Projection of multiple beams using cylindrical lenses

• US 10,686,548 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2019
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: MacKinnon, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Cors, Nathan M
• Application Number:
  US16/544,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20190372700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/14 for producing polarised light
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0014 at least one surface having optical power
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0057 in the form of a laser diode array, e.g. laser diode bar semiconductor laser arrays with beam combining arrangement H01S5/4012
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0911 Anamorphotic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0966 Cylindrical lenses cylindrical lenses per se G02B3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/285 comprising arrays of elements, e.g. microprisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25891 Transmission components H04B10/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/505 using external modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/04 Mode multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/06 Polarisation multiplex systems

Abstract

An optoelectronic apparatus includes an array of emitters configured to emit respective beams of optical radiation. Projection optics include first cylindrical lenses, which have respective, mutually-parallel first cylinder axes, and are aligned respectively with the emitters in the array so as to receive and project the respective beams, and a second cylindrical lens, which has a second cylinder axis perpendicular to the first cylinder axes and is positioned adjacent to the first cylindrical lenses so as to receive and project all of the beams from the first cylindrical lenses.

Claims

1. An optoelectronic apparatus, comprising:

an array of edge-emitting laser diodes disposed on a common substrate and configured to emit respective beams of optical radiation in a direction parallel to a plane of the substrate; and

projection optics, comprising;

first cylindrical lenses, which have respective, mutually-parallel first cylinder axes that are perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, and which are aligned respectively with the emitters in the array so that each of the first cylindrical lenses receives and projects a single, respective one of the beams; and

a second cylindrical lens, which has a second cylinder axis perpendicular to the first cylinder axes and is positioned adjacent to the first cylindrical lenses so as to receive and project all of the beams from the first cylindrical lenses.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection optics are configured to project a uniform illumination.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection optics are configured to project a patterned illumination.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second cylindrical lenses are configured to collimate the beams of optical radiation.

5. A method for projecting optical radiation, comprising:

providing an array of edge-emitting laser diodes disposed on a common substrate and configured to emit respective beams of optical radiation in a direction parallel to a plane of the substrate;

aligning first cylindrical lenses, which have respective, mutually-parallel first cylinder axes that are perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, with the emitters in the array so that each of the first cylindrical lenses receives and projects a single, respective one of the beams; and

aligning a second cylindrical lens, which has a second cylinder axis perpendicular to the first cylinder axes, in a position adjacent to the first cylindrical lenses so as to receive and project all of the beams from the first cylindrical lenses.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein aligning the first and second cylindrical lenses comprises configuring the lenses to project a uniform illumination.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein aligning the first and second cylindrical lenses comprises configuring the lenses to project a patterned illumination.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein aligning the first and second cylindrical lenses comprises configuring the lenses to collimate the beams of optical radiation.