Paraelectric Optical Deflector with Thermal and Light Uniformity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical deflectors using electro-optic materials like KTN crystals fail to optimize the spatial distribution of excitation light, leading to insufficient suppression of instantaneous driving voltage dependency of the lens effect.
Innovation Solution
An optical deflector with a dielectric of paraelectric phase, incorporating temperature control elements and sensors, applies a voltage perpendicular to the transmission direction, and irradiates the dielectric with excitation light of uniform intensity, controlling conductor temperatures to minimize beam diameter variations due to instantaneous voltage changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If temperature control is applied to create a temperature gradient in the KTN crystal, then the instantaneous driving voltage dependency of the lens effect is suppressed, but the beam diameter still varies due to non-optimized excitation light spatial distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a temperature gradient specifically in the voltage application direction (z-direction) through selective heating of the cathode-side metal block, while keeping the anode-side metal block at a different temperature. This localized temperature control optimizes the dielectric constant distribution where it is most needed to suppress the lens effect dependency on instantaneous driving voltage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters by controlling the temperatures of the metal blocks to predetermined values, which alters the dielectric constant of the KTN crystal in a controlled manner. This parameter change approach allows optimization of the temperature gradient to minimize beam diameter variation while maintaining stable operation.
2Productivity
If excitation light is applied to the KTN crystal, then electron injection into traps is accelerated, but the non-uniform spatial distribution causes insufficient suppression of the lens effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the non-uniform excitation light distribution by combining it with localized temperature control. The temperature gradient created in the voltage application direction compensates for the non-uniform light intensity distribution, ensuring that the overall effect on charge injection and lens effect suppression is optimized across the entire crystal volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent effectively creates a composite control approach by combining optical excitation (excitation light) with thermal control (temperature gradient) to achieve synergistic effects. The combination of these two fields allows simultaneous acceleration of electron injection and suppression of the lens effect dependency, overcoming the limitations of using either method alone.
3Reliability
If a temperature gradient is created in the KTN crystal, then the dielectric constant gradient is provided, but optimization is insufficient without excitation light spatial distribution optimization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent focuses temperature control on specific regions (anode-side and cathode-side metal blocks) rather than uniform heating or cooling of the entire crystal. This localized approach creates the necessary temperature gradient in the voltage application direction while minimizing overall thermal management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes reliability by controlling temperature parameters of the metal blocks to predetermined values, which stabilizes the dielectric constant distribution. This parameter control approach provides a reliable method to suppress beam diameter variation while maintaining a manageable control mechanism.
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 suppresses the instantaneous driving voltage dependency of the lens effect, ensuring a consistent beam diameter across varying deflection angles.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating the dielectric with excitation light having a substantially uniform intensity in an application direction of the voltage
Implementation Method 2
a temperature of the first conductor and a temperature of the second conductor are set to predetermined temperatures
Implementation Method 3
An optical deflector can change a traveling direction of light by applying a voltage
Implementation Method 4
a temperature is controlled by Peltier elements 908 and 909
Data Source
AI summary
An optical deflector has a dielectric of a paraelectric phase and deflects light transmitted through the dielectric by applying a voltage in a direction perpendicular to a transmission direction of the dielectric, the optical deflector including, in order, a first temperature control element, a first conductor on which a first sensor is disposed, the dielectric, a second conductor on which a second sensor is disposed, and a second temperature control element, wherein a voltage is applied between the first conductor and the second conductor, the dielectric is irradiated with excitation light having a substantially uniform intensity in an application direction of the voltage, and a temperature of the first conductor and a temperature of the second conductor are set to predetermined temperatures.