JP3241220U - Infrared illumination device using laser light source containing gallium and nitrogen - Google Patents

Abstract

An infrared illumination device using a laser light source containing gallium and nitrogen is provided. A laser-based white light source includes a GaN-containing violet/blue pump laser and a wavelength converting element to produce white emission, and an infrared emitting laser diode to produce infrared emission. The infrared emission is incident on approximately the same phosphor spot as the blue laser diode such that the resulting white emission and scattered/reflected infrared emission substantially overlap in space. White light and infrared emission may be emitted from a blue laser diode and an infrared laser diode, white light may be emitted from a blue laser diode, or infrared emission may be emitted from an infrared laser diode. [Selection drawing] Fig. 4A

Description

Cross-references to related applications

This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 17/479,671, filed September 20, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are rapidly becoming the choice of solid state lighting technology due to their high efficiency, long life, low cost, and non-toxicity. An LED is a two-lead light source, typically based on a PIN junction diode, that emits electromagnetic radiation when activated. Light emission from LEDs is spontaneous and generally Lambertian Pattern. When a suitable voltage is applied to the leads, electrons and holes recombine within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons. This effect is called electroluminescence, and the color of the light is determined by the energy band gap of the semiconductor.

By combining GaN-based LEDs with wavelength converting materials such as phosphors, solid-state white light sources can be achieved. This technology, which uses GaN-based LEDs and fluorescent materials to obtain white light, offers many advantages over incandescent light sources, such as lower power consumption, longer life, improved physical robustness, smaller size, and faster switching. , brightly illuminating our surroundings. LEDs are currently used in a variety of applications such as aviation lighting, automotive headlamps, advertising, general lighting, traffic lights, and camera flashes. LEDs enable the development of new character and video displays and sensors, and their high switching rates are very useful in communication technology.

Although useful, LEDs still have limitations that the inventions disclosed below are desired to overcome.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system or apparatus comprised of an infrared (IR) illumination source integrated with a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode-based white light source. The ability to emit light in both the visible and infrared spectrum makes the system or device at least a dual-band emitting light source. By way of example only, the present invention may be used in applications such as general lighting, commercial lighting and displays, automotive lighting and communications, defense and security, search and rescue, industrial processing, Internet communications, agriculture and horticulture, spotlights, detection , imaging, projection display, spatially dynamic lighting apparatus and methods, LIDAR, LiFi, visible light communication apparatus and methods, and combinations thereof. A smart laser lighting device and method are provided. The integrated light source according to the present invention can be installed in motor vehicle headlights, general lighting sources, security light sources, searchlight light sources, defense light sources, as a LiFi communication device, and for the purpose of optimizing plant growth. used for horticulture and many other uses.

According to one embodiment, a mobile device comprises a white light system and an infrared (IR) system. The white light system comprises a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode having a ridge waveguide with facet regions at the ends of the ridge waveguide, the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode comprising: the directional electromagnetic radiation from the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode configured to output directional electromagnetic radiation through one of the facet regions, wherein the directional electromagnetic radiation is characterized by a first peak wavelength; positioned in the path of said directional electromagnetic radiation from said gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode and radiating said directional electromagnetic radiation having said first peak wavelength at least partially to said first peak; a first wavelength converter configured to convert to at least a second peak wavelength longer than the wavelength and produce white light emission having at least said second peak wavelength; and at least said gallium and nitrogen containing laser. At least one common support member supporting the diode and the first wavelength converter. The infrared system is an infrared emitting laser diode configured to output infrared radiation, configured to output directional electromagnetic radiation characterized by a third peak wavelength in the infrared region of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. and an infrared emitting laser diode.

In one embodiment, the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode and/or infrared emitting laser diode is configured for use in time-of-flight sensors, LIDAR sensors, or other sensor applications.

In another embodiment, the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode and/or the infrared emitting laser diode is configured for communication or data transmission in a LiFi system.

In yet another embodiment, the infrared system is configured for night vision or infrared lighting applications and operates independently of the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode.

