DOE-based systems and devices for producing laser beams having modified beam characteristics

• US 6,825,980 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Groot, John, Good, Timothy A., Knowles, C. Harry, Dickson, LeRoy, Amundsen, Thomas C., Carullo, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASSAF, FAYEZ G
• Application Number:
  US09/965,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 359/15-18, 359/566, 359/568, 359/569, 359/565, 359/573
• US Class Current: 359/566
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0014 at least one surface having optical power
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0052 the light source comprising a laser diode coupling into light guides using intermediate optical elements G02B6/4204; semiconductor lasers having optical devices external to the laser cavity H01S5/005
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/106 having diffraction gratings as scanning elements, e.g. holographic scanners holographic optical elements G02B5/32, holography G03H
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/09 Beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectional area, not otherwise provided for adapting the beam shape of a laser diode G02B19/0052; adapting the beam shape of an LED G02B19/0061; coupling into light guides using intermediate optical elements G02B6/4204; beam shaping specially adapted for lasers H01S3/005
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0944 Diffractive optical elements, e.g. gratings, holograms gratings per se G02B5/18; holograms used as optical elements per se G02B5/32
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1842 Gratings for image generation G02B5/1847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1013 Multi-focal
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10594 Beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10603 Basic scanning using moving elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10663 using hologram
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10673 Parallel lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10693 for omnidirectional scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10792 Special measures in relation to the object to be scanned
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10801 Multidistance reading
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 : Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 : Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 : sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10871 : randomly oriented data-fields, code-marks therefore, e.g. concentric circles-code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 : constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 : the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 : adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 : with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/005 : Optical components external to the laser cavity, specially adapted therefor, e.g. for homogenisation or merging of the beams or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping H01S5/026, H01S5/18388 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4025 : Array arrangements, e.g. constituted by discrete laser diodes or laser bar H01S5/42 takes precedence

Abstract

Novel methods are disclosed for designing and constructing miniature optical systems and devices employing light diffractive optical elements (DOEs) for modifying the size and shape of laser beams produced from a commercial-grade laser diodes, over an extended range hitherto unachievable using conventional techniques. The systems and devices of the present invention have uses in a wide range of applications, including laser scanning, optical-based information storage, medical and analytical instrumentation, and the like. In the illustrative embodiments, various techniques are disclosed for implementing the DOEs as holographic optical elements (HOEs), computer-generated holograms (CGHs), as well as other diffractive optical elements.

Claims

1. A laser beam producing system comprises:

a visible laser diode (VLD), for producing a laser beam from its junction;

a collimating lens (L1) for collimating the laser beam as it is transmitted through collimating lens L1 and through the system in an S-incident manner;

a fixed spatial-frequency diffractive optical element (DOE) denotable by D1;

a fixed spatial-frequency diffractive optical element (DOE) denotable by D2; and

a focusing lens (L2) disposed between DOE D1 and DOE D2 and adjustably translatable along its optical axis for focusing the output laser beam to some point in space.

2. The laser beam producing system of claim 1, wherein said collimating lens (L1) is realized by an optical element selected from the group consisting of a refractive lens, a HOE, a CGH, other type of DOE, a grin lens, and one or more zone plate(s).

3. The laser beam producing system of claim 1, wherein each said DOE is realized by an optical element selected from the group consisting of a HOE, a computer-generated hologram (CGHs), and a surface-relief hologram.

4. The laser beam producing system of claim 1, wherein a total beam-shaping factor of the laser beam producing system is defined by M=M₁M₂, wherein M₁ is the magnification factor of said DOE D₁, and M₂ is the magnification factor of said DOE D₂, and wherein said total beam-shaping factor for the laser beam producing system is less than unity, that is M1*M2<

1, and the laser beam leaving said DOE D₁ and said DOE D₂ is compressed in one dimension.

5. The laser beam producing system of claim 1, wherein each of said DOEs is realized by an optical element selected from the group consisting of a HOE, a CGH, and a surface-relief hologram.

6. The laser beam producing system of claim 1, wherein said focusing lens (L2) is realized by an optical element selected from the group consisting of a refractive lens, holographic optical element (HOE), diffractive optical element (DOE), grin lens, and zone plate(s).

7. A laser beam producing system comprises:

a visible laser diode (VLD), for producing a laser beam from its junction;

a collimating lens (L1) for collimating the laser beam as it is transmitted through collimating lens L1 and through the system in a P-incident manner;

a fixed spatial-frequency diffractive optical element (DOE) denotable by D1;

a fixed spatial-frequency diffractive optical element (DOE) denotable by D2; and

a focusing lens (L2) disposed between DOE D1 and DOE D2 and adjustably translatable along its optical axis during the alignment stage of the system assembly process for focusing the output laser beam to some point in space.

8. The laser beam producing system of claim 7, wherein said collimating lens (L1) is realized by an optical element selected from the group consisting of a refractive lens, a HOE, a CGH, other type of DOE, a grin lens, and one or more zone plate(s).

9. The laser beam producing system of claim 7, wherein each said DOE is realized by an optical element selected from the group consisting of a HOE, a computer-generated hologram (CGHs), and a surface-relief hologram.

10. The laser beam producing system of claim 7, wherein each of said DOEs is realized by an optical element selected from the group consisting of a HOE, a CGH, and a surface-relief hologram.

11. The laser beam producing system of claim 7, wherein a total beam-shaping factor for the laser beam producing system is defined by M=M₁M₂, wherein M₁ is the magnification factor of said DOE D₁, and M₂ is the magnification factor of said DOE D₂, and wherein the total beam-shaping factor for the laser beam producing system is greater than unity, that is M1*M2>

1, and the laser beam leaving said DOE D₁ and said DOE D₂ is expanded in one dimension.

12. The laser beam producing system of claim 7, wherein said focusing lens (L2) is realized by an optical element selected from the group consisting of a refractive lens, holographic optical element (HOE), diffractive optical element (DOE), grin lens, and zone plate(s).