Optical Coupler Reflective Curved Surface Uniform Light Incidence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Juxtaposed type optical couplers face challenges in achieving high photoelectromotive force and photocurrent due to variations in light reception and manufacturing costs, as they require precise control of the transparent resin's surface shape to optimize light distribution, which is costly and difficult to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A juxtaposed type optical coupler design featuring a light reflective curved surface covering the conversion elements, with light receiving cells arranged in series and parallel, ensuring uniform light incidence on cells despite variations in distance and shape, and using a control circuit for MOSFETs to enhance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a juxtaposed type optical coupler uses a transparent resin to cover the light emitting element and light receiving element, then the manufacturing cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the optical coupling efficiency decreases due to leakage or absorption of the optical signal on the interface
Solution Approach 1:
A light reflective curved surface is introduced as an intermediary between the transparent resin and the external environment. This curved surface acts as a mediator that reflects leaked optical signals back toward the light receiving element, thereby reducing optical signal loss while maintaining the simple juxtaposed structure and low manufacturing cost of the transparent resin packaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The light reflective curved surface is formed with a specific curvature (spheroidal or similar shape) on the top surface of the transparent resin. This curvature is designed to reflect optical signals that would otherwise leak away at the resin interface back toward the light receiving element, improving optical coupling efficiency without complicating the manufacturing process.
2Manufacturing precision
If the light receiving cells are arranged in a matrix form with equal areas, then the manufacturing precision is simplified, but the uniformity of light reception across cells deteriorates due to distance variations from the light emitting element
Solution Approach 1:
The light reflective curved surface provides non-uniform light distribution that compensates for the position-dependent light intensity variations. Cells farther from the light emitting element receive more reflected light, while closer cells receive less, thereby achieving uniform light reception across all cells without requiring complex area adjustments or high manufacturing precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the surface shape of the transparent resin is precisely controlled to optimize light distribution, then the uniformity of light reception is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of precisely controlling the entire surface shape of the transparent resin, only a light reflective curved surface is formed on the top surface with a specific curvature. This simplified approach achieves uniform light distribution across light receiving cells while avoiding the complex and costly precise control of the entire resin surface shape.
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 stabilizes electromotive force and output current, increasing photocurrent and reducing manufacturing costs by ensuring uniform light distribution and efficient optical coupling, while allowing for simpler wiring and reduced size of MOS drivers and semiconductor relays.
Implementation Method 1
An input electrical signal is converted by the light emitting element 14 into an optical signal
Implementation Method 2
the optical signal is converted by the light receiving element 15 into an output electrical signal
Implementation Method 3
an optical signal emitted from the first conversion element is reflected on the light reflective curved surface
Data Source
AI summary
An optical coupler has a first terminal board and a second terminal board, a first conversion element for converting an electrical signal into an optical signal mounted on a surface of a first element mounting section of the first terminal board, a second conversion element for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal mounted on a surface of a second element mounting section of the second terminal board; and a light reflective curved surface formed so as to cover the first conversion element and the second conversion element. The surfaces of the first element mounting section and the second element mounting section have the same orientation. An optical signal emitted from the first conversion element is reflected on the light reflective curved surface, to optically couple the first conversion element and the second conversion element. The second conversion element has a plurality of light receiving cells that are electrically connected in series, arrayed in parallel with one another, and longer in a longitudinal direction than in a width direction. The first conversion element is arranged inside an area sandwiched between two contact lines that are set so as to be in contact with an outline of the second conversion element, and are in parallel with a length direction of the light receiving cells.