Integrated Photonic Circuit for Lensless Imaging and Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging and projection systems in mobile devices and AR/VR systems are hindered by the inclusion of lenses or curved mirrors, which increase size, weight, and power consumption, leading to decreased battery life and user comfort.
Innovation Solution
An integrated photonic circuit with a planar mounting substrate that includes input couplers, waveguides, optical phase shifters, and detectors, allowing for lensless imaging and projection by aligning optical components on a single plane, reducing the device thickness to less than 0.5 mm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If lenses or curved mirrors are used to focus light in imaging and projection systems, then image quality and focusing capability are improved, but device size, weight, and thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the lens component from the traditional optical system. Instead of using a lens to focus light, the system employs an integrated photonic circuit with waveguides and phase shifters that are directly coupled to the sensor, eliminating the need for a separate lens element and reducing device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the optical focusing function with the photonic circuit components. The waveguides and phase shifters are integrated directly onto the sensor substrate, combining what were previously separate components (lens and sensor) into a unified structure that achieves focusing without requiring additional thickness.
2Measurement precision
If lenses are included in imaging systems, then focusing capability is improved, but device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is extracted and removed from the system. The focusing capability is achieved instead through the phase shifter elements that modulate the phase of light waves directly at the sensor plane, eliminating the weight of the lens component.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical lens system is replaced with an optical phase modulation system. Instead of using a physical lens to refract and focus light, the patent uses phase shifters that electronically control the phase of light waves, substituting a mechanical optical system with a controllable optical field system.
3Measurement precision
If conventional lenses are used in projection systems, then image projection quality is improved, but device size and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The projection optics are merged with the light source and control electronics into a single integrated photonic circuit. The waveguides and phase shifters are fabricated on the same substrate as the light-emitting elements, eliminating the need for separate projection lenses and reducing overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional optical path requiring spaced components to a two-dimensional planar integration where light propagation occurs primarily within the plane of the photonic circuit. This dimensional change allows for compact packaging while maintaining projection functionality.
4Measurement precision
If lenses are included in imaging systems, then focusing is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The passive optical lens is replaced with an active phase modulation system that uses minimal power. The phase shifters can be controlled electronically with low power consumption, and the system can dynamically adjust focusing without the power-intensive mechanisms required by traditional lens systems.
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
Enables compact, high-performance imaging and projection devices suitable for mobile devices and AR/VR systems, with reduced size, weight, and power consumption, enhancing user comfort and battery life.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of first optical phase shifter elements shift the phase of the light to produce phase shifted light; wherein the phase shift compensates for the variation in optical path length from a point on the object or the scene to the plurality of the first couplers and through the first waveguides
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of input waveguides receives the incident light, wherein each of the plurality of the first couplers guide the light into one of the plurality of input waveguides
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of detectors captures the focused light to form an image
Data Source
AI summary
Device and methods for imaging and projecting scenes or objects are disclosed that incorporate photonic components. The devices include couplers and phase shifter elements and optical processing modules. Certain devices may be substantially planer and incorporated into various mobile system. Certain devices and method may be lensless or lack an operatively connected lens.