Folded Mirror Light Source for Compact AR Glasses Beam Collimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optoelectronic light sources for augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) systems face challenges in achieving compact size, high display luminance, and efficient beam combination due to the use of expensive and large refractive optical elements, which also introduce chromatic aberration and alignment issues.

Innovation Solution

A folded mirror configuration is employed to combine both fast and slow axis collimation into a single optic, using reflective surfaces fabricated by precision stamping, reducing package size and eliminating chromatic aberration, while allowing for high precision and lower fabrication costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If refractive optical elements are used for collimation and beam combination, then beam collimation and combination can be achieved, but the device size increases and chromatic aberration is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam collimation qualityVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces refractive optical elements with reflective optical elements (mirrors). Specifically, a first mirror performs fast-axis collimation and a second mirror performs slow-axis collimation and beam combination. Reflective optics eliminate chromatic aberration and allow for more compact design compared to refractive optics, directly resolving the contradiction between optical performance and device size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple optical functions into fewer optical elements. The second mirror simultaneously performs slow-axis collimation and beam combination functions, while the first mirror handles fast-axis collimation. This merging of functions reduces the total number of optical elements and overall device volume while maintaining collimation quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple separate optical elements are used for fast-axis and slow-axis collimation, then proper collimation can be achieved, but the device complexity and alignment difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollimation precisionVSAvoidnumber of optical elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the slow-axis collimation and beam combination functions into a single second mirror. This reduces the total number of optical elements from three (separate fast-axis mirror, slow-axis mirror, and beam combiner) to two, simplifying the device while maintaining collimation precision through the reflective optical design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If refractive beam combination optics are used, then beam combination can be achieved, but chromatic aberration and fabrication cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam combination qualityVSAvoidfabrication cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces refractive beam combination optics with reflective optics. The second mirror is configured to combine beams from multiple laser diodes (red, green, blue) without introducing chromatic aberration. Reflective surfaces can be fabricated using precision stamping or other cost-effective methods, eliminating the need for expensive multi-element refractive beam combiners and reducing both fabrication cost and chromatic aberration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution achieves compact, high-power, and cost-effective beam combination with reduced alignment efforts, enabling efficient collimation and circularization of laser beams for AR/VR applications.

Implementation Method 1

the redirecting optical element comprises a first primary reflection zone and a first secondary reflection zone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS20260066611A1Optoelectronic light source and data glasses

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 AMS OSRAM INT GMBH

AI summary

In one embodiment, the optoelectronic light source includes a first semiconductor laser configured to emit a first laser beam, and a redirecting optical element, wherein the first laser beam runs from the first semiconductor laser to a first primary reflection zone and further directly from the first primary reflection zone to a first secondary reflection zone of the redirecting optical element, directly after the first semiconductor laser, the first laser beam has an asymmetric beam cross-section, the redirecting optical element reduces an asymmetry of the beam cross-section of the first laser beam, and with a tolerance of at most 45°, directly after the first semiconductor laser the first laser beam (L1) may run antiparallel relative to the first laser beam directly after the first secondary reflection zone.