side facing the transparent component 14 68 Fibers 69 Fibers 70 An optically detachable connector, in particular an optically detachable plug-in connector 71, which is part of the plug-shaped portion of the optical connector 71. 71 Detachable optical connector 72 A socket-shaped portion of the optical connector 71, which is part of an optically detachable connection, particularly an optically detachable plug-in connection 71. 73 External optical fiber 74 External optical fiber 75 External optical fiber 76 Optional lens device 77 Fiber bundles 78. Outbound end of fiber bundle 79 Scattering elements 80 Fiber 73, 74, 75 mixed light region 81 Section of housing cap 3 shifted outward on the side A. Gold solder, especially AuSn solder As the lateral protrusion of housing cap 3 B. The base plate area where the base plate is fixedly held for load testing. Width of the peripheral layer consisting of Ba gold solder Width of the peripheral layer consisting of Bg glass solder B6 Bonding wire B7 Bonding wire B8 Bonding wire Dt Thickness of the transparent member 14 E6 Concavity on the upper surface of the pedestal 5 for housing the laser 6 by alignment particularly by the coupling using the E6 shape E7 Concavity on the upper surface of the pedestal 5 for housing the laser 7 by alignment particularly by the coupling using the E7 shape E8 Concavity on the upper surface of the pedestal 5 for housing the laser 8 by alignment particularly by the coupling using the E8 shape G Glass solder H Protrusion height on the side of the housing cap 3 Ha Height Ha of the housing 2 with a rectangular cross section depicted in Fig. 18 where the gold solder A is used Hg Height of the housing 2 with a rectangular cross section depicted in Fig. 17 where the glass solder G is used Hs Beam diameter in the Z direction of the light beam bundle emitted from the laser 6, 7 or 8 in each of the individual main emission directions H6, H7 or H8 H6 - H8 Main emission directions of each one of the lasers 6, 7, 8 Kf Force vector of the force to be introduced during the load test L Spacing on the front side of the pedestal 5 in the main emission direction of the laser 6, 7 or 8 relative to the peripheral edge of the bottom plate 4 located in the main emission direction of the laser 6, 7 or 8 N Normal direction of the bottom surface 9 of the bottom plate 4 Nt Normal direction of the surface of the support 23 on which the monitor diodes 19, 20, 21 are arranged Nw Normal direction of the surface of the wall of the housing cap 3 on which the transparent member 14 is arranged OE6 Lowered surface of the concavity E6 OE7 Lowered surface of the concavity E7<​​​​​​​​S Welding line between housing cap 3 and bottom plate 4 St Deposits in a transparent material, exemplified and depicted as dust particles. T Blackening, in particular lacquer or coating such as black chromium or zinc-nickel coating, especially electrolytic coatings. W is the thickness of the base plate, especially extending over a distance L. Wg Housing Cap 3 Material Thickness Z-wires, especially electrical wires leading to lasers Z6 conductor, especially the electrical conductor leading to laser 6 Z7 wire, especially the electrical wire leading to laser 7 Z8 wire, especially the electrical wire leading to laser 8 Wire leading to Z19 monitor diode 19 Z20 Wire leading to monitor diode 20 Z21 Wire leading to monitor diode 21 Ze The row direction of the imaging device to which it was assigned

Claims

1. A multi-laser device, particularly an RGB laser module, comprising a housing with a housing cap and a bottom plate, At least one opening is formed in the housing cap, and the opening has a transparent member disposed in the opening for passing electromagnetic radiation therethrough; a first laser emitting in the visible spectrum, particularly in the red spectral region; a second laser emitting in the visible spectrum, particularly in the green spectral region; a third laser emitting in the visible spectrum, particularly in the blue spectral region; is disposed within the housing, Electrical leads are guided through the housing to the individual lasers; during operation of the laser, a major portion of the emitted light of the laser passes through the transparent member; Each laser is i) On a pedestal, ii) spaced apart from the bottom surface of the bottom plate; iii) the lasers are aligned with each other; the main direction of laser radiation is substantially parallel to the bottom plate of the housing; Multi-laser device.

2. the housing cap includes or is made of metal, the bottom plate includes or is made of metal, and the housing cap is joined to the bottom plate by welding; 2. The multi-laser device according to claim 1.

3. The base is integrally formed with the bottom plate.

3. The multi-laser device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the base plate comprises or consists of a metal, for example, cold-rolled steel CRS1010, and the base comprises or consists of a material different from the base plate, for example, oxygen-free high conductive copper (OFHC); The base is preferably press-fit, soldered or welded to the base plate.

3. The multi-laser device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. A fast-axis collimating lens (FAC lens) is disposed on the base, preferably spaced apart from the end face of the laser.

5. The multi-laser device according to claim 1.

6. the transparent member includes or consists of glass or sapphire; 6. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The transparent member is formed as or includes a fast-axis-collimating lens (FAC lens). A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in particular according to claim 6.

8. The transparent member is formed as or includes a fiber plate.

7. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. The transparent member is held to the housing cap using glass solder or to a frame disposed on the housing cap.

9. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 6, 7 and 8.

