Optical Device Microstructured Alignment Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical devices, such as MPLC, require precise positioning and orientation of optical parts to ensure accurate transformation of light radiation, which is challenging due to tight manufacturing tolerances and the need for multiple reflections, leading to potential deviations in assembly and operational alignment.
Innovation Solution
The optical device incorporates a positioning mechanism using a second microstructured zone on the optical element to back-propagate positioning radiation, allowing for precise adjustment and alignment by measuring the power of the back-propagated signal, ensuring accurate positioning and orientation of optical parts during assembly and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical parts are positioned and oriented with high precision to ensure accurate light transformation, then the device functionality is improved, but the assembly complexity and difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment marks and reference features are pre-established on the support and optical parts during manufacturing, enabling precise positioning to be achieved through simple alignment operations rather than complex adjustment procedures during assembly
Solution Approach 2:
Alignment marks serve as intermediary reference features that facilitate the positioning relationship between optical parts and the support, eliminating the need for complex direct measurement and adjustment between components
2Measurement precision
If optical parts are positioned with tight tolerances to ensure accurate light interception, then the transformation accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing cost and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment marks and reference features are incorporated into the manufacturing process of optical parts and support structures, allowing standard manufacturing tolerances to be used while still achieving high positioning accuracy through the alignment features
Solution Approach 2:
Alignment marks act as intermediary reference elements that decouple the manufacturing tolerance requirements from the final positioning accuracy, enabling high precision positioning without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances on the optical parts themselves
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple reflections are implemented to perform spatial transformations, then the device capability is improved, but the sensitivity to positioning deviations increases
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment marks are pre-established on all optical parts and the support structure before assembly, providing reference features that enable precise positioning of each component to within the required tolerances for multi-reflection optical paths
Solution Approach 2:
Alignment marks serve as intermediary reference features that facilitate the precise relative positioning of optical parts during assembly, ensuring that the cumulative positioning errors across multiple reflections remain within acceptable limits
4Manufacturing precision
If alignment marks are provided on the support and optical parts, then the assembly precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment marks are localized to specific critical interfaces and positioning points on the support and optical parts, rather than being universally applied throughout the entire device structure, thereby minimizing the added complexity to only where it is functionally necessary
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 approach enables highly precise positioning and orientation of optical parts, improving the alignment quality and ensuring correct functioning by sensitively measuring deviations in the positioning or orientation of optical parts, thereby enhancing the device's performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a first microstructured zone for intercepting incident light radiation, which propagates along a first determined optical path, the first microstructured zone spatially modifying the phase of the incident light radiation
Implementation Method 2
The main surface of the optical element comprises a second textured zone that is designed to reflect the positioning light radiation and to back-propagate the positioning radiation along the second optical path
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device is formed of a plurality of optical parts arranged on a carrier, at least one optical element of which has a main face provided with a first microstructured zone for intercepting incident luminous radiation propagating along a first determined optical path, the first microstructured zone spatially modifying the phase of the incident luminous radiation according to a determined spatial profile. The first microstructured zone is used to form, via a plurality of reflections or transmissions off/through the one or more optical elements, transformed luminous radiation. The optical device comprises an input stage for guiding the injection of positioning luminous radiation, along a second optical path, and the main surface of the optical element includes a second microstructured zone that is configured to reflect the positioning luminous radiation and to back-propagate the positioning radiation along the second optical path.