Waveguide-Grating Optical Sensing for Compact Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited dimensions of portable electronic devices restrict the design of optical sensing devices such as optical imaging devices and mid-infrared gas detection devices, making it challenging to accommodate them effectively.
Innovation Solution
An optical sensing device design incorporating a wave guide with thin light incident, emitting, and turning gratings, along with a three-lens imaging component, allowing for adjustable light path and improved design margin, enabling accommodation in narrow spaces and adaptability across various wavelength bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional optical sensing device designs are used, then imaging quality can be maintained, but the device cannot be accommodated in narrow spaces due to limited dimensions of portable electronic devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a waveguide structure that redirects light paths through multiple reflections and gratings, effectively folding the optical path into a compact three-dimensional configuration. This allows the optical sensing device to maintain sufficient optical path length for quality imaging while reducing the overall device volume to fit within narrow spaces of portable electronic devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging component is positioned within the waveguide structure, with lens elements nested along the folded optical path. The waveguide itself is integrated into the portable device housing, creating a nested arrangement where the optical system is contained within the device body, minimizing external dimensions while preserving internal optical functionality.
2Volume of moving object
If the device dimension is reduced to fit portable electronic devices, then accommodation in narrow spaces is achieved, but the disposal margin of optical components becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide structure incorporates adjustable gratings that can modify the light path geometry dynamically. By changing the grating orientations or positions, the optical path length and component spacing can be optimized without altering the external device dimensions, providing design flexibility and margin within the constrained volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes variations in grating spatial frequencies, refractive indices of waveguide materials, and surface reflection angles to optimize the optical path. By adjusting these parameters, the design can accommodate different component sizes and configurations while maintaining compact overall dimensions, effectively managing design margin within limited space.
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 design enables the optical sensing device to be compactly fitted in narrow spaces while maintaining effective imaging quality and adaptability to different wavelengths.
Implementation Method 1
a wave guide... through disposing the wave guide and the gratings thereon, the light path may be changed
Implementation Method 2
the light incident grating, the light emitting grating and a turning grating... the light path may be changed based on the positions of the gratings
Implementation Method 3
the imaging component from a wave-guide side toward an imaging side sequentially includes a first lens element, a second lens element and a third lens element
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an optical sensing device that includes a wave guide, a light incident grating, a light emitting grating, a sensing element and an imaging component. The light incident grating is attached to a first surface of the wave guide. The light emitting grating is attached to a second surface of the wave guide. The imaging component is disposed between the light emitting grating and the sensing element, and the imaging component from a wave-guide side toward an imaging side sequentially includes a first lens element, a second lens element and a third lens element. The first lens element has a positive refracting power. The second lens element has a negative refracting power. The third lens element has a negative refracting power. There is a total of three lens elements having refracting power in the optical sensing device.