Spatial Light Modulator Temperature Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The relationship between phase modulation amount and applied voltage in spatial light modulators is nonlinear, leading to variations with temperature changes, affecting processing accuracy in applications like laser processing and microscopy, and requiring large storage capacities for lookup tables to correct these variations.
Innovation Solution
A spatial light modulation device and method that uses a temperature sensor and voltage generation unit with stored coefficients to correct voltage levels based on temperature changes, allowing for continuous accurate voltage application without the need for multiple lookup tables, by employing a function expressing the correlation between temperature changes and phase modulation variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple lookup tables are used to correct phase modulation variations with temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and storage capacity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter representation from discrete lookup tables to continuous polynomial coefficients. By storing coefficients of temperature-dependent polynomial functions rather than multiple complete lookup tables, the system maintains high measurement precision across temperature ranges while significantly reducing storage capacity requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing complete lookup tables for each temperature condition, the patent uses polynomial coefficients that can generate voltage correction values for any temperature through calculation. This copying approach replaces large static data structures with compact mathematical models that can be computationally expanded as needed.
2Manufacturing precision
If lookup tables are used to correct phase modulation variations, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to increased storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the manufacturing requirement from producing and verifying large lookup tables to producing and verifying compact polynomial coefficient sets. This parameter change simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing data verification complexity and storage integration requirements while maintaining the precision needed for accurate voltage application.
3Reliability
If temperature compensation is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional temperature sensing and calculation components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or hardware-based temperature compensation mechanisms with a computational approach using polynomial calculations. By substituting physical compensation structures with mathematical models that can be implemented in software or firmware, the system achieves reliable temperature compensation while minimizing additional hardware complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The polynomial coefficient system serves multiple functions: it corrects phase modulation variations across different temperatures, adapts to different operating conditions, and can be applied to various spatial light modulator configurations. This universal approach improves reliability without requiring separate compensation mechanisms for each specific application scenario.
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 approach reduces storage capacity needs, simplifies production, and improves the accuracy of applied voltage values for desired phase modulation amounts, enabling precise phase modulation across temperature changes.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid crystal layer that modulates a phase of incident light according to a level of an applied electric field
Implementation Method 2
When a voltage is applied to the electrode, a liquid crystal molecule rotates according to a level of the voltage, to change the birefringence index of the liquid crystal
Data Source
AI summary
A spatial light modulation device includes a liquid crystal layer modulating a phase of incident light according to a level of an applied electric field, a temperature sensor generating a temperature signal corresponding to a temperature of the liquid crystal layer, a plurality of pixel electrodes provided for each of a plurality of pixels and applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer, and a driving device providing a voltage to the plurality of pixel electrodes. The driving device has a nonvolatile storage element storing in advance a coefficient α included in a function expressing a correlation between a temperature change amount in the liquid crystal layer and a variation in phase modulation amount in the liquid crystal layer, and performs a calculation for correcting a level of voltage by use of a temperature indicated by the temperature signal and the coefficient α.