According to another embodiment, a mobile device with an illumination system comprises a light source, said light source being a laser diode configured as a first pump light device, comprising an optical waveguide region and one or more facets a laser diode having an optical cavity having a region and configured to output directional electromagnetic radiation characterized by a first peak wavelength from said laser diode through at least one of said facet regions; and receiving the directional electromagnetic radiation from the first pump optical device, the directional electromagnetic radiation having the first peak wavelength being at least partially a first wavelength converter configured to convert said first peak wavelength to at least a second peak wavelength longer than said first peak wavelength to produce white emission having at least said second peak wavelength; an infrared emitting laser diode configured to output directional electromagnetic radiation characterized by a third peak wavelength in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; and a base member; at least one common support member supporting at least said laser diode and said first wavelength converter; and beam shaping for directing said visible white emission and said infrared emission to illuminate a target of interest. Equipped with a vessel and

In one embodiment, said first peak wavelength from said first pump light device is in the violet wavelength region of 390 nm to 430 nm, or said laser diode comprises said first peak wavelength in the blue wavelength region of 430 nm to 480 nm. A gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode configured to emit at a peak wavelength of .

In another embodiment, said first wavelength converter is optically coupled to said directional electromagnetic radiation from said infrared emitting laser diode, said first wavelength converter reflecting and /or configured to scatter, wherein said infrared emission and said visible white emission overlap within the same spatial region.

In another embodiment, said first wavelength converter is optically coupled to said directional electromagnetic radiation from said infrared emitting laser diode, said first wavelength converter transmitting and transmitting said infrared emission. /or configured to scatter, wherein said infrared emission and said visible white emission overlap within the same spatial region.

In another embodiment, said first wavelength converter comprises a fluorescent material, said fluorescent material being Ce-doped ceramic yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) or Ce-doped single crystal YAG or a binder A powdered YAG containing material, wherein the fluorescent material has a light conversion efficiency of at least 50 lumens per light watt.

In another embodiment, said infrared emitting laser diode is configured to emit at said third peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 700 nm to 1100 nm, the wavelength range of 1100 nm to 2500 nm, or the wavelength range of 2500 nm to 15000 nm. .

In another embodiment, the infrared emitting laser diode is based on a material system consisting of GaAs, InP, InGaAs, InAs, InAlAs, AlGaAs, AlInGaP, InGaAsP, InGaAsSb, or combinations thereof.

In another embodiment, the beam shaper includes slow-axis collimating lenses, fast-axis collimating lenses, aspheric lenses, ball lenses, total internal reflection (TIR) optics, parabolic lens optics, refractive optics, and visible It includes a combination of one or more optical elements selected from micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirrors configured to direct, collimate, and focus the white light emission to alter at least the angular distribution.

In another embodiment, said visible white emission having said at least second peak wavelength is coupled to an optical fiber member, or said infrared emission having said third peak wavelength is coupled to an optical fiber, or said second peak wavelength is coupled to said optical fiber. Both the visible white emission having a peak wavelength and the infrared emission having a third peak wavelength are coupled into an optical fiber member, the optical fiber being single mode fiber (SMF) or multimode fiber (MMF). , the core diameter of said optical fiber ranges from about 1 um to 10 um, from about 10 um to 50 um, from about 50 um to 150 um, from about 150 um to 500 um, from about 500 um to 1 mm, from about 1 mm to 5 mm or greater than 5 mm.

According to yet another embodiment, the illumination system comprises a light source, said light source being a laser diode configured as a first pump light device, an optical waveguide region having an optical waveguide region and one or more facet regions. a laser diode having a cavity and configured to output a first directed electromagnetic radiation characterized by a first peak wavelength from said laser diode through at least one of said facet regions; and receiving said first directional electromagnetic radiation from said first pump optical device, said first wavelength converter having said first peak wavelength a first wavelength configured to at least partially convert directional electromagnetic radiation to at least a second peak wavelength longer than said first peak wavelength to produce white light emission having at least said second peak wavelength; A wavelength converter and an infrared emitting laser diode configured to provide infrared emission, the infrared emitting laser diode outputting directional electromagnetic radiation characterized by a third peak wavelength in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. , a package member comprised of a base member; at least one common support member for supporting at least said laser diode and said first wavelength converter; and said visible white light emission and said infrared light emission for illuminating a target of interest. and a directing beam shaper.

In one embodiment, the lighting system includes portable spotlights, large spotlights, searchlights, outdoor lighting, indoor lighting, detection, imaging, projection displays, spatially dynamic lighting devices, LIDAR, LiFi, visible white One or more applications including optical communications, general lighting, commercial lighting and displays, automotive lighting, automotive communications and/or detection, defense and security, search and rescue, industrial processing, internet communications, or agriculture or horticulture configured for use with

By way of example only, the present invention may be used in white lights, white spotlights, flash lights, motor vehicle headlights, all terrain vehicle lighting, light sources used in recreational sports such as biking, surfing, running, racing, boating, etc. Light sources used in drones, aircraft, robotics and other mobile and robotic applications, safety and defense applications, polychromatic lighting, flat panel lighting, medical, instrumentation, beam projection and other displays, high intensity lamps , spectroscopy, entertainment, theater, music, concerts, analysis and/or authentication for fraud detection, tools, water treatment, laser blinding, sighting, communications, LiFi, visible light communication (VLC), sensors, detection, distance detection, light detection and ranging (LIDAR), transducing, transporting, leveling, curing and other chemical treatments, heating, cutting and/or ablating, pumping to other optical devices, other optoelectronic devices and applications therefor; And it can be applied to applications such as light source illumination. The integrated light source according to the present invention can be installed in motor vehicle headlights, general lighting sources, security light sources, searchlight light sources, defense light sources, as a LiFi communication device, and for the purpose of optimizing plant growth. used for horticulture and many other uses. Embodiments described herein can be used in cars, drones, unmanned vehicles, aircraft, ships, underwater vehicles, off-road vehicles, trucks, and many other mobile devices.

The following drawings are merely exemplary in describing the various embodiments disclosed herein and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Functional blocks for a laser-based white light source according to embodiments of the present invention integrated into an infrared illumination light source including UV/blue pump lasers, red/near infrared emitting laser diodes, visible light emitting fluorescent members, and infrared emitting fluorescent members. It is a diagram.

1 is a schematic side view of a laser-based white light source according to an embodiment of the invention with infrared illumination capability operating in reflective mode in a hermetically sealed surface mount package; FIG.

A laser base according to embodiments of the present invention integrated with an infrared illumination source comprising a UV/blue pump laser, a visible wavelength conversion element, an infrared emitting laser diode, and a sensor member providing sensor feedback for illumination activation. 1 is a functional block diagram of the white light source of FIG.

1 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a laser diode source according to some embodiments of the invention, including a blue laser diode and an infrared laser diode; FIG.

The present invention provides a system or apparatus comprising an infrared illumination source integrated with a white light source based on a laser diode containing gallium and nitrogen (hereinafter GaN) (hereinafter GaN-containing laser diode). By way of example only, the present invention may be used in applications such as general lighting, commercial lighting and displays, automotive lighting and communications, defense and security, search and rescue, industrial processing, Internet communications, agriculture and horticulture, spotlights, detection , imaging, projection display, spatially dynamic lighting apparatus and methods, LIDAR, LiFi, visible light communication apparatus and methods, and combinations thereof. A smart laser lighting device and method are provided. The integrated light source according to the present invention can be installed in motor vehicle headlights, general lighting sources, security light sources, searchlight light sources, defense light sources, as a LiFi communication device, and for the purpose of optimizing plant growth. used for horticulture and many other uses.

Composed of a laser-based white light source and an infrared light source, the present invention is capable of emitting light in the visible and infrared wavelength bands, selectively operating in one band or simultaneously in both bands. is configured as

The present invention is configured to allow both visible light emission and infrared light emission. While the necessity and usefulness of visible light are clear, illumination in an illumination wavelength band other than visible light is often desired. As an example, infrared illumination is used for night vision purposes. Night vision or infrared detection devices play an important role in defense, security, search and rescue, recreation, and other commercial, municipal, and government sectors. Night vision technology is widely deployed in the consumer market for a variety of applications, such as hunting, gaming, driving, positioning, sensing, and personal protection, as it provides visibility in no-light or low-ambient-light environments. Night vision and infrared detection are enabled by a combination of sufficient spectral range and sufficient intensity range, whether by biological or technological means. Such detection may correspond to two-dimensional imaging, or three-dimensional range finding, such as ranging, or even three-dimensional imaging, such as LIDAR.

In various embodiments, the laser device and the fluorescent device are copackaged or mounted on a common support member, with or without an intermediate submount member, and the fluorescent material is in transmission mode. , functions as a white-emitting laser-based light source by operating in reflection or side-pump mode.

The fluorescent material can be operated in transmission mode, reflection mode, or a combination of transmission and reflection modes, or other modes. Fluorescent materials are characterized by conversion efficiency, thermal damage resistance, photodamage resistance, thermal quenching properties, porosity to diffuse excitation light, and thermal conductivity. In one embodiment, the fluorescent material has a conversion efficiency greater than 100 lumens/light Watt, greater than 200 lumens/light Watt, or greater than 300 lumens/light Watt and comprises a Ce-doped yellow-emitting YAG material. , polycrystalline ceramic material or monocrystalline material.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide illumination capable of providing visible and infrared illumination by providing a light source configured to emit laser-based visible and infrared light, such as white light. A light source is formed. The light source comprises a GaN-containing laser diode excitation source configured with an optical cavity. The optical cavity comprises an optical waveguide region and one or more facet regions. The optical cavity consists of electrodes that provide a first drive current to the GaN-containing material. The first drive current provides optical gain to electromagnetic radiation propagating in the optical waveguide region of the GaN-containing material. Electromagnetic radiation is output through at least one or more facet regions as directional electromagnetic radiation characterized by first peak wavelengths in the ultraviolet, blue, green, and red wavelength regions. Additionally, the light source includes a wavelength converter, such as a fluorescent member, optically coupled to the electromagnetic radiation path for receiving the directional electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source. The wavelength converter is configured to convert at least a portion of the directed electromagnetic radiation having a first peak wavelength to at least a second peak wavelength longer than the first peak wavelength. In one embodiment, at least the second peak wavelength and partially the first peak wavelength provide an output comprising a white spectrum forming a visible light spectral component of the laser-based according to the present invention. As an example, the first peak wavelength is a blue wavelength and the second peak wavelength is a yellow wavelength. Optionally, the light source includes a beam shaper that directs the white spectrum to illuminate a target or region of interest.

One embodiment of the invention includes a laser diode or light emitting diode having a third peak wavelength to form the infrared emitting component of the dual band emitting light source. The infrared laser diode includes an optical cavity made up of electrodes that provide a second drive current to the infrared laser diode. The second drive current provides optical gain to electromagnetic radiation propagating in the optical waveguide region of the infrared laser diode material. Electromagnetic radiation is output through at least one or more facet regions as directional electromagnetic radiation characterized by a third peak wavelength in the infrared range. In one configuration, the directional infrared emission is optically coupled to the wavelength converter member such that the wavelength converter member is in the optical path of the infrared emission and receives the directional electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source. The infrared emission having the third peak wavelength is incident upon the wavelength converter member and is at least partially reflected from the wavelength converter member in the same direction as the optical path of the white emission having the first and second peak wavelengths. be redirected. The infrared emission is redirected through an optical beam shaper that directs the output infrared light to illuminate approximately the same target or region of interest as the visible light. In this embodiment, the first and second drive currents can be independently actuated such that the device actuates only the first drive current to provide a visible light source or the second drive current can be activated to provide an infrared light source, or can provide both a visible light source and an infrared light source at the same time. In some applications, it may be desirable to use only an infrared illumination source for infrared detection. Sensing an object may activate a visible light source.

One embodiment provides a laser-based white light source that includes a GaN-containing violet/blue pump laser and a wavelength converting element to produce white emission, and an infrared emitting laser diode to produce infrared emission. . A violet/blue laser device may be provided that emits in the spectrum with a centerpoint wavelength of 390 nm to 480 nm. Light from a violet/blue laser device impinges on a wavelength converting element that converts some or all of the blue light to longer wavelength light, producing a white light spectrum. In some embodiments, GaN-containing laser diodes operate in the range of 480nm to 540nm. In some embodiments, one or more beam shaping optics may be provided to shape or focus the white light spectrum. Further included is an infrared emitting laser device for producing infrared illumination. Directional infrared electromagnetic radiation from the laser diode is incident on the wavelength converting element and either reflected by or transmitted through the wavelength converting element, following the same optical path as the white light emission. The infrared emission contains indium and phosphorus for peak wavelengths in the range of 700 nm to 1100 nm based on gallium and arsenic material systems (e.g., GaAs) for near-infrared illumination, or eye-safe wavelengths for infrared illumination. Peak wavelengths in the range of 1100 nm to 2500 nm based on material systems (eg, InP) or wavelength ranges of 2500 nm to 15000 nm based on quantum cascade laser technology for mid-infrared thermal imaging can be included. The one or more beam-shaping optical elements are slow-axis collimating lenses, fast-axis collimating lenses, aspheric lenses, ball lenses, total internal reflection (TIR) optics, parabolic lens optics, refractive optics, or combinations thereof. can be selected from as needed. In another embodiment, one or more beam shaping optical elements may be positioned prior to the laser light entering the wavelength converting element.

In some embodiments, the infrared emission is incident on substantially the same phosphor spot as the blue laser diode such that the resulting white emission and scattered/reflected infrared emission substantially overlap spatially. An example light source is shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, where white light and infrared emission may be emitted from a blue laser diode and an infrared laser diode (FIG. 4A), with white light emitted from a blue laser diode. (FIG. 4B), or the infrared emission may be emitted from an infrared laser diode (FIG. 4C).

In some embodiments, visible and/or infrared emissions from a light source are coupled into an optical waveguide, such as an optical fiber. The optical fibers can be glass optical fibers or plastic optical fibers. The optical fiber can be of any length including single mode fiber (SMF) or multimode fiber (MMF), with a core diameter of about 1 um to 10 um, about 10 um to 50 um, about 50 um to 150 um, about 150 um to 500 um, about 500 um to 1 mm, about 1 mm to 5 mm or greater than 5 mm. An optical fiber can be aligned with the collimating optics to receive collimated white light and/or infrared emissions.

In another configuration of this embodiment that includes a direct laser diode infrared illumination source, the infrared illumination is optically coupled directly to the optical beam shaping element instead of interacting with the reflected and/or transmitted wavelength conversion element. be.

Infrared lasers according to the present invention can be configured to emit light at wavelengths between 700 nm and 2.5 microns. Infrared laser diodes can be used to provide infrared illumination capabilities, or LiFi/VLC communication capabilities, or a combination of both. For example, GaAs-based laser diodes emitting in the range of 700 nm to 1100 nm may be included for near-infrared night vision illumination, ranging and LIDAR sensors, and communications. Another example may include InP-based laser diodes operating in the range of 1100 nm to 2500 nm for eye-safe wavelength infrared illumination, ranging, LIDAR sensors, and communications. Yet another example may include laser diodes operating in the wavelength range of 2500 nm to 15000 nm based on quantum cascade laser technology for mid-infrared thermal imaging, sensors, and communications. For example, GaInAs/AlInAs quantum cascade lasers operate in the wavelength range of 3 μm to 8 μm at room temperature. Infrared laser diode devices according to the present invention may be formed on InP substrates using the InGaAsP material system, and may be formed on GaAs substrates using InAlGaAsP. A quantum cascade laser may be mounted for infrared emission. In one embodiment, one or more infrared laser devices may be formed on the same carrier wafer as the visible violet/blue GaN laser diode sources by epitaxy transfer techniques according to the present invention.

By extending the wavelength range available for laser-based illumination, infrared down-converting phosphors can be used to cover the near-infrared spectrum (0.7um-1.4um), the mid-infrared spectrum (1.4um-3. 0 um), and even 3.0 um or more in the deep infrared spectrum. It can be pure infrared emission or a combination of visible and infrared emission, depending on the application requirements. There are many possible infrared phosphors, but which infrared phosphor is suitable depends on the wavelength of irradiation and the intrinsic properties of the phosphor when converting visible light into infrared light.

FIG. 1 shows a laser including a GaN-containing violet/blue pump laser and a wavelength conversion