Single-Lens Beam Intensity Conversion for Flat-Top Laser Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beam intensity conversion optical systems require multiple lenses, making them complex and difficult to assemble, with challenges in downsizing and achieving uniform light intensity distribution due to high longitudinal spherical aberration, which limits their ability to convert Gaussian light intensity to a flat-top form effectively.
Innovation Solution
A single-lens beam intensity conversion lens with a specific aspherical shape and longitudinal spherical aberration characteristic, positioned such that its paraxial image plane and irradiation region are distinct, allowing for a compact design that converts Gaussian light intensity to a flat-top form with minimal peak intensity variation within a 10% range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional beam intensity conversion optical system with multiple lenses is used, then the light intensity distribution can be converted from Gaussian to flat-top form, but the system becomes complex and difficult to assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple lens functions (collimation, beam intensity conversion, and focusing) into a single beam intensity conversion lens. This single lens integrates the capabilities of what were previously separate components, thereby reducing the total number of lenses from three or more to just one, while maintaining the ability to convert Gaussian light intensity distribution to flat-top form.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam intensity conversion lens is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it collimates the diverging light from the laser source, converts the beam intensity distribution from Gaussian to flat-top form, and focuses the light onto the irradiation region. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated lenses for each function.
2Device complexity
If a single-lens structure is used to simplify the system, then the number of components is reduced, but achieving uniform light intensity distribution becomes difficult due to high longitudinal spherical aberration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an aspherical lens design where at least one surface of the beam intensity conversion lens has an aspherical shape rather than a simple spherical curvature. This aspherical configuration allows precise control over the lens's optical path, enabling it to correct longitudinal spherical aberration while maintaining a compact single-lens structure. The specific aspherical coefficients are optimized to achieve uniform flat-top light intensity distribution across the irradiation region.
3Device complexity
If the paraxial image plane position is set to match the irradiation region position, then the system is simplified, but the light intensity distribution cannot achieve the desired flat-top form with less than 10% variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately separates the paraxial image plane position from the irradiation region position along the optical axis. By controlling the longitudinal spherical aberration characteristic, the design allows the paraxial image plane to be positioned at a different location than where the flat-top light intensity distribution is required. This parameter separation enables precise control over the light intensity distribution at the irradiation region, achieving the desired flat-top form with minimal variation (≤10%), while the paraxial image plane serves a different functional purpose in the optical path.
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 enables a compact, efficient beam intensity conversion optical system that achieves a uniform light intensity distribution with a changing range of less than 10% of peak intensity, effectively addressing the limitations of conventional systems by controlling longitudinal spherical aberration and reducing the number of components.
Implementation Method 1
The beam intensity conversion lens converts the light intensity distribution of laser light emitted from the laser light source from the Gaussian form into a flat-top form
Implementation Method 2
the beam intensity conversion lens has a longitudinal spherical aberration characteristic on the paraxial image plane in which the changing range of longitudinal spherical aberration in a region of more than 70% of an image height is equal to or smaller than 20% of the amount of longitudinal spherical aberration at a position of 70% of the image height
Data Source
AI summary
Beam intensity conversion optical system of the present disclosure includes a laser light source and a beam intensity conversion lens that changes the light intensity distribution of laser light emitted from the laser light source and irradiates the light onto an irradiation region. The beam intensity conversion lens has a single-lens structure. The position of a paraxial image plane of the beam intensity conversion lens and the position of and the position of irradiation region are different from each other on an optical axis. The beam intensity conversion lens has a longitudinal spherical aberration characteristic on the paraxial image plane in which a changing range of longitudinal spherical aberration in a region of more than 70% of an image height is equal to or smaller than 20% of the amount of longitudinal spherical aberration at a position of 70% of the image height.