Heterogeneous Beam Splitter for Laser Projector Color Range
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser projectors face challenges in achieving a wide range of colors due to difficulties in achieving specific power ratios between red, green, and blue laser light, leading to inefficient use of laser diodes and limited color range in wearable heads-up displays, which are also bulky and aesthetically unappealing.
Innovation Solution
A heterogeneous beam splitter system is used to combine laser light from red, green, and blue laser diodes, splitting each beam into portions to create an aggregate beam with a white point color at maximum power, allowing each diode to be modulated from 0% to 100% of its output power, thereby maintaining a larger range of colors and minimizing bulk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional laser projectors combine red, green, and blue laser beams with fixed power ratios, then the system structure is simple, but the color range is limited and laser diodes are used inefficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments each laser beam (red, green, blue) into multiple portions using beam splitters. Each beam is divided into a first portion that is combined with other beams to form the aggregate beam, and a second portion that is excluded or routed separately. This segmentation allows independent control of power ratios for each color component, enabling a wide color range while maintaining efficient use of laser diodes across their full output power range (0% to 100%).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of beam combining by using controllable beam splitters that can adjust the proportion of first and second portions from each laser beam. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to vary power ratios between red, green, and blue components in real-time, achieving a broad color gamut while optimizing laser diode efficiency under different operating conditions.
2Illumination intensity
If wearable heads-up displays use conventional display components, then the display functionality is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and aesthetically unappealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple laser beams (red, green, blue) into a single aggregate beam through a compact beam combining system. By combining the optical paths and using precise beam splitting and recombination techniques, the system achieves high-quality full-color display output in a minimized volume, suitable for wearable heads-up displays while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested optical configuration where beam splitters and optical components are arranged in a compact, space-efficient manner. The first portions of multiple laser beams are nested within the same optical path to form the aggregate beam, while second portions are routed through integrated pathways, minimizing the overall device volume while preserving display quality.
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 approach enables the production of a wider range of colors while optimizing the use of laser diodes, reducing the bulk of wearable heads-up displays and enhancing their aesthetic appeal by allowing each diode to operate efficiently across its full power range.
Implementation Method 1
a heterogeneous beam splitter system comprising a plurality of beam splitters to combine respective first portions of the laser light in the first waveband, the laser light in the second waveband, and the laser light in the third waveband into an aggregate beam
Implementation Method 2
a heterogeneous beam splitter system comprising a plurality of beam splitters to combine respective first portions of the laser light in the first waveband, the laser light in the second waveband, and the laser light in the third waveband
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods for beam combining within laser projectors are described. A laser projector includes first, second, and third laser diodes to generate red, green, and blue laser light respectively, a controllable scan mirror, and a heterogeneous beam splitter system. The red, green, and blue laser light have distinct maximum powers. The heterogeneous beam splitter system splits at least one of the red, green, and blue laser light and combines respective first portions of all three into an aggregate beam. Second portions of laser light are excluded from the aggregate beam. At the maximum power of each laser light the aggregate beam is white as defined by a target white point. The heterogeneous beam splitter system directs the aggregate beam towards the controllable scan mirror which scans the beam onto a projection surface. Decreasing the power of the laser light post-generation provides a larger range of aggregate beam colors.