Optical System Using Deflector and Grating Couplers for RGB Path Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In optical systems, RGB lights with different wavelengths experience varying diffractive angles and optical paths when coupled into a light-guide lens, leading to imaging issues, and existing solutions with multiple high refractive index glasses increase device thickness and cost.
Innovation Solution
An optical system comprising a projector, deflector, polarizer, and grating couplers, where the deflector adjusts incident angles and focuses beams onto a single grating coupler structure within the light-guide lens, using meta-grating or dichroic filter structures to ensure RGB beams travel the same optical path, reducing device thickness and enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple high refractive index glasses are used to guide different wavelengths, then imaging quality is improved, but device thickness and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple wavelength-guiding functions into a single light-guide lens by using wavelength-specific grating coupler structures. Instead of using multiple separate high refractive index glasses for different wavelengths (RGB), the invention integrates all wavelength guidance functions into one lens with multiple specialized grating structures, thereby reducing device thickness while maintaining imaging quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different grating coupler structures at different locations within the light-guide lens. Each grating structure is specifically designed for a particular wavelength range (e.g., blue, green, red), allowing each region of the lens to optimize guidance for its designated wavelength while maintaining overall compactness.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple high refractive index glasses are used to guide different wavelengths, then imaging quality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces manufacturing cost by merging multiple wavelength-specific optical elements into a single light-guide lens. Instead of manufacturing and assembling multiple separate high refractive index glasses for different wavelengths, the invention creates one integrated lens with multiple grating structures, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing material costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-guide lens serves multiple functions simultaneously by incorporating different grating coupler structures for guiding various wavelengths (RGB). This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated glasses for each wavelength, thereby reducing the total number of components and associated manufacturing costs.
3Productivity
If grating couplers are used to couple colored light into light-guide lens, then light transmission is achieved, but different wavelengths experience different diffractive angles causing imaging problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent solves the diffractive angle problem by implementing wavelength-specific grating coupler structures at different locations within the light-guide lens. Each grating structure is locally optimized for its designated wavelength, ensuring that RGB lights are coupled efficiently while maintaining consistent optical paths for accurate imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the diffractive angle issue by changing the parameters of the grating structures to be wavelength-specific. By adjusting the grating period, orientation, and other parameters for each wavelength range, the system achieves efficient light coupling while compensating for wavelength-dependent diffraction effects, thereby maintaining imaging accuracy.
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 effectively aligns RGB beams within the light-guide lens, improving image transmission and reducing the optical device's thickness and manufacturing costs, suitable for applications like smart glasses in augmented and virtual reality.
Implementation Method 1
the deflector is disposed below the projector and is configured to change incident angles of the three beams and to focus the three beams at the same region of the first grating coupler structure
Implementation Method 2
the first grating coupler structure is below the deflector and is configured to couple the three beams into a light-guide lens such that the three beams travel the same optical path within the light-guide lens
Implementation Method 3
The polarizer is disposed between the projector and the deflector. The polarizer is configured to filter out transverse electric (TE) modes or transverse magnetic (TM) modes of the three beams
Implementation Method 4
The light-guide lens is connected to the first grating coupler structure and is configured to transmit the three beams
Data Source
AI summary
The optical system includes a projector, a deflector, a polarizer, a first grating coupler structure, and a second grating coupler structure. The projector emits three beams having different wavelengths. The deflector is disposed below the projector and is configured to change incident angles of the three beams and to focus the three beams at the same region of the first grating coupler structure. The first grating coupler structure is below the deflector and is configured to couple the three beams into a light-guide lens such that the three beams travel the same optical path within the light-guide lens. The light-guide lens is connected to the first grating coupler structure and is configured to transmit the three beams. The polarizer is disposed between the projector and the deflector and is configured to filter out transverse electric (TE) modes or transverse magnetic (TM) modes of the three beams.