Quartz Glass Beam Collimation Lens for High-Power Laser Diodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light emission devices with high-power diode lasers in the wavelength range below 550 nm face challenges in achieving good optical collimation quality due to limited glass materials with high transmission values and complex, costly processing methods.
Innovation Solution
A beam collimation lens made of quartz glass with biconvex collimation elements, featuring an acylindrical shape on the exit side and a cylindrical shape on the entrance side, which maintains beam quality over a wide power range and is manufactured using a cost-effective fiber drawing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional glass materials with high refractive index (n≈1.80) are used for beam collimation, then refraction efficiency is improved, but temperature increase becomes significant even at low power levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter (refractive index) from conventional glass (n≈1.80) to quartz glass (n≈1.45). This parameter change reduces absorption losses and temperature increase while maintaining collimation functionality through adjusted lens geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses quartz glass as a specialized material that combines low absorption properties with appropriate refractive index characteristics for the 300-550nm wavelength range, creating an optimized optical system that balances refraction efficiency with thermal performance
2Use of energy by moving object
If glass materials with high transmission values are selected for wavelengths below 550nm, then optical transmission is improved, but material selection becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects quartz glass specifically for its superior transmission properties in the 300-550nm ultraviolet and visible range, where conventional glass materials exhibit strong absorption. This material parameter selection enables effective operation at shorter wavelengths
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional processing methods are used for beam collimation elements, then manufacturing precision is improved, but production cost becomes very high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs cost-effective manufacturing methods for quartz glass collimation elements, using processes such as precision cutting and polishing that are more economical than conventional high-precision glass fabrication, while still achieving the required collimation quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts lens geometry parameters (surface curvatures, thickness distributions) to compensate for quartz glass's lower refractive index, achieving effective collimation through optimized shape rather than relying solely on material properties or complex multi-element designs
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 excellent optical collimation quality at low costs, maintaining beam quality even at high power levels, and is suitable for a wide range of laser light sources, including those arranged in two-dimensional arrays.
Implementation Method 1
These are used to enable low-aberration collimation for fast-axis optics with high numerical aperture. Collimation elements made of quartz glass with a refractive index of approximately 1.45 exhibit a low temperature increase up to power levels exceeding 200 W.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for emitting light, to a beam-collimating lens (3), and to a method for producing a beam-collimating lens (3). The device (1) comprises at least one laser light source (2) and a beam-collimating lens (3), in particular for fast axis collimation, the beam-collimating lens (3) comprising at least one biconvex collimation element (4) and being produced from silica glass, preferably in a fiber drawing process. The laser light source (2) emits visible laser light, in particular in a wavelength range of 400-550 nm.