Phase-Modulated Laser Emitter for Focused Light Without Lenses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light source devices face challenges in miniaturization due to the difficulty in miniaturizing optical components for focusing light, which hinders the miniaturization of the light source device itself.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting device with a phase modulation layer that includes a base region and modified refractive index regions, arranged in a two-dimensional pattern to achieve M-point oscillation, suppressing zero-order light and allowing signal light to be focused, thereby eliminating the need for additional optical components for focusing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional optical components (lenses) are used for focusing light, then light can be focused, but the device size cannot be miniaturized due to the large size of optical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light focusing function with the light emission function by integrating a phase modulation layer directly into the light-emitting element structure. The phase modulation layer is formed on the light-emitting element, creating a unified integrated device that eliminates the need for separate external lenses, thereby enabling miniaturization while maintaining light focusing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical optical component (lens) with a phase modulation layer that uses optical phase modulation to achieve focusing. The phase modulation layer modulates the phase of emitted light according to a predetermined distribution, substituting the physical focusing mechanism of lenses with an optical phase control mechanism, enabling miniaturization without sacrificing focusing function
2Volume of moving object
If a phase modulation layer is added to the light-emitting element, then light can be focused and device miniaturization is enabled, but zero-order light is generated which reduces measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the phase modulation layer, specifically setting the lattice spacing to satisfy the M-point oscillation condition (e.g., a = λ/2, λ/3, λ/4 where λ is the light wavelength). This parameter change modifies the diffraction characteristics to suppress zero-order light while maintaining the focusing function, thereby improving measurement precision without sacrificing miniaturization benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different phase modulation characteristics to different regions of the phase modulation layer by arranging modified refractive index regions in specific patterns (such as square lattice, triangular lattice, or hexagonal lattice structures). This local variation in phase modulation properties enables selective suppression of zero-order light while maintaining focusing capability in other directions
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 light-emitting device miniaturizes the light source device by focusing light while removing zero-order light, enabling the device to output focused signal light, which contributes to the miniaturization of the light source device and improves precision in three-dimensional shape measurement.
Implementation Method 1
a phase modulation layer optically coupled to the active layer and including a base region and a plurality of modified refractive index regions. The plurality of modified refractive index regions has a refractive index different from a refractive index of the base region
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of modified refractive index regions has a refractive index different from a refractive index of the base region, and is distributed in a two-dimensional form in a plane perpendicular to a thickness direction
Implementation Method 3
The phase distribution includes an element for focusing the light output in at least one direction
Implementation Method 4
A lattice spacing of the square lattice and a light emission wavelength λ of the active layer satisfy a condition for M-point oscillation. Four-direction in-plane wavenumber vectors each including a wavenumber spread corresponding to an angular spread of light output from the light-emitting device are formed on a reciprocal lattice space of the phase modulation layer
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting device is an S-iPM laser of M-point oscillation including a phase modulation layer. Four-direction in-plane wavenumber vectors each including a wavenumber spread corresponding to an angular spread of light output from the light-emitting device are formed on a reciprocal lattice space of the phase modulation layer. The magnitude of at least one of the in-plane wavenumber vectors is smaller than 2π/λ. A predetermined phase distribution included in the phase modulation layer includes an element for focusing the light output.