Spatial Light Modulator Thermal Isolation Between Meta-Pixels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spatial light modulators using active meta-devices experience thermal cross-talk and heat interference between adjacent driving pixels, which affect the efficiency and accuracy of light emission.
Innovation Solution
The spatial light modulator includes a substrate, a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) layer, a cavity layer, and a pixel layer with heat blocking members between pixels, where the DBR and cavity layers are divided to correspond to individual pixels, and a trench is formed to minimize heat transfer, using materials with varying thermal conductivities to block heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the DBR layer and cavity layer are divided to correspond to individual pixels, then thermal cross-talk between adjacent pixels is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional heat blocking members and trenches
Solution Approach 1:
The DBR layer and cavity layer are divided into separate regions corresponding to individual pixels, with heat blocking members and trenches introduced between adjacent pixels. This segmentation isolates the thermal fields of neighboring pixels, preventing heat generated in one pixel from transferring to adjacent pixels, thereby reducing thermal cross-talk while maintaining the reflective and resonant optical functions of each layer.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If heat blocking members are introduced between pixels, then heat interference between adjacent pixels is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to precise positioning needs
Solution Approach 1:
Heat blocking members with specific geometric configurations (such as trenches or low-thermal-conductivity material structures) are selectively positioned between adjacent pixels at locations where thermal isolation is most critical. The heat blocking members are designed with optimized dimensions and material properties to achieve effective thermal isolation while being integrated into the existing layer structure, thereby reducing heat interference without excessively increasing manufacturing precision requirements.
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 design reduces thermal cross-talk and heat interference, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of light emission by maintaining distinct temperature differences between driving and non-driving pixels, thereby improving optical scan output and focus.
Implementation Method 1
a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) layer provided on a surface of the substrate
Implementation Method 2
Both the HCG and DBR have a high reflectivity with respect to incident light
Implementation Method 3
a heat blocking member provided between the plurality of pixels and configured to block heat transfer between the plurality of pixels
Implementation Method 4
vertical incident light may be amplified in the cavity and vertically emitted
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a spatial light modulator includes a substrate; a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) layer provided on a surface of the substrate; a cavity layer provided on the DBR layer; a pixel layer provided on the cavity layer, the pixel layer including a plurality of pixels; and a heat blocking member provided between the plurality of pixels and configured to block heat transfer between the plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes a plurality of active meta-patterns.