Subwavelength Metalens Collimators for Thin LED Light Shaping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional optical elements for LEDs are thick, inefficient, and less effective with incoherent light, leading to suboptimal optical transmission and longer focal lengths.

Innovation Solution

The use of subwavelength-scale metalenses with varying pillar diameters and materials like titanium dioxide and polysilicon to modify the emission profile of LEDs, achieving thinner and more efficient optical radiation concentration and collimation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If traditional optical elements are used for LEDs, then optical radiation can be concentrated and collimated, but the elements are thick and have long focal lengths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickness of optical elementVSAvoidoptical transmission efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental optical parameter from refractive index to effective index of refraction through subwavelength structuring. This allows the metalens to achieve the same optical function with dramatically reduced thickness while maintaining high transmission efficiency, as the subwavelength structures manipulate light phase without requiring thick material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite structures combining metalenses with traditional optical elements or multiple metalens layers. This hybrid approach leverages the advantages of both metalenses (thinness, efficiency) and traditional optics (established design, manufacturing), achieving reduced thickness while maintaining reliable optical performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If traditional optical elements are used for LEDs, then optical radiation can be concentrated and collimated, but the elements are inefficient with incoherent light

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical transmission efficiencyVSAvoidconcentration efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the optical parameter control from bulk refraction to subwavelength phase modulation. This enables precise control of light waves regardless of coherence, significantly improving concentration efficiency for incoherent LED light while maintaining high transmission efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the optical element into subwavelength pillar structures arranged in specific patterns. This segmentation allows independent control of light phase at each pillar, enabling efficient manipulation of incoherent light waves to achieve high concentration efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If traditional optical elements are used, then optical radiation can be concentrated, but unwanted aberrations occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration efficiencyVSAvoidoptical aberrations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes from uniform refraction to spatially varying subwavelength phase control. By independently tuning pillar dimensions and materials across the metalens surface, it achieves precise wavefront shaping that concentrates light efficiently while correcting aberrations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by varying pillar diameter, height, and material composition at different spatial locations across the metalens. This localized control enables correction of optical aberrations in different regions while maintaining overall concentration efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Metalenses provide high concentration efficiencies and reduced thickness, improving optical transmission and reducing unwanted aberrations, especially with incoherent light from LEDs.

Implementation Method 1

subwavelength-scale metalenses with varying pillar diameters and materials like titanium dioxide and polysilicon to modify the emission profile of LEDs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMetasurface optical modulation:

Implementation Method 2

achieving thinner and more efficient optical radiation concentration and collimation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical concentration:

Implementation Method 3

achieving thinner and more efficient optical radiation concentration and collimation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical collimation:

Data Source

PatentUS12443048B2Metalens collimators and condensers

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 IMAGIA INC

AI summary

According to various embodiments, a device may include a light-emitting diode (LED) to generate optical radiation at an operational wavelength with a divergent emission profile, such as a Lambertian emission profile, relative to a planar face thereof. A metalens may be positioned to modify the divergent emission profile of the optical radiation from the LED to have a modified transmission profile. The metalens may comprise, for example, a substrate and a two-dimensional array of passive pillars that extend from the substrate with a radially symmetric pattern of varying pillar diameters. The pillars may be spaced from one another according to a uniform subwavelength interelement spacing. The diameters of the pillars are selected as a function of the operational wavelength to provide a target phase gradient that modifies the divergent emission profile of the optical radiation from the LED to have the modified transmission profile.