Optical Scanning System With Asymmetric Waveguide Array Pitches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical scanning systems are complex and inefficient in scanning and receiving light, lacking a simple structure for effective one- or two-dimensional scanning.
Innovation Solution
An optical scanning system comprising an optical scanning device with a waveguide array and a phase shifter to adjust light emission direction, and a photoreceiver device with a waveguide array and phase shifter to adjust light reception direction, utilizing a simpler structure to achieve scanning and reception with differing array pitches between the devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional optical scanning systems are used, then light scanning and reception can be achieved, but the system structure becomes complex and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the optical scanning device and photoreceiver device into an integrated optical scanning system with unified waveguide arrays. The first waveguide array for light emission and the second waveguide array for light reception are merged into a coordinated system, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining scanning efficiency through integrated phase control
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide array structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the emission structure for scanning light and the reception structure for detecting reflected light. The phase shifters provide universal phase control for both transmission and reception operations, eliminating the need for separate complex scanning and receiving mechanisms
2Ease of manufacture
If array pitches of waveguides in scanning and receiving devices are made equal, then alignment is simplified, but higher-order diffracted light and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately uses different array pitches for the first waveguide array (emission) and second waveguide array (reception). This asymmetric design prevents higher-order diffracted light from the emission array from interfering with the reception array, as the pitch mismatch causes diffracted orders to fall at different angular positions, thereby eliminating interference while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through controlled pitch variation
3Device complexity
If a simple structure is used for optical scanning, then device complexity is reduced, but light reception sensitivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates phase shifters that dynamically adjust the phase of light in each waveguide element. This dynamic phase control enables the simple waveguide array structure to achieve focused light reception by constructively interfering light waves from different waveguides, thereby maintaining high reception sensitivity without increasing structural complexity
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
Enables efficient one- or two-dimensional scanning with reduced higher-order diffracted light and interference, maximizing light reception sensitivity and simplifying the system design.
Implementation Method 1
a first phase shifter configured to adjust phases of light propagating through the plurality of first waveguides to change an emission direction of emission light from the plurality of first waveguides
Implementation Method 2
a second waveguide array including a plurality of second waveguides configured to receive reflected light and propagate the received reflected light
Implementation Method 3
a second phase shifter configured to adjust phases of the received reflected light propagating through the plurality of second waveguides to change a reception direction of the reflected light received by the plurality of second waveguides
Data Source
AI summary
An optical scanning system including an optical scanning device, and a photoreceiver device. The optical scanning device includes: a first waveguide array including a plurality of first waveguides; and a first phase shifter for adjusting phases of light propagating through the plurality of first waveguides to change an emission direction of emission light from the plurality of first waveguides. The photoreceiver device includes: a second waveguide array including a plurality of second waveguides configured to receive reflected light and propagate the received reflected light; and a second phase shifter for adjusting phases of the received reflected light propagating through the plurality of second waveguides to change a reception direction of the reflected light received by the plurality of second waveguides. An array pitch of the plurality of first waveguides in the optical scanning device differs from an array pitch of the plurality of second waveguides in the photoreceiver device.