Monolithic Holography Optics for Real-Time Phase Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hologram acquisition methods using coherent and incoherent light sources face limitations such as vulnerability to oscillation, difficulty in miniaturization, wavelength dependency, and inability to achieve real-time holography due to mechanical phase shifting techniques.
Innovation Solution
A hologram acquisition device and system utilizing a beam splitter module and optical control module with monolithically combined reflective optical elements and quarter wave plates, enabling oscillation robustness, wavelength independence, and real-time holography through wavefront modulation and phase shifting without mechanical movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laser is used as a coherent light source for hologram acquisition, then interference fringes can be acquired with high quality, but the system becomes expensive, has safety limitations, and is restricted to laboratory environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical complexity of laser-based interferometry with a computational approach using incoherent light sources and digital image processing. Instead of relying on optical interference fringes from coherent light, the system captures multiple images with different exposure times and uses computational algorithms to reconstruct 3D information, thereby eliminating the need for expensive and safety-constrained laser equipment while maintaining measurement capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If self-interference incoherent digital holography (SIDH) is used with natural light sources, then laser safety and cost issues are resolved, but the system becomes vulnerable to oscillation and has difficulty in reducing form factor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capabilities through variable exposure time control and adaptive computational processing. By dynamically adjusting exposure times across multiple captures and using real-time computational algorithms, the system can compensate for oscillations and environmental variations, thereby maintaining reliability while using flexible incoherent light sources.
3Measurement precision
If mechanical phase shifting techniques are used for holography image processing, then phase shifting can be achieved, but real-time holography cannot be accomplished due to mechanical movement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical phase shifting mechanisms with computational phase extraction algorithms. Instead of physically moving optical components to achieve phase shifts, the system captures multiple images with varying exposure times and uses digital signal processing to extract phase information computationally, thereby achieving both accurate phase measurement and real-time processing capability.
4Measurement precision
If geometric phase lens (GP-lens) is used in GP-SIDH method, then wavefront modulation can be achieved, but the system exhibits wavelength dependency and has difficulty in fabrication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter from optical wavefront modulation via geometric phase lenses to temporal exposure variation in computational imaging. By shifting from spatial modulation (wavelength-dependent GP-lens) to temporal modulation (exposure time variation), the system achieves wavefront control without wavelength dependency and with much simpler fabrication 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
The system achieves robustness to oscillations, independence from wavelength, and real-time hologram acquisition with enhanced design freedom and simplified, miniaturized optical systems.
Implementation Method 1
a beam splitter module for splitting a light emitted from an object into a first beam and a second beam which have polarizations in different states
Implementation Method 2
a first reflective optical element, which is disposed at one side of the beam splitter module and receives and emits the first beam to the beam splitter module, and a second reflective optical element which is placed at the other side of the beam splitter module, receives the second beam and emits the second beam to the beam splitter module so as to have differences of optical path and wavefront from the first beam
Implementation Method 3
the beam splitter module, the first reflective optical element and the second reflective optical element are monolithically installed by being fixed to each other
Implementation Method 4
hologram acquisition device... capable of capturing an interference fringe formed by interference of light beams
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein a device acquiring holography and system including the same. The device includes: a beam splitter module splitting a light emitted from an object into a first beam and a second beam which have polarizations in different states; and an optical control module equipped with a first reflective optical element, which is disposed at one side of the beam splitter module and receives and emits the first beam to the beam splitter module, and a second reflective optical element which is placed at the other side of the beam splitter module, receives the second beam and emits the second beam to the beam splitter module so as to have differences of optical path and wavefront from the first beam. The beam splitter module, the first reflective optical element and the second reflective optical element are monolithically installed by being fixed to each other.