Rotary Prism Pair for Beam Orientation Without Diameter Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light emitting modules face challenges in achieving a simple structure for changing the orientation of light beams while maintaining a constant beam diameter, which complicates the adjustment of focusing positions and beam diameters.
Innovation Solution
A light emitting module incorporating a semiconductor laser, collimating lens, prism pair with opposite apex angles, and a rotary stage to rotate the prism pair, allowing for adjustable beam orientation without altering the beam diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a movement means for moving a lens in X and Y directions is used to adjust beam orientation, then the beam orientation can be changed, but the structure becomes complex and the beam diameter cannot be kept constant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical lens movement system with an optical system using a rotary stage and beam splitter. Instead of physically moving the lens in X and Y directions, the invention uses a rotary stage to rotate the beam splitter at 45 degrees, which redirects the beam path to achieve orientation adjustment without mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a beam splitter as an intermediary element between the light source and the target. The beam splitter, mounted on a rotary stage, acts as a mediator that redirects the beam path by 90 degrees through 45-degree rotation, enabling orientation adjustment without directly moving the lens or source
2Adaptability or versatility
If a focal point and optical axis direction adjustment unit is used to move the lens, then the beam orientation can be adjusted, but the beam diameter changes when orientation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical lens movement with an optical path redirection system using a beam splitter on a rotary stage. This substitution ensures that the beam diameter remains constant because the beam path is redirected rather than the beam itself being moved or focused, maintaining beam parameter consistency while changing orientation
Solution Approach 2:
The beam splitter serves multiple functions: it redirects the beam path by 90 degrees, maintains constant beam diameter, and enables orientation adjustment without affecting beam quality. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving orientation change while preserving beam diameter consistency
3Measurement precision
If the beam diameter is reduced to a small spot for focusing, then the focusing precision is improved, but the beam orientation control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The beam splitter acts as an intermediary that decouples the focusing function from the orientation control function. The small spot focusing is achieved through the optical system, while the beam splitter on the rotary stage handles orientation adjustment independently, making orientation control easier without compromising focusing precision
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 simple and effective adjustment of beam orientation and diameter, facilitating accurate focusing and reducing complications in optical systems, particularly in applications like optical scan recording and flow cytometry.
Implementation Method 1
a collimating lens for collimating light beam output from the semiconductor laser in a spread light state
Implementation Method 2
a prism pair including two substantially triangular-plate-shaped prisms, each passing the light beam between two end surfaces on both sides of one apex angle to refract the light beam
Data Source
AI summary
A light emitting module includes a semiconductor laser, a collimating lens for that collimates light beam output from the semiconductor laser, a prism pair including two substantially triangular-plate-shaped prisms, each passing the light beam between two end surfaces on both sides of one apex angle to refract the light beam, and the prisms being sequentially arranged on an optical path of the light beam in such a manner that the orientations of apex angles of the prisms are opposite to each other, and a rotary stage configured to hold the prism pair and to be rotatable about a rotation axis C extending in a prism thickness direction in such a manner that an incident angle of the light beam entering the prism positioned on the upstream side of the optical path is changed.