Laser Beam Superposition Assembly for Speckle-Reduced Broad Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optoelectronic assemblies face challenges in generating electromagnetic radiation with increased spectral bandwidth while maintaining high beam quality, often resulting in undesirable interference effects such as speckles and uneven illumination due to the coherence of semiconductor laser components.
Innovation Solution
The optoelectronic assembly employs multiple semiconductor laser components and an optical superpositioning element with anti-reflection layers and dichroic mirrors to superimpose electromagnetic radiation, reducing coherence length and enhancing spectral bandwidth through the use of optical elements that fan out and align beam bundles for coherent superposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If semiconductor laser components are used to generate electromagnetic radiation, then beam intensity and directionality are improved, but spectral bandwidth is limited and coherence causes interference effects
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses multiple semiconductor laser components (at least two) with different main wavelengths instead of a single laser source. Each laser component emits radiation in a different spectral range, and their beams are combined through optical superpositioning to achieve a broader overall spectral bandwidth while maintaining the high beam intensity characteristics of individual laser sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the electromagnetic radiation from multiple semiconductor laser components with different wavelengths into a single superimposed beam. The optical superpositioning element merges these separate beam bundles, creating a composite beam that exhibits both the high intensity of laser radiation and an expanded spectral bandwidth encompassing all individual laser wavelengths.
2Illumination intensity
If semiconductor laser components emit coherent radiation, then beam quality is improved, but interference effects such as speckles and uneven illumination occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the wavelength parameter by using multiple semiconductor laser components with different main wavelengths. This parameter diversity causes the individual beam bundles to have different coherence properties, which when superimposed, reduces the overall coherence length of the combined beam and thereby minimizes interference effects like speckles while preserving beam quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple semiconductor laser components with different wavelengths are combined, then spectral bandwidth is increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an optical superpositioning element as an intermediary component that combines the beams from multiple semiconductor laser components. This element manages the complexity of integrating multiple wavelength sources by providing a structured method for superimposing the beam bundles, thereby achieving expanded spectral bandwidth while controlling the increase in device complexity through a dedicated optical integration mechanism.
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 configuration generates electromagnetic radiation with increased spectral bandwidth and reduced coherence length, minimizing interference effects and achieving high beam quality, suitable for applications in display units and projection systems like smart eyewear and augmented/virtual reality devices.
Implementation Method 1
the optical superpositioning element is configured to superimpose beams entering the optical superpositioning element via the radiation inlet surface
Implementation Method 2
the reflective surfaces may be at least partially formed as dichroic mirrors. Reflective surfaces can further be formed as λ/4-platelets to change a polarization of an incident electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 3
the radiation inlet surface and/or the radiation outlet surface include an anti-reflection layer. An anti-reflection layer can advantageously reduce or avoid an undesired reflection of electromagnetic radiation at the radiation inlet surfaces and the radiation outlet surface
Implementation Method 4
The optical element is formed in particular with a radiation-transmitting material. For example, the optical element serves to change the propagation direction and/or divergence of a beam of radiation passing through the optical element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an optoelectronic assembly including at least two semiconductor laser components, which are designed to emit electromagnetic radiation, and an optical superpositioning element with at least one radiation inlet surface and a radiation outlet surface. Each semiconductor laser component is paired with a respective optical element, and each semiconductor laser component emits an inlet beam bundle or a plurality of spatially separated inlet beam bundles. All of the inlet beam bundles of a semiconductor laser component pass through the respective paired optical element, wherein a plurality of inlet beam bundles emitted by a semiconductor laser component are fanned out relative to each other after passing through the optical element such that the inlet beam bundles enter the optical superpositioning element at different inlet angles. Inlet beam bundles from different semiconductor laser components exit together at the radiation outlet surface of the optical superpositioning element in a plurality of outlet beam bundles.