Quadrant Laser Light Source with Afocal Paths for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems using semiconductor lasers for illumination and heating applications lack a compact design that can uniformly emit light from a large number of laser sources.
Innovation Solution
A light source device comprising multiple laser light sources, reflecting surfaces, and afocal systems arranged in quadrants around an optical axis, allowing for compact configuration and uniform light emission via a condenser lens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple laser light sources are arranged to emit light uniformly, then illumination uniformity is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement of light sources to a three-dimensional configuration where light sources are positioned at different distances along the optical axis. By utilizing the depth dimension (Z-axis), multiple light sources can be arranged in quadrants at varying axial positions, allowing their projected images to overlap and form a uniform illumination area without increasing the lateral footprint of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where the optical paths of multiple laser light sources are integrated through a shared condenser lens system. Each light source's optical path is nested within the overall optical system, with reflecting surfaces and afocal systems arranged to direct light from different quadrants through the same condenser lens, achieving compact integration of multiple light paths.
2Manufacturing precision
If light sources are positioned away from the optical axis to reduce influence on the condenser lens, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of light sources and reflecting surfaces within each quadrant, where components are not symmetrically arranged about the optical axis. This asymmetric configuration allows light sources to be positioned at optimized locations that reduce sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances while maintaining uniform illumination, breaking the symmetry that would otherwise require precise alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the optical system into four independent quadrant sections, each containing a light source, reflecting surface, and afocal system. This segmentation allows each quadrant to be designed and manufactured independently with relaxed tolerance requirements, as errors in one quadrant do not propagate to others. The four segmented optical paths are then combined by the condenser lens to produce uniform illumination.
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 provides a more compact and uniform light source device capable of emitting laser light with high energy density and homogeneity, suitable for applications such as illumination and heating processes.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser lens; a laser light exiting the condenser lens, wherein a plurality of laser lights emitted from a plurality of laser light sources are bundled by the condenser lens
Implementation Method 2
a first reflecting surface located at a first distance along an optical axis of the condenser lens from the condenser lens such that a reflection direction of the first laser light is directed toward the condenser lens along the optical axis
Implementation Method 3
a first afocal system disposed on a first optical path from the first laser light source to the first reflecting surface such that the first laser light exits toward the first reflecting surface
Data Source
AI summary
A light source device includes first to fourth laser light sources that emit first to fourth laser light, a condenser lens, first to fourth reflecting surfaces that reflect the first to fourth laser lights toward the condenser lens, and first to fourth afocal systems disposed such that the first to fourth laser lights exit the first to fourth afocal systems toward the first to fourth reflecting surfaces. When a plan view taken in a direction along the optical axis is divided into first to fourth quadrants with a position of the optical axis serving as an origin, the first to fourth reflecting surfaces are located in the first to fourth quadrants, respectively.