10. The transparent member is held to the housing cap using AuSn.

9. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 6, 7 and 8.

11. The transparent member is welded to the housing cap.

9. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 6, 7 and 8.

12. At least the wall of the housing cap on which the transparent member is arranged is inclined with respect to the bottom plate, and the inclination angle of the wall of the housing cap relative to the normal direction of the bottom surface of the bottom plate is in the range of 35° to 60°, preferably 40° to 50°, particularly preferably 43° to 48°.

12. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Preferably, a monitor diode is disposed below the transparent member, and the laser light reflected back from the transparent member is incident on the monitor diode.

13. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. at least a normal to the wall of the housing cap, on which the transparent element is arranged, is inclined relative to a main radiation direction of at least one of the lasers, the inclination being within an angle range of 3° to 15°, preferably 5° to 10°, particularly preferably 6° to 8° relative to the main radiation direction; 3. The multi-laser device according to claim 1 or 2.

15. a monitor diode is arranged behind the laser, in particular on a support associated with the laser; 15. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. the monitor diode is arranged on a support, preferably comprising or consisting of ceramic, the normal to the surface of the support on which the monitor diode is arranged being inclined relative to a main radiation direction of at least one of the lasers, the inclination being within an angle range of 3° to 15°, preferably 5° to 10°, particularly preferably 6° to 8° relative to the main radiation direction; A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, in particular according to claim 15.

17. The housing cap includes a plurality of openings, and one transparent member is assigned to each of the openings, or one transparent member is assigned to all of the openings in common.

17. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. the housing cap includes a plurality of openings, each of which has a transparent member disposed in one of the openings, the openings forming a beam-shaping optical element; The optical element is selected from the group of optical elements including spherical plano-convex or concave-convex lenses, spherical or hemispherical lenses, aspherical plano-convex or concave-convex lenses, 18. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. the light-conducting fiber is preferably connected to the housing, in particular to the housing cap, by means of a fiber connector, in particular a detachably connectable or permanently connectable fiber connector; 18. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

20. each laser is assigned to one light-conducting fiber, the fibers assigned to the lasers are grouped together in a fiber bundle, in which the fibers are preferably arranged closely adjacent to each other by their individual fiber cores, and preferably form a common fiber cladding surrounding the fiber cores; 20. The multi-laser device of claim 19.

21. the multi-laser device includes glass-to-metal feedthroughs for electrical leads to the lasers and / or the monitor diode; 21. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. the monitor diode has a color filter; 19. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 13 to 18.

23. The housing is formed to be liquid-tight and airtight, and preferably, the atmosphere inside the housing contains less than 5000 ppm of HO.

23. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

24. The bottom plate of the housing is configured to conduct current as a reference potential.

24. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

25. The bottom plate is preferably formed as a support for an optical unit, particularly protruding downward from the housing cap.

25. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 24.

26. the inside of the housing cap is formed in a blackened state, in particular in a blackened state with a matte finish, 26. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

27. the housing has a protection device for the glass of the transparent element, the protection device being in particular formed as a section that protrudes beyond the transparent element in the lateral direction, 27. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 26.

28. The housing comprises housing dimensions of a height of 1.0 mm to 3.5 mm and / or a width of 4 mm to 10 mm and / or a length of 4 mm to 10 mm.

28. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 27.

29. the interior of the housing is free of mirrors, in particular free of at least partially reflective mirrors, and / or free of dichroic elements; 29. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 28.

30. A base plate is provided having a ratio V of L to W such that V=L / W: If the transparent member is arranged relatively perpendicular to the base plate, i.e., in the normal direction of the base plate, 2 to 7, preferably 3.4 to 4.5, If the transparent member is disposed at an incline relative to the bottom plate, 4 to 20, preferably 6.6 to 13.5, where L represents the distance of the front surface of the base in the main direction of laser emission relative to the peripheral edge of the base plate located in the main direction of laser emission, W represents the thickness of the base plate, in particular extending over the distance L; 30. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 29.

31. the housing cap has a laterally outwardly offset section, in particular arranged in the lower region of the housing cap and adjacent to the bottom plate, 31. A multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 30.

32. the bottom plate extends at least partially or equally completely into the laterally outwardly offset section at its lateral periphery and abuts against it, preferably from the inside, by a form-locking connection; 32. The multi-laser device of claim 31.

33. A head-mounted display, in particular an AR eyeglass or glasses, The head-mounted display includes the multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 32, and the multi-laser device is disposed in the head-mounted display or is connected to the head-mounted display using an optically conductive fiber. Head-mounted display.

34. A head-up display comprising a multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 32.

35. 35. A motorcycle helmet including the head-up display of claim 34, The multi-laser device is disposed on the motorcycle helmet or is connected to the motorcycle helmet using an optically conductive fiber. Motorcycle helmet.

36. A projector including the multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 32, The multi-laser device is disposed in the projector, or the multi-laser device is connected to the projector using an optically conductive fiber. Projector.

37. A projector for a mobile device including a multi-laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 32, The multi-laser device is disposed in a projector of the mobile device, or the multi-laser device is connected to the projector of the mobile device using an optically conductive fiber. Mobile device projector.

Images