Membrane Optical Component for Stray Light Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optoelectronic modules face challenges with light leakage and stray light issues, particularly in miniaturized modules, which affect illumination and sensing accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An optical component with a semiconductor carrier substrate and a thin, integrally formed membrane, featuring passive optical elements, is manufactured using wafer-level processes to minimize stray light entry and exit, and includes a membrane perimeter strip without transparent material to further reduce leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional optoelectronic module design is used, then the module can provide illumination and sensing functions, but light leakage and stray light issues occur that reduce illumination accuracy and sensing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the transparent membrane material from the peripheral regions surrounding the optical cavity, retaining it only where necessary for optical function. This selective removal eliminates light leakage pathways at the periphery while preserving the optical cavity's illumination and sensing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties to different regions: the central optical cavity region maintains a transparent membrane for light transmission, while the peripheral regions use opaque or removed membrane material to block stray light. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between maintaining optical function and preventing light leakage.
2Volume of moving object
If the module is miniaturized to reduce size, then compactness is improved, but light leakage and stray light problems worsen due to reduced space for light management
Solution Approach 1:
By removing transparent membrane material from peripheral regions, the patent creates effective light-blocking structures without adding volume. This extraction approach enables miniaturization while maintaining stray light rejection, as the light management function is achieved through material distribution rather than increased physical dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses light management in the lateral dimensional plane by strategically placing and removing membrane material across the surface, rather than relying solely on vertical depth for light management. This dimensional approach enables effective stray light control in miniaturized structures.
3Length of stationary object
If a thin membrane is used to reduce component thickness, then compactness is improved, but manufacturing precision and control over light leakage become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating membrane transparency across different spatial regions. The selective removal of transparent material from peripheral areas creates inherent stray light control that does not depend on membrane thickness uniformity, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining light leakage control.
4Device complexity
If passive optical elements are used instead of active circuitry, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to dynamically control light manipulation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses passive optical elements with fixed optical parameters (refractive index, geometry) that are optimized during design to provide the required light manipulation. The adaptability is achieved through precise parameter selection rather than dynamic control, maintaining low complexity while providing sufficient functionality for the application.
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 solution results in a compact, efficiently manufactured optical component with reduced stray light, enabling improved illumination and sensing accuracy in miniaturized modules.
Implementation Method 1
the cavity-spanning portion of the membrane being transparent to light in a wavelength range of interest
Data Source
AI summary
An optical component (11) can include a chip comprising a carrier substrate (13) made of a semiconductor material and a membrane (15) disposed on a planar membrane-carrying surface of the carrier substrate (13). The membrane (15) is formed integrally with the carrier substrate (13). A cavity (14) is formed in the carrier substrate (13), the cavity having a first end and a second end. The membrane (15) has a cavity-spanning portion that spans the cavity (14) at its first end. The cavity-spanning portion of the membrane (15) is transparent to light in a desired wavelength range. An optical element (16) for shaping, diffusing, or filtering the light is formed on or in the cavity-spanning portion of the membrane (15). The optical component (11) may be manufactured in a wafer-level process. Also disclosed is an optoelectronic module that includes the optical component (11) together with an optoelectronic device.