Metasurface Beam Shaper Design via Iterative Phase Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional beam shapers using multiple lenses are bulky, difficult to fabricate, and have poor shaping performances due to smooth light intensity distribution edges and potential local optimum issues in simulation-based designs.
Innovation Solution
A method for designing a metasurface that iteratively optimizes the diffraction phase distribution based on incident and outgoing beam parameters, using a combination of initial phase distribution calculation and simulation to achieve a target phase distribution for effective beam shaping, resulting in a miniaturized, easy-to-fabricate beam shaper with improved light intensity distribution uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional lens-based beam shapers are used, then beam shaping function is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and occupies large space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical lens assembly with a metasurface-based optical system. The metasurface uses sub-wavelength nanostructures to achieve beam shaping through phase modulation, eliminating the need for multiple spherical and aspherical lenses. This substitution dramatically reduces the device volume while maintaining the beam shaping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from three-dimensional lens structures to a two-dimensional metasurface architecture. By encoding the beam shaping function in the spatial distribution of nanostructures on a planar surface, the system achieves complex optical functionality with minimal thickness and volume, resolving the space occupation issue.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional spherical and aspherical lenses are used, then beam shaping is achieved, but fabrication becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous lens surface into discrete sub-wavelength nanostructures arranged in a grid pattern. Each nanostructure acts as an independent phase modulation element, allowing the beam shaping function to be achieved through the collective effect of many simple, identical units rather than requiring precise fabrication of complex continuous surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fabrication parameters from macro-scale lens surface shaping to nano-scale structure dimensions. By controlling the size, shape, and distribution of sub-wavelength nanostructures, the optical phase response is tuned to achieve the desired beam shaping, which is more compatible with standard semiconductor fabrication processes.
3Reliability
If simulation-based optimization is used for metasurface design, then beam shaping performance improves, but design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analytical calculations to determine the initial phase distribution required for the desired beam shaping before entering the optimization stage. This preliminary design provides a physically meaningful starting point for simulation-based optimization, reducing the search space and guiding the optimization algorithm toward the global optimum more efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an iterative optimization process where the simulation results feed back into the design parameters. The optimization algorithm adjusts the nanostructure distribution based on the difference between the simulated beam profile and the target profile, continuously improving the beam shaping performance through feedback-driven refinement.
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 method enables the design of a compact, high-performance beam shaper with steep light intensity distribution edges and improved uniformity, overcoming the limitations of traditional lens-based systems by using a metasurface that effectively modulates beams into desired shapes like flat-top beams from Gaussian beams.
Implementation Method 1
determining an initial value of a diffraction phase distribution; the diffraction phase distribution represents a phase distribution configured to modulate the incident beam to the outgoing beam
Data Source
AI summary
A method of designing a metasurface, a beam shaper, a device and electronic equipment are provided. The method of designing the metasurface includes: determining a type of an incident beam and parameters of the incident beam; determining a type of an outgoing beam and a parameter of the outgoing beam; based on the parameters of the incident beam and the parameter of the outgoing beam, determining an initial value of a diffraction phase distribution; the diffraction phase distribution represents a phase distribution configured to modulate the incident beam to the outgoing beam; based on the type of the incident beam and the type of the outgoing beam, iteratively optimizing the diffraction phase distribution to obtain an optimized diffraction phase distribution; generating a target phase distribution according to the optimized diffraction phase distribution; and generating the metasurface according to the target phase distribution.