Laser Illumination Optics for Wide-Angle Eye-Safe Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser illumination devices have limitations in expanding the beam spread of laser beams, and there are safety concerns when directing laser light towards human eyes, especially in vehicular peripheral monitoring sensors.
Innovation Solution
A laser illumination device comprising a micro-element lens and a lens unit with negative power, such as a meniscus lens, is used to expand the laser beam to a wide angle of 100 degrees or more, ensuring safety by increasing the apparent size of the light source on the retina, thereby reducing the risk of eye damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a laser illumination device is disposed inside a housing to protect it from external impact, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to the need for precise positioning and alignment structures
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a first housing portion and a second housing portion that can be separately assembled. The laser illumination device is mounted on one portion and then the other portion is attached, allowing for easier manufacturing and assembly while maintaining protection and alignment capabilities
2Ease of manufacture
If the laser illumination device is disposed exposed without housing to simplify manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability from external impact
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into separable portions that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. This allows the laser illumination device to be mounted on one portion before attaching the other portion, simplifying the manufacturing process while still providing complete protection when assembled
3Reliability
If monitoring sensors are added to detect external impact on the laser illumination device, then reliability is improved through impact detection, but device complexity increases due to additional sensor components and wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring sensors are integrated with the housing structure itself rather than being separate components. The housing portions include built-in sensor elements that detect impact forces, eliminating the need for additional sensor housings and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable impact detection
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical protection, structural support, and houses the monitoring sensors. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective structures and simplifies the overall device architecture
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 device effectively expands the laser beam to a wider angle, ensuring eye safety by increasing the apparent size of the light source, allowing for accurate detection of obstacles and people while adhering to safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
a laser unit configured to emit laser light
Implementation Method 2
a photodetector array arranged in a first direction and configured to detect the laser light in the first direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A laser illumination device (10) comprises a light source component (11), a micro-element lens (12), and a meniscus lens (13). The light source component (11) emits a laser beam (B1). The micro-element lens (12) spreads out the laser beam (B1). The meniscus lens (13) has an incident face (13a) on which the laser beam (B1) from the micro-element lens (12) is incident, and a light emission face (13b) that is provided on the opposite side from the incident surface (13a) and includes a convex shape, and the meniscus lens (13) has a negative power for spreading out the incident laser beam (B1) from the micro-element lens (12).