Multi-Wavelength Collimated Light Beam Device with Tilted Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for generating multiple collimated light beams face challenges such as complex manufacturing due to wavelength-dependent chromatic aberration, light beam cutoff, and uneven intensity, particularly when using conventional edge-emitting laser diodes.
Innovation Solution
The light generation units are aligned along a common alignment line perpendicular to the light beams' axes, with a lens tilted to compensate for chromatic aberration, allowing for easier calibration and adjustment, and the use of a single or combined fast and slow axis collimation lenses to ensure uniform collimation without cutting off light beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If light generation units are mounted at different distances from the lens to compensate for chromatic aberration, then collimation quality is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into three separate light generation units (red, green, blue) mounted on a common carrier, each with its own aperture. This segmentation allows independent positioning of each unit to compensate for chromatic aberration at different wavelengths while maintaining a unified optical structure with a single lens.
Solution Approach 2:
Each light generation unit is positioned at a specific distance from the lens according to its wavelength characteristics. The red, green, and blue units are mounted at different distances to optimize collimation for their respective wavelengths, applying local quality adjustment to each component based on its optical properties.
2Manufacturing precision
If light generation units are moved backwards on the submount to compensate for chromatic aberration, then collimation is improved, but light beam cutoff increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment line is positioned at an angle relative to the carrier surface, creating a dimensional offset. This angular arrangement allows the light generation units to be positioned at optimal distances from the lens for chromatic aberration compensation while maintaining sufficient lateral distance from the carrier edge to prevent light beam cutoff.
3Manufacturing precision
If light generation units are positioned to optimize collimation, then optical performance is improved, but adjustment flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The light generation units are mounted on the carrier in a way that allows for post-manufacturing adjustment. The angular orientation of the alignment line and the modular mounting structure enable recalibration of the units' positions relative to the lens to compensate for aging effects or manufacturing tolerances, maintaining adjustment flexibility despite optimized initial positioning.
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 simplifies manufacturing, maintains uniform light intensity, reduces unwanted reflections, and avoids the need for high-quality anti-reflection coatings, resulting in higher light intensities and improved optical performance.
Implementation Method 1
Lenses, such as the FAC (and SAC) lens 8 mentioned, have wavelength dependent focal points (focal lengths) due to the wavelength dependency of their refraction index, known as chromatic aberration.
Implementation Method 2
Lenses, such as the FAC (and SAC) lens 8 mentioned, have wavelength dependent focal points (focal lengths) due to the wavelength dependency of their refraction index, known as chromatic aberration.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6b
Figure 7a~8b
AI summary
A device (12) for generating multiple collimated light beams (5a, 5b, 5c) comprises: a carrier (4); at least two light generation units (2a, 2b, 2c) mounted on the carrier (4), the light generation units (2a, 2b, 2c) being configured to emit, each from an aperture (10a, 10b, 10c), light beams (5a, 5b, 5c) at respectively different wavelengths (Aa, Xb, Xc) and being arranged, with respect to axes (6a, 6b, 6c) of the light beams (5a, 5b, 5c), substantially parallel and substantially in a common plane; and a first lens (8) mounted on the carrier (4) intersectingly to the axes (6a, 6b, 6c) of the light beams (5a, 5b, 5c) and having a principal plane (16); wherein the light generation units (2a, 2b, 2c) have their apertures (10a, 10b, 10c) aligned along an alignment line (13) substantially perpendicular to the axes (6a, 6b, 6c) of the light beams (5a, 5b, 5c), and wherein said principal plane (16) of the first lens (8) is non-perpendicular to the axes (6a, 6b, 6c) of the light beams (5a, 5b, 5c) and is non-parallel to the alignment line (13).