Surface-Emitting Laser Array Thermal Broadening for Fringe Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface emitting laser arrays face challenges in accurately determining object parameters due to interference fringes in sensed light, which are caused by light emitting with a narrow spectral width, leading to artifacts in detection.
Innovation Solution
The use of thermal effects to modify the spectral width of light emitted by the laser array through localized heating of light emitters, either by reflecting light back into the emitters or using heating elements within or around the emitters, thereby increasing the spectral width and reducing interference fringes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light emitters operate at standard temperature, then laser light is emitted with narrow spectral width, but interference fringes appear in sensed light causing detection artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the temperature parameter of the light emitters. Heating elements increase the operating temperature of selected light emitters, which broadens the spectral width of emitted laser light. This spectral broadening reduces interference fringes in the sensed light, thereby improving detection accuracy and eliminating artifacts caused by narrow spectral width.
2Measurement precision
If heating elements are added to light emitters, then spectral width increases and interference fringes reduce, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing heating elements in only a subset of light emitters rather than uniformly across all emitters. The processor selectively activates specific heating elements based on desired spectral characteristics, allowing localized temperature control. This approach achieves spectral width modulation while minimizing overall device complexity by avoiding universal heating infrastructure.
3Measurement precision
If light blocking material is used to reflect light back into emitters, then thermal effects enhance spectral width, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces light blocking material as an intermediary element positioned between light emitters and the external environment. This material reflects a portion of emitted laser light back into the emitter cavity, creating thermal effects that broaden spectral width. The light blocking material acts as a mediator that converts optical energy back into thermal energy within the emitter, achieving spectral enhancement without direct electrical heating.
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 improves the quality of sensed light and reduces processing complexity by minimizing interference fringes, enhancing the accuracy of determining object parameters such as distance, speed, and depth profiles.
Implementation Method 1
a light blocking material positioned on one or more light emitters of the second set of light emitters and be configured to reflect light generated by a respective light emitter of the second set of light emitters back into the surface emitting laser array
Implementation Method 2
a heating element positioned on the third set of layers and configured to increase an operating temperature of a respective emitter of the second set of light emitters
Implementation Method 3
The use of thermal effects to modify the spectral width of light emitted by the laser array through localized heating of light emitters, either by reflecting light back into the emitters or using heating elements within or around the emitters, thereby increasing the spectral width and reducing interference fringes
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to electronic devices that include a surface emitting laser array including a first set of light emitters distributed across the surface emitting laser array and configured to emit laser light into an environment of the electronic device. The laser array can also include a second set of light emitters interspersed with the first set of light emitters, where each light emitter in the second set of light emitters includes a first set of layers defining a first mirror, a second set of layers defining a second mirror, and a third set of layers positioned between the first set of layers and the second set of layers and defining a laser cavity. The surface emitting laser array can include a light blocking material positioned on one or more of the second set of light emitters and configured to cause localized heating of the laser array.