Polygon X-Prism Splitting Beams with Equal Path Lengths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beam splitters and combiners often require multiple optical elements to split or combine beams, which can lead to increased size, complexity, and optical path length discrepancies, making it challenging to efficiently produce multiple beams with different spectral or polarization characteristics.
Innovation Solution
The use of multi-faceted optical elements, such as polygon x-prisms, which can split or combine beams using a single compact element by incorporating internal coatings and reflective surfaces to produce multiple output beams with equal path lengths and controlled spectral, polarization, and intensity characteristics, allowing for the creation of more than three output beams from a single input beam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple beam splitters are cascaded to produce multiple output beams, then the number of output beams increases, but the device complexity and optical path length discrepancies increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple beam splitting functions into a single polyhedral optical element with multiple facets. Each facet acts as a reflective surface that can be independently coated to achieve different spectral or polarization characteristics. This merging of multiple beam splitter functions into one element directly reduces device complexity while maintaining the ability to produce multiple output beams with different characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The polyhedral optical element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a beam splitter and a beam combiner (when operated in reverse), and each facet can be configured to handle different wavelengths or polarization states. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate optical elements for different beam splitting tasks, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple beam splitters are cascaded to produce multiple output beams, then the number of output beams increases, but the optical path length discrepancies increase
Solution Approach 1:
The polyhedral element is segmented into multiple facets, each contributing to a different output beam. The geometric design ensures that light traversing through different facets experiences equal optical path lengths from the input beam to their respective output beams. This segmentation approach allows multiple output beams to be generated while maintaining equal path lengths, eliminating the discrepancies that would otherwise require additional optical compensation.
3Device complexity
If a single optical element is used to produce multiple output beams, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to control spectral and polarization characteristics is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Each facet of the polyhedral optical element can be independently coated with different optical coatings tailored to specific spectral ranges or polarization states. This local customization of optical properties on different facets allows the single element to handle diverse spectral and polarization requirements simultaneously, achieving high adaptability without increasing device 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 the production of multiple beams with consistent path lengths and controlled characteristics, reducing the need for additional optics and improving image quality by minimizing optical loss and scattering, while allowing for scalable and versatile applications in imaging, display, and spectral analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The polygon x-prism includes a first incident facet to receive an incident light beam and four internal reflective surfaces. The reflective surfaces are positioned to allow a first portion of the incident light beam to reach a first output facet upon transmission through the polygon x-prism and to allow a second portion of the incident light beam to reach a second output facet upon reflection from the first reflective surface.
Implementation Method 2
The reflective surfaces are positioned to allow a first portion of the incident light beam to reach a first output facet upon transmission through the polygon x-prism
Data Source
AI summary
Different configurations of multi-faceted optical elements and associated methods are described that split an input optical beam into multiple output beams, and in a reverse configuration, combine a set of input beams into an output beam. One example multi-faceted optical element includes K optical facets, where K is greater than or equal to six, and K-2 internal surfaces. Each internal surface reflects at least a portion of the incident light and includes a coating designed to modify one or more of a spectral content, polarization, intensity or phase of the incident beam. The multifaceted optical element is configurable to either split an input light beam into four or more output light beams, or to combine four or more input light beams into a single output light beam. Such a multi-faceted optical element can be implemented as part of, for example, a display system, a multi-spectral camera or a polarization camera.