Spatial Multiplexing Lens Arrays Surface-Emitting Lasers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surface-emitting light source systems face inefficiencies due to micro-lens arrays having larger pitches than light sources, leading to beam expansion and impractical beam divergence, which limits their application in optical communications and other specialized designs.
Innovation Solution
Aligning light sources offset relative to the principal axis of micro-lens arrays allows for varying beam divergence and direction, enabling the combination of light beams to increase power and achieve specific illumination patterns, with multiple light sources and micro-lenses configured to optimize beam propagation and field of illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If micro-lens arrays are used with larger pitch than light source minimum pitch, then each light source can have its own micro-lens, but the beam expands as it propagates requiring larger micro-lenses which reduces utilization of light source chip area
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light sources are combined to illuminate a single micro-lens, creating a many-to-one mapping relationship. This merging approach allows efficient use of the light source chip area by directing multiple light sources onto fewer, larger micro-lenses, thereby reducing the total number of micro-lenses needed while maintaining adequate illumination coverage.
2Device complexity
If a single micro-lens array is used, then the system is simple, but it cannot meet specific characteristics like narrow divergence beam requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into multiple functional groups: first micro-lens arrays for initial beam shaping and second micro-lens arrays for additional beam control. This segmentation allows each lens array to be optimized for specific beam characteristics, enabling the system to achieve narrow divergence beams while maintaining overall system manageability through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a second dimension of beam control by adding another micro-lens array after the first one. This sequential arrangement in the optical path creates multiple stages of beam shaping, enabling precise control over beam divergence and directionality that cannot be achieved with a single lens array.
3Adaptability or versatility
If micro-lens is used to increase divergence by sharply focusing light near emission surface, then beam divergence increases, but this limits the practical applications requiring narrow divergence beams
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic control over beam divergence by allowing independent adjustment of multiple micro-lens arrays. The first and second micro-lens arrays can be configured with different focal lengths and positions to achieve varying degrees of beam divergence, enabling the system to adapt to different application requirements without being fixed in a single configuration.
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 configuration enhances the utilization of light source chip area, allows for compact designs, and achieves narrower beam divergence, increasing the potential area of illumination, making it suitable for spatial multiplexing and multi-zone applications.
Implementation Method 1
emitted light beams propagate from a normal axis of each light source through the lens array
Implementation Method 2
the positioning of light source subsets relative to one or more corresponding micro-lenses may be repeated. In this manner, similar patterns (e.g., zones) of illumination may be realized
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein relate to optical assemblies for spatial multiplexing, multi-zone illumination, and optical assemblies. In embodiments, light source arrays are aligned with one or more micro-lens assemblies to generate a specific field of illumination. In embodiments, surface-emitting light sources may be light-emitting diodes and/or surface-emitting lasers. The micro-lens array may be aligned with the light source arrays, on-axis or off-axis to a principal axis of corresponding lenses such that the light sources may be expanded to a desired divergence and field of illumination. In embodiments, multiple light sources may be combined to increase power output for a specific area of the field of illumination, and light sources may be driven independently depending on intended illumination.