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Publication Number
US-9426435-B2
Publication Date
2016-08-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
A scanning projector suitable for projecting an image comprising a plurality of wavelength signals (i.e., light signals having different wavelengths) is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention comprise a beam combiner comprising a planar lightwave circuit that includes a plurality of surface waveguides arranged in define a plurality of input ports, a mixing region, and an output port. Different wavelength signals received at the input ports are combined into a composite output beam that is scanned over a region. The projector (1) scans a first wavelength signal over a plurality of image points in the region, (2) detects an amount of the first wavelength signal reflected from each image point, whose reflectivity at the first wavelength is based on a measurand, and (3) projects an image onto the region using a second wavelength signal, where the image is based on the reflected first wavelength signal at each of the image points.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a scanning projector that includes first light source providing a first light signal characterized by a first wavelength, and a second light source providing a second light signal characterized by a second wavelength. A beam combiner comprising a planar lightwave circuit includes a plurality of waveguides arranged to define a first input port, a second input port, a mixing region, and an output port. The beam combiner receives the first light signal at the first input port and receives the second light signal at the second input port, combines the first light signal and the second light signal into a composite output signal, and provides the composite output signal at the output port. A scanner receives the composite output signal and scans the composite output signal over each of a plurality of image points in a first region.
In another aspect, a scanning projector includes a plurality of light sources, where each light source provides a different one of a plurality of light signals characterized by different wavelengths, and wherein the plurality of wavelengths are irregularly spaced. A beam combiner comprises a planar lightwave circuit that includes a plurality of input ports, a mixing region, and an output port. Each input port receives a different one of the plurality of light signals, and the mixing region combines the plurality of light signals into a composite output signal provided at the output port.
A related method receives the first light signal at a first input port of the beam combiner and receives the second light signal at a second input port of the beam combiner, where the beam combiner comprises a planar lightwave circuit including the first input port, the second input port, a mixing region, and an output port. The method combines the first light signal and the second light signal in a composite output signal provided at the output port, and scans the composite output signal over a first region.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00014, and clm-00023, covering three inventive features: two-wavelength scanning with a planar lightwave circuit beam combiner, multi-light-source scanning with irregularly spaced wavelengths, and a corresponding method of receiving, combining, and scanning composite output signals.
Planar lightwave circuit beam combiner for two wavelengths and composite output
A scanning projector comprising a beam combiner comprising a planar lightwave circuit including plurality of waveguides that are arranged to define a first input port, a second input port, a mixing region, and an output port; receiving the first light signal at the first input port; receiving the second light signal at the second input port; combining the first light signal and the second light signal into a composite output signal; and providing the composite output signal at the output port.
Scanner scanning composite output over image points in a first region
A scanning projector further comprising a scanner, the scanner receiving the composite output signal from the beam combiner and scanning the composite output signal over each of a plurality of image points in a first region.
Irregularly spaced wavelengths from plurality of light sources
A scanning projector comprising a plurality of light sources, wherein each of the plurality of light sources provides a different one of a plurality of light signals, each of the plurality of light signals being characterized by a different wavelength, and wherein the plurality of wavelengths are irregularly spaced.
Planar lightwave circuit mixing region combining multiple input ports into composite output
A scanning projector comprising a beam combiner comprising a planar lightwave circuit that includes a plurality of input ports, a mixing region, and an output port, wherein each of the plurality of input ports receives a different one of the plurality of light signals, and wherein the mixing region combines the plurality of light signals into a composite output signal that is provided at the output port.
Receiving first and second wavelengths, combining into composite output, scanning over a first region
A method comprising receiving a first light signal characterized by a first wavelength at a first input port of a beam combiner, receiving a second light signal characterized by a second wavelength at the second input port, combining the first light signal and the second light signal in a composite output signal provided at the output port, and scanning the composite output signal over a first region.
Across clm-00001, clm-00014, and clm-00023, the claim coverage centers on using a planar lightwave circuit beam combiner with a mixing region and an output port to form a composite output signal from multiple wavelength light signals, and scanning that composite output over a plurality of image points in a first region; clm-00014 additionally specifies irregularly spaced wavelengths from multiple light sources.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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