Compact Beam Shaping and Steering Assembly for Waveguide Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently coupling a laser or LED output beam to precision optical components in hi-tech systems, particularly due to mismatched spatial mode profiles and sensitivity to environmental factors like vibrations and temperature variations.
Innovation Solution
A compact beam-shaping and steering assembly that includes three optical components: one to transform the input beam's transverse shape, another to rotate the beam about its optical axis, and a third to adjust the beam's position or directional angle at a target location, thereby improving the match between the beam and the receiving optical component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a laser or LED output beam is directly coupled to precision optical components, then the system structure is simple, but the spatial mode profile mismatch reduces coupling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The beam shaping and steering assembly is divided into three separate optical components: a beam shaper to transform transverse beam shape, a beam rotator to rotate the beam about the optical axis, and a beam steerer to adjust position and directional angle. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function independently, improving overall coupling efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment is used to couple the beam, then the device complexity is low, but the alignment precision and stability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The beam steerer component is designed with adjustable parameters that can be dynamically modified to compensate for environmental factors such as vibrations and temperature variations. This dynamic adjustment capability maintains precise beam alignment without requiring complex automated alignment systems, achieving high alignment precision through flexible mechanical design rather than complex control systems.
3Reliability
If environmental factors like vibrations and temperature variations are not compensated, then the system is stable and simple, but the coupling precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The beam steerer allows for dynamic changes in beam position and directional angle parameters to compensate for environmental disturbances. By continuously adjusting these parameters in response to vibrations and temperature variations, the system maintains stable coupling precision without requiring complex active compensation mechanisms, achieving reliability through parameter flexibility rather than complex control architecture.
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
The assembly effectively couples the output beam to the hi-tech system with improved precision and stability, reducing the impact of environmental factors and ensuring efficient power coupling across multiple waveguides.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical component arranged to transform a first transverse beam shape of an input beam into a second transverse beam shape of a second beam
Implementation Method 2
a second optical component arranged to rotate the second transverse beam shape about an optical axis of the second beam
Implementation Method 3
a third optical component arranged to adjust one of: a first position or a first directional angle of an output beam at a target location
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for coupling an optical beam from an optical source to a hi-tech system are described. A compact, low-cost beam-shaping and steering assembly may be located between the optical source and hi-tech system and provide automated adjustments to beam parameters such as beam position, beam rotation, and beam incident angles. The beam-shaping and steering assembly may be used to couple an elongated beam to a plurality of optical waveguides.