Light Source Module with Concentrator for Optical Fiber Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light sources fail to achieve satisfactory light-extraction efficiency and optical-coupling efficiency due to the large cross-sectional area of the light beam emitted by LEDs being greater than the light incident surface of optical fibers, limited by the tolerable divergence angle of the optical fiber.
Innovation Solution
A light source module with a plurality of light sources surrounding an axis, emitting beams that are reflected by a curvy reflective surface concentrator to the light incident surface of the optical fiber, allowing for efficient concentration and reflection of light beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If conventional light sources are used, then the light beam can be emitted with a large cross-sectional area, but the optical-coupling efficiency to the optical fiber deteriorates due to the mismatch with the small light incident surface
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the single large-area light beam from the LED into multiple smaller light beams by using a lens array with multiple lens elements. Each lens element focuses light from a different region of the LED chip, creating multiple focused spots on the optical fiber face. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by transforming one large beam that cannot couple efficiently into multiple smaller beams that can be effectively coupled to the optical fiber's small incident surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point coupling approach to a multi-point coupling approach by arranging multiple lens elements in an array. This dimensional change in the optical coupling structure allows light from different spatial regions of the LED to be simultaneously coupled to different locations on the optical fiber face, increasing the overall coupling efficiency while maintaining the benefit of large-area light emission from the LED.
2Reliability
If the light beam cross-sectional area is reduced to match the optical fiber incident surface, then the optical-coupling efficiency improves, but the light-extraction efficiency deteriorates due to the tolerable divergence angle limitation
Solution Approach 1:
The lens array segments the light extraction process into multiple independent focusing channels. Each lens element extracts light from a specific region of the LED chip and focuses it to a corresponding spot on the optical fiber. This segmentation allows the system to maintain large light extraction area (improving light-extraction efficiency) while simultaneously achieving small spot sizes at the fiber face (improving optical-coupling efficiency), resolving the contradiction between these two efficiency parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the spatial distribution parameter of the light beams by using the lens array to create multiple focused spots with specific intensity distributions on the optical fiber face. This parameter change in the light field configuration allows the system to overcome the tolerable divergence angle limitation by delivering concentrated light spots that fall within the fiber's acceptance cone, thereby improving optical-coupling efficiency without sacrificing light-extraction efficiency.
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 increases light-extraction efficiency and optical-coupling efficiency by effectively concentrating high-power light sources onto the optical fiber, reducing light loss.
Implementation Method 1
The concentrator is disposed at the axis and includes a curvy reflective surface located on the transmitting paths for reflecting the beams to the light incident surface of the optical fiber
Data Source
AI summary
A light source module optically coupled to an optical fiber which has a light incident surface is provided. The light source module includes a plurality of light sources and a concentrator. The light sources surround an axis, and the axis passes through a center of the light incident surface and is perpendicular to the light incident surface. Each of the light sources is capable of emitting a beam along a transmitting path toward the axis. The concentrator is disposed at the axis and includes a curvy reflective surface located on the transmitting paths for reflecting the beams to the light incident surface of the optical fiber.