Integrated Spot-Flood Projector Using a Shared Optical Metasurface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical radiation sources in portable devices face challenges in achieving a compact, low-cost design that can provide both uniform flood illumination and patterned spot illumination for applications such as 3D mapping and color image capture.
Innovation Solution
An optoelectronic apparatus with a substrate containing two arrays of emitters and an optical metasurface that collimates and diffuses flood beams while focusing spot beams, using an optical projection element to combine both types of illumination into a single compact module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If separate flood illumination source and spot illumination source are used, then illumination quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate flood illumination source and spot illumination source into a single integrated optoelectronic apparatus. The device includes a first array of emitters for flood illumination and a second array of emitters for spot illumination, both integrated within the same device structure with shared optical components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining illumination quality
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated optoelectronic apparatus performs multiple functions simultaneously - it provides both flood illumination for color image capture and spot illumination for 3D mapping using two arrays of emitters. The optical projection element and optical metasurface serve dual purposes by handling both illumination types through a single optical path, achieving multi-functionality without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Volume of moving object
If compact design is achieved, then device size is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the optical metasurface directly onto the substrate containing the emitter arrays, utilizing the vertical dimension to stack optical components rather than spreading them out horizontally. This dimensional reorganization achieves compact device size while the planar nature of the metasurface integration simplifies manufacturing precision requirements compared to three-dimensional optical component alignment
3Illumination intensity
If optical metasurface is used to collimate and diffuse flood beams, then flood illumination quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical optical components (such as separate collimating lenses and diffusers) with an optical metasurface that performs both collimation and diffusion functions at the nanoscale. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple discrete mechanical optical elements, reducing device complexity while improving flood illumination quality through integrated nanophotonic control
Solution Approach 2:
The optical metasurface utilizes nanoscale parameter changes in its structural geometry to control light propagation. By varying the dimensions, spacing, and configuration of meta-atoms at the nanoscale, the metasurface achieves both collimation and diffusion effects simultaneously, improving flood illumination quality without adding macroscopic device complexity
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 apparatus achieves spatially homogenized flood illumination and well-focused spot illumination, enabling efficient use in portable devices with minimal size and cost.
Implementation Method 1
An optical metasurface is disposed on the substrate and configured to collimate and diffuse the first beams
Implementation Method 2
An optical metasurface is disposed on the substrate and configured to collimate and diffuse the first beams
Implementation Method 3
the optical projection element is configured to intercept both the first and the second beams that have passed through the optical metasurface and to direct both the first and the second beams toward a target while focusing the second beams to form a pattern of spots on the target
Data Source
AI summary
An optoelectronic apparatus includes a substrate and first and second arrays of emitters disposed on the substrate and configured to emit respective first and second beams of optical radiation. The apparatus further includes an optical metasurface disposed on the substrate and configured to collimate and diffuse the first beams without diffusing the second beams, and an optical projection element, configured to intercept both the first and the second beams that have passed through the optical metasurface and to direct both the first and the second beams toward a target while focusing the second beams to form a pattern of spots on the target.