Folded Optical Paths with Metasurfaces for Compact Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical systems face challenges in reducing physical length while maintaining or extending the optical path length, limiting their compactness and efficiency in applications where space is constrained.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating one or more optical metasurfaces into a folded optical path, which can reflect light at different angles, change polarization, and selectively transmit or reflect light based on polarization, allowing for a more compact design and efficient light manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If conventional optical systems use straight optical paths, then the physical length of the device must be greater than the optical path length, but this increases device size and reduces compactness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical path lengthVSAvoiddevice physical length

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies folded optics to bend the optical path in multiple dimensions, transforming a linear optical path into a multi-segment path that traverses vertical and lateral spaces. This allows the optical path to extend beyond the simple linear distance between components, achieving longer optical paths within compact device footprints by utilizing three-dimensional space efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional optical systems extend the optical path length to improve light manipulation, then the device physical size must increase, but this reduces compactness and increases complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight manipulation capabilityVSAvoidoptical system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple optical functions into integrated folded optical paths where mirrors, beam splitters, and optical components are arranged in compact configurations. By merging these functions into a unified folded path design, the system achieves sophisticated light manipulation capabilities without proportionally increasing device complexity or size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The folded optical path utilizes vertical and lateral dimensions to create extended light paths within compact volumes. This dimensional approach allows complex light manipulation sequences to occur in three-dimensional space rather than requiring linear extension, thereby improving light manipulation capability without linearly increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 use of metasurfaces in a folded optical path enables reduced device height, increased total track length, and improved light manipulation, facilitating compact and efficient optical systems suitable for various applications, including structured light and imaging.

Implementation Method 1

a folded optical path including a plurality of optically reflective surfaces at least one of which includes an optical metasurface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMetasurface reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the optical metasurface is configured to be selectively transmissive with respect to light having a particular polarization, and selectively reflective with respect to light having a different polarization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolarization-dependent selective transmission and reflection: Polarisation