Aspherical Lens Configuration for LED Fiber Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber-optic devices face inefficiencies and high technical complexity when coupling LED light sources into optical waveguides, particularly due to conflicting optical boundary conditions between the LED light source and the fiber-optic waveguide, leading to light losses and undesirable optical effects, and are often limited to specific types of LED light sources.
Innovation Solution
A fiber-optic device utilizing a lens configuration with at least two aspherical lenses, where the output lens has a larger diameter than the input lens, and an imaging ratio between 1:2.4 and 1:2.2, optimized to couple LED light efficiently into the waveguide without specific adaptation to the LED type, using a configuration that includes an input lens for each semiconductor surface and an additional optical element with negative focal length to ensure homogeneous light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a large light-generating semiconductor surface is used to increase light power, then the light intensity increases, but the coupling efficiency into the optical waveguide decreases due to exceeding the solid angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into multiple lenses with different functions: input lenses close to the LED semiconductor surface for light collection, and output lenses at the waveguide interface for coupling optimization. This segmentation allows each lens to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between collecting light from a large surface area and coupling it efficiently into the waveguide.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical system consisting of multiple lenses that mediate between the LED light source and the optical waveguide. This intermediary system transforms the light distribution from the large semiconductor surface into a form suitable for waveguide coupling, eliminating the direct contradiction between surface size and coupling efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If the light-generating surface is made small to optimize waveguide coupling, then coupling efficiency improves, but the light power decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-plane optical interface to a multi-dimensional optical path with multiple lenses at different positions. The input lenses are positioned close to the semiconductor surface while output lenses are positioned at the waveguide interface, creating a spatial dimension that allows both large light collection area and efficient coupling to be achieved simultaneously.
3Device complexity
If a single lens is used to simplify the optical system, then device complexity decreases, but the ability to handle different LED types and optimize coupling is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the optical system with multiple lenses that can be configured to work with different LED types (different semiconductor surface sizes, positions, and light distribution patterns). The system is universally applicable to various LED configurations while maintaining optimized coupling efficiency, achieving both simplicity through modular design and versatility through configurable lens arrangements.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional coupling methods are used, then the system is simple to implement, but light losses occur and desirable optical effects are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes specific parameters of the optical system including lens positions, focal lengths, and distances between components to minimize light losses. By carefully controlling parameters such as the distance between the semiconductor surface and input lenses, and the imaging ratio between input and output lenses, the system achieves high coupling efficiency while maintaining practical implementability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables efficient coupling of LED light into fiber-optic waveguides with reduced losses and avoids undesirable optical effects, allowing for the use of various LED types and improving energy efficiency and system longevity, while maintaining optimal light quality over long distances.
Implementation Method 1
a lens configuration having optical lenses associated directly with one another for imaging the light from the LED light source onto the entrance surface
Implementation Method 2
fiber-optic optical waveguide including a multiplicity of individual optical fibers combined at one end to form a light-receiving entrance surface
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber-optic device includes at least one LED light source having at least one light-emitting semiconductor surface, a fiber-optic optical waveguide having a multiplicity of individual optical fibers combined at one end to form a light-receiving entrance surface, and a lens configuration having optical lenses associated directly with one another, for imaging the light from the LED light source onto the entrance surface. In order to optimize the coupling of LED light into an optical waveguide with regard to technical complexity, efficiency and economic costs, to make the light from different types of LED light sources usable in an identical manner and to avoid undesirable optical effects during the transmission of light, the lens configuration includes at least two aspherical lenses, with at least one input lens and one output lens having an increased diameter relative thereto, and an input lens is associated with each light-emitting semiconductor surface.