Segmented Collimate Lens for Compact Laser Light Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light emitting devices with multiple semiconductor laser elements of different peak wavelengths face challenges in producing approximately parallel light with high accuracy, requiring large distances and large collimate lenses, which results in a bulky device.
Innovation Solution
A light emitting device with a collimate lens having multiple lens portions of different shapes for each light path, allowing for precise alignment and smaller lens size, enabling the production of approximately parallel light from semiconductor laser elements with varying peak wavelengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single collimate lens is used for multiple semiconductor laser elements with different peak wavelengths, then the device structure is simple, but the light parallelism accuracy is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The collimate lens is divided into multiple lens portions, each corresponding to a specific semiconductor laser element and optimized for its peak wavelength. This segmentation allows each lens portion to independently collimate light from its associated laser element with high accuracy, resolving the contradiction between light parallelism accuracy and structural simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If a large distance is used between the laser elements and the collimate lens, then the light can be made approximately parallel, but the device size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
Each lens portion is designed with specific local optical properties tailored to its associated laser element's characteristics (peak wavelength, emission pattern). This local optimization enables effective light collimation at shorter distances, reducing the overall device size while maintaining high light parallelism accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If a large collimate lens is used, then the light from multiple laser elements can be collimated, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one large collimate lens, the invention segments the lens into multiple smaller lens portions. Each lens portion has a smaller aperture optimized for its specific laser element, which reduces the overall lens area and device size while maintaining the ability to collimate light from all laser elements with high accuracy.
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 allows for high-accuracy production of approximately parallel light from multiple semiconductor laser elements with different peak wavelengths, enabling a compact device design while maintaining light quality.
Implementation Method 1
a collimate lens having a non-lens portion fixed to the lid portion, and a plurality of lens portions connected and aligned along one direction and surrounded by the non-lens portion when viewed from a light extracting surface side of the collimate lens
Data Source
AI summary
A light emitting device includes a base, a lid portion, a plurality of semiconductor laser elements, and a collimate lens. The lid portion is fixed to the base to define a hermetically sealed space by the lid portion and the base. The semiconductor laser elements are provided in the hermetically sealed space. The collimate lens has a non-lens portion fixed to the lid portion, and a plurality of lens portions connected and aligned along one direction and surrounded by the non-lens portion when viewed from a light extracting surface side of the collimate lens.