Semiconductor Laser Optical Device for Compact Slow-Axis Collimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical devices for semiconductor lasers suffer from large distances between the exiting surface of the semiconductor laser and the exiting surface of the slow-axis collimating lens, leading to significant unused space when multiple devices are combined in a housing.
Innovation Solution
The optical device features a concave entering surface and a convex exiting surface for the slow-axis collimating lens, reducing the distance between these surfaces to 3-15 mm, with a preferred range of 5-11 mm, and incorporating a monolithic transparent substrate to maintain a large effective focal length and improve light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a flat entering surface and convex exiting surface are used for the slow-axis collimating lens, then the lens can effectively collimate laser radiation, but the distance between the semiconductor laser exiting surface and the lens exiting surface becomes large (10-20 mm), resulting in significant unused space in the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The entering surface of the slow-axis collimating lens is designed with a concave curvature instead of a flat surface. This curvature modification enables the lens to achieve effective collimation of the laser radiation while reducing the required distance between the semiconductor laser exiting surface and the lens exiting surface from 10-20 mm to 3-15 mm, thereby minimizing unused housing space.
2Volume of moving object
If the distance between the semiconductor laser exiting surface and the lens exiting surface is reduced to minimize housing space, then housing space efficiency improves, but maintaining a large effective focal length becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The concave curvature of the entering surface is specifically optimized to maintain a large effective focal length (13-20 mm) even when the distance between the semiconductor laser exiting surface and the lens exiting surface is reduced to 3-15 mm. The curved surface geometry compensates for the reduced spacing, ensuring that the effective focal length remains sufficiently large for proper collimation while enabling compact housing design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the geometric parameters of the slow-axis collimating lens, specifically the curvature radius of the entering surface, to achieve the desired optical performance. By carefully selecting the curvature parameters, the system maintains an effective focal length of 13-20 mm while reducing the physical distance between components to 3-15 mm, thus resolving the contradiction between compactness and optical effectiveness.
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
This design minimizes housing space requirements while maintaining effective focal length and allows for improved light distribution and efficient fiber coupling by concentrating energy in the fiber core, enhancing beam shaping and collimation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The entering surface is at least partially concave and the exiting surface is at least partially convex... The slow-axis collimating lens significantly reduces the divergence of the laser radiation 2 with respect to the slow-axis direction
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an optical device (12) for a semiconductor laser (10), more particularly for a single-emitter semiconductor laser, comprising a fast-axis collimation lens (13), wherein the optical device (12) is designed such that the laser radiation (11) emitted from the semiconductor laser (10) passes through the fast-axis collimation lens (13), and a slow-axis collimation lens (14) having an entry surface (15) and an exit surface (16), wherein the optical device (12) is designed such that the laser radiation (11) passing through the fast-axis collimation lens (13) enters the slow-axis collimation lens (14) through the entry surface (15) and exits the slow-axis collimation lens (15) through the exit surface (16), wherein the entry surface (15) is concave at least in regions and wherein the exit surface (16) is convex at least in regions.