Compact Laser Light Source With Overlapping Stems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light source devices are large in size and do not meet the growing demand for smaller, more compact solutions.
Innovation Solution
A light source device comprising a combination of semiconductor laser devices, collimator lenses, and a condenser lens, where the semiconductor laser devices are arranged in a staggered manner with overlapping stems and caps to create a compact design, allowing for the emission of approximately parallel light beams that are then condensed, resulting in a small-sized device with improved beam quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional light source devices are used, then beam quality can be maintained, but the device size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional change by arranging laser devices in three-dimensional space with overlapping stems and caps in different directions. The stems are seemingly continuous in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis, while overlapping in a second direction also perpendicular to the optical axis but perpendicular to the first direction. This spatial arrangement reduces the device volume while maintaining beam quality through proper optical alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by having the caps of adjacent semiconductor laser devices overlap with each other, creating a compact nested structure. The I-shaped packages are arranged so that caps nest within the spatial envelope of adjacent devices, significantly reducing the overall device footprint while maintaining functional separation of each laser element.
2Volume of moving object
If semiconductor laser devices are arranged closely to reduce size, then device volume decreases, but aberration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning specific functional roles to different parts of the laser device arrangement. Collimator lenses are positioned to convert light beams from specific laser devices into parallel beam fluxes, while the condenser lens is positioned to condense these parallel fluxes. This localized functional assignment ensures that each component optimally addresses aberration for its specific region, maintaining beam quality despite close spacing.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact design is implemented, then device size is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the light source device into modular components: multiple semiconductor laser devices with I-shaped packages, collimator lenses, and a condenser lens. Each laser device is a self-contained unit with stem and cap segments that can be independently positioned. This modular segmentation simplifies manufacturing and assembly of the compact arrangement compared to integrated designs.
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 compact design enables the production of a smaller light source device at a lower cost, reducing aberration and achieving high-quality beam spots with single-peaked or top hat intensity distributions, preventing unintended irradiation and enhancing beam quality.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of collimator lenses arranged respectively corresponding to the plurality of the semiconductor laser devices of the light source main unit and respectively capable of converting light beams emitted from the respective semiconductor laser devices of the light source main unit into approximately parallel light beam fluxes
Implementation Method 2
a condenser lens capable of condensing light beam fluxes emitted by the plurality of collimator lenses
Data Source
AI summary
A light source device includes a light source main unit made of a combination of a plurality of semiconductor laser devices, a plurality of collimator lens respectively capable of converting light beams emitted by the respective semiconductor laser devices of the light source main unit to respective approximately parallel light beam fluxes, and a condenser lens capable of condensing light beam fluxes emitted by the plurality of collimator lenses. The light source main unit has the plurality of semiconductor laser devices arranged, when viewed from the condenser lens, so that the stems of the adjacent semiconductor laser devices are seemingly continuous in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the condenser lens, and the stems of the adjacent semiconductor laser devices are overlapped in a second direction perpendicular to both the direction of optical axis and the first direction.