Optical Waveguide Lens Grating Exposure With Multi-Beam Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical waveguide lenses face issues such as alignment differences, vibration, uneven refractive index matching, and limited adjustability of light output directions and grating positions, affecting transmission efficiency and imaging quality, particularly in one- and two-dimensional waveguide lenses.
Innovation Solution
A system for preparing optical waveguide lenses involving multi-beam splitting and pairwise interference of beams to form gratings in a single step, using a combination of optical components like half-wave plates, beam splitters, and collimating lenses to adjust beam angles and directions, enabling one-step formation of in-coupling, turning, and out-coupling gratings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple gratings are exposed individually during interference exposure, then the optical waveguide lens can be formed, but alignment differences, vibration, and uneven refractive index matching affect grating quality and transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual grating exposures into a single simultaneous exposure process. By using a beam splitter to divide a laser beam into multiple beams that illuminate different grating areas at the same time, the system forms multiple gratings in one exposure event, eliminating the time sequence issues that cause alignment differences and vibration effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a beam splitter as an intermediary device to distribute the laser beam into multiple paths simultaneously. This intermediary enables parallel exposure of multiple gratings without requiring sequential processing, thereby maintaining consistent refractive index matching conditions across all gratings during a single exposure event.
2Stability of the object's composition
If light output directions and grating arrangement positions are fixed during assembly, then the optical waveguide lens structure is stable, but the ability to adjust light output directions and grating positions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary positioning and alignment of multiple gratings during the simultaneous exposure process. By establishing precise spatial relationships between gratings before final assembly, the system ensures both structural stability and predetermined light output directions are achieved without requiring complex adjustments during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables adjustment of light output directions by changing the exposure parameters during grating formation. By modifying beam angles, positions, and orientations during the simultaneous exposure process, different light output configurations can be achieved while maintaining structural integrity, providing versatility without compromising stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If gratings are exposed at different times, then the exposure process is simple, but vibration and alignment differences influence grating quality and imaging effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sequential exposure operations into a single simultaneous exposure event. By using a beam splitter to create multiple beams from one laser source and expose multiple gratings at the same time, the system maintains manufacturing simplicity while eliminating the reliability issues caused by temporal separation of exposures.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam splitter acts as an intermediary that enables simultaneous exposure of multiple gratings without complicating the overall exposure process. This single component divides the laser beam into multiple paths, achieving parallel exposure while keeping the exposure system relatively simple and maintaining high imaging quality through consistent exposure conditions.
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 reduces preparation time and improves production efficiency by allowing simultaneous formation of multiple gratings with consistent performance, enhancing the quality and efficiency of optical waveguide lenses.
Implementation Method 1
a first monochromatic light generator (01), a first light intensity controller (02), a first half-wave plate (03), a first beam splitter (04)
Implementation Method 2
a first half-wave plate (03), a second half-wave plate (05)
Implementation Method 3
a first beam splitter (04)
Implementation Method 4
a first collimating lens (08), a second collimating lens (16)
Implementation Method 5
a second reflecting mirror (10), a third reflecting mirror (11)
Implementation Method 6
a two-dimensional optical waveguide lens consists of two or three gratings
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide a system for preparing an optical waveguide lens. Primarily, multi-beam splitting processing is performed on an exposure beam, and beams in different directions are made to interfere pairwise, thereby meeting multi-grating exposure requirements, enabling one-step formation of an in-coupling grating, a turning grating, and an out-coupling grating, reducing preparation time, and particularly improving production efficiency in large-scale production processes.