Transmission-Grating Optical Multiplexer for Reduced Color Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical multiplexers face challenges in achieving high diffraction efficiency while maintaining a compact size and minimizing color shift due to the arrangement of laser beams with different wavelengths, often leading to increased system size and aberrations.
Innovation Solution
The optical multiplexer employs a transmission-type diffraction grating with light sources arranged on the incident side focal plane of a collimator, where the grating surface is orthogonal to the direction of light source arrangement, and sets the distance between adjacent sources based on wavelength and grating pitch to ensure all beams are multiplexed along the same optical path, using a single collimator lens to minimize color shift and system size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple collimator lenses are used for each light source, then beam collimation is achieved, but system size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple collimation functions into a single collimator lens positioned at the focal plane of the light sources. This single lens simultaneously collimates beams from multiple light sources with different wavelengths, eliminating the need for separate collimator lenses for each source and thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining beam quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The single collimator lens is designed to perform multiple functions: it collimates beams from different wavelengths, controls beam direction, and works in conjunction with the diffraction grating to achieve wavelength separation. This multi-functional approach replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized components.
2Productivity
If light sources are arranged to achieve high diffraction efficiency, then beam separation is improved, but color shift increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully adjusts the arrangement parameters of light sources relative to the diffraction grating and collimator lens. By optimizing the positions and angles of light sources, the system achieves high diffraction efficiency while minimizing color shift through precise parameter selection and balancing.
Solution Approach 2:
The single collimator lens acts as an intermediary element between the light sources and the diffraction grating. It mediates the beam properties, ensuring that light from different sources is properly collimated and directed to the grating, which then separates the wavelengths efficiently without introducing significant color shift.
3Measurement precision
If diffraction grating pitch is reduced to increase diffraction angle, then wavelength separation is improved, but system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the focal plane dimension of the collimator lens to arrange light sources in a compact configuration. By positioning sources at specific distances in the focal plane, the system achieves effective wavelength separation through the diffraction grating without requiring a large physical footprint, as the optical path is optimized in multiple dimensions.
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 achieves high diffraction efficiency with reduced color shift and allows for a downsized optical system by optimizing beam alignment and using a single collimator lens, maintaining efficient beam propagation.
Implementation Method 1
a collimator that collimates a plurality of laser beams emitted from a plurality of light sources
Implementation Method 2
a diffraction grating that diffracts a plurality of laser beams collimated by the collimator and emits a plurality of laser beams along the same optical path
Implementation Method 3
a diffraction grating that diffracts a plurality of laser beams collimated by the collimator
Data Source
AI summary
An optical multiplexer includes a plurality of light sources that emit a plurality of laser beams having different wavelengths, a collimator that collimates a plurality of laser beams emitted from a plurality of light sources, and a diffraction grating that diffracts a plurality of laser beams collimated by the collimator and emits a plurality of laser beams along a same optical path, the diffraction grating being of a transmission-type. A plurality of light sources are linearly arranged on an incident side focal plane of the collimator, a grating surface of the diffraction grating is disposed on an emission side focal plane of the collimator, and distance D between two adjacent light sources is set to satisfy D=f×(λ1−λ2)/p, where λ1, λ2 (λ1>λ2) are respectively wavelengths of laser beams emitted from the two adjacent light sources.