US6343307B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Synthesis of light beams
Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Ltd
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Filing: 1999-03-26
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Granted: 2002-01-29
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Expires: 2019-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for synthesizing a desired light beam including calculating a two-dimensional light filter for an optical element, the two-dimensional light filter being such that the optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam, and illuminating the optical element.
Inventors
- 👤 David Mendlovic
- 👤 Zeev Zalevsky
- 👤 Gal Shabtay
- 👤 Uriel Levy
- 👤 Emanuel Marom
- 👤 Naim Konforti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06E; G06E1/00; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/42; G02B27/4233; G02B27/4266; G02B5/00; G02B5/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 66
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for synthesizing a desired light beam comprising: calculating a two-dimensional light filter for an optical element, the two-dimensional light filter being such that the optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam; and illuminating the optical element.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for synthesizing a desired light beam comprising: calculating a two-dimensional light filter for an optical element, the two-dimensional light filter being such that the optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam; and illuminating the optical element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the desired light beam is an elongated focused beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the optical element is a diffractive element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the optical element is a micro-optical element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the optical element uses mirrors to filter incoming light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the optical element is a refractive element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the two-dimensional light filter is a phase-only filter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the two-dimensional light filter is an amplitude-only filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the two-dimensional light filter is such that the optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that best approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam with respect to a prescribed error metric, as compared with three-dimensional light distributions produced by other two-dimensional light filters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the prescribed error metric is a least squares metric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the convolution of the two-dimensional light filter for the optical element with a free space propagation impulse response function approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the convolution of the two-dimensional light filter for the optical element with a free space propagation impulse response function best approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam with respect to a prescribed error metric, as compared with other two-dimensional light filters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the prescribed error metric is a least squares metric.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said calculating step includes solving a linear integral equation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said calculating step uses Fourier transforms to calculate the two-dimensional light filter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said calculating step is performed analytically.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said calculating step is performed by a computer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
115 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said calculating step comprises: choosing a candidate two-dimensional light filter for an optical element situated in a reference plane; deriving a plurality of forward planar light distributions within a respective plurality of transverse planes parallel to the reference plane, by applying forward free space propagation to an incoming light wave transverse to the optical element; modifying the plurality of forward planar light distributions; further deriving a plurality of back-propagated planar light distributions by applying backward free space propagation to each of the plurality of modified forward planar light distributions; and producing a modified candidate two-dimensional light filter by taking an average of the plurality of back-propagated planar light distributions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the desired light beam is an elongated focused light beam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the optical element is a diffractive element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the optical element is a micro-optical element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the optical element uses mirrors to filter incoming light.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the optical element is a refractive element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the desired light beam is specified by constraints at the plurality of transverse planes, and wherein said modifying step at least partially applies the constraints.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the constraints are constraints on the intensities of light distributions at the plurality of transverse planes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the two-dimensional light filter is a phase-only filter.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the two-dimensional light filter is an amplitude-only filter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said modifying step modifies intensities of the forward planar light distributions without modifying phases of the forward planar light distributions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said modifying step modifies the forward planar light distributions at spatial locations within a prescribed set of locations.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the average of the plurality of back-propagated planar light distributions is a weighted average of the plurality of back-propagated planar light distributions.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said deriving, modifying, further deriving and producing steps are repeated at least once.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said deriving, modifying, further deriving and producing steps are repeated a prescribed number of times.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said deriving, modifying, further deriving and producing steps are repeated until the modified candidate two-dimensional light filters produced at each repetition satisfy a prescribed convergence criterion.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said illuminating step illuminates the optical element by a planar light wave transverse thereto.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for synthesizing a desired light beam comprising: calculating a plurality of phase-only light filters for a respective plurality of optical elements, the plurality of phase-only light filters being such that the plurality of optical elements when mounted in series produce under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam; and illuminating the plurality of optical elements.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for synthesizing a desired light beam comprising: calculating a plurality of phase-only light filters for a respective plurality of optical elements, the plurality of phase-only light filters being such that the plurality of optical elements when mounted in series produce under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam; and illuminating the plurality of optical elements.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the desired light beam is an elongated focused light beam.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said calculating step applies an algorithm of Gerchberg-Saxton in a Fresnel domain.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
67 words
A system for synthesizing a desired light beam comprising: a processor calculating a two-dimensional light filter for an optical element, the two-dimensional light filter being such that the optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam; and an optical element filtering incoming light according to the two-dimensional light filter.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
67 words
A system for synthesizing a desired light beam comprising: a processor calculating a two-dimensional light filter for an optical element, the two-dimensional light filter being such that the optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam; and an optical element filtering incoming light according to the two-dimensional light filter.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 38 wherein the desired light beam is an elongated focused light beam.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 38 wherein said optical element is a diffractive element.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 38 wherein said optical element is a micro-optical element.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 38 wherein said optical element uses mirrors to filter incoming light.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 38 wherein said optical element is a refractive element.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 38 wherein the two-dimensional light filter is a phase-only filter.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 38 wherein the two-dimensional light filter is an amplitude-only filter.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 38 wherein the two-dimensional light filter is such that said optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a light distribution that best approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam with respect to a prescribed error metric, as compared with three-dimensional light distributions corresponding to other two-dimensional light filters.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
107 words
The system of claim 38 wherein said processor comprises: a free space propagation unit applying forward free space propagation to an incoming light wave transverse to an optical element situated in a reference plane, producing a plurality of forward planar light distributions within a respective plurality of transverse planes parallel to the reference plane, and applying backward free space propagation to modified forward planar light distributions, producing a plurality of back-propagated planar light distributions; a modification unit modifying the plurality of forward planar light distributions, producing the modified forward planar light distributions; and an averaging unit generating an average of the plurality of back-propagated planar light distributions.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 47 wherein the desired light beam is specified by constraints at the plurality of transverse planes, and wherein said modifying step at least partially applies the constraints.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 48 wherein the constraints are constraints on the intensities of light distributions at the plurality of transverse planes.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 47 wherein said modification unit is operational to modify intensities of the plurality of forward planar light distributions, without modifying phases of the plurality of forward planar light distributions.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 47 wherein said modification unit is operational to modify the plurality of forward planar light distributions at spatial locations within a prescribed set of locations.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 47 wherein said averaging unit generates a weighted average of the plurality of back-propagated planar light distributions.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
81 words
A system for synthesizing a desired light beam comprising: a processor calculating a two-dimensional light filter for an optical element, the two-dimensional light filter being such that the optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam; and a plurality of optical elements with phase-only light filters mounted in series which, when used in combination, filter incoming light according to the two-dimensional light filter.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
81 words
A system for synthesizing a desired light beam comprising: a processor calculating a two-dimensional light filter for an optical element, the two-dimensional light filter being such that the optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam; and a plurality of optical elements with phase-only light filters mounted in series which, when used in combination, filter incoming light according to the two-dimensional light filter.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 53 wherein the desired light beam is an elongated focused light beam.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
64 words
An elongated focused light beam for use within an optical scanner, made by the process of: calculating a two-dimensional light filter for an optical element, the two-dimensional light filter being such that the optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of a desired light beam; and illuminating the optical element.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
64 words
An elongated focused light beam for use within an optical scanner, made by the process of: calculating a two-dimensional light filter for an optical element, the two-dimensional light filter being such that the optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of a desired light beam; and illuminating the optical element.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
79 words
An elongated focused light beam for use within an optical scanner, made by the process of: calculating a plurality of phase-only light filters for a respective plurality of optical elements, the plurality of phase-only light filters being such that the plurality of optical elements when mounted in series produce under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of a desired light beam; and illuminating the plurality of optical elements.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
79 words
An elongated focused light beam for use within an optical scanner, made by the process of: calculating a plurality of phase-only light filters for a respective plurality of optical elements, the plurality of phase-only light filters being such that the plurality of optical elements when mounted in series produce under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of a desired light beam; and illuminating the plurality of optical elements.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
80 words
An article of manufacture including one or more computer readable media that embody a program of instructions for synthesizing a desired light beam, wherein the program of instructions, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to calculate a two-dimensional light filter for an optical element, the two-dimensional light filter being such that the optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
80 words
An article of manufacture including one or more computer readable media that embody a program of instructions for synthesizing a desired light beam, wherein the program of instructions, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to calculate a two-dimensional light filter for an optical element, the two-dimensional light filter being such that the optical element produces under free space propagation, in response to illumination thereof, a three-dimensional light distribution that approximates the light distribution of the desired light beam.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of manufacture of claim 57 wherein the one or more computer readable media include one or more non-volatile storage devices.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of manufacture of claim 57 wherein the one or more computer readable media include a carrier wave modulated with a data signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4290112A
Cited
US4351589A
Cited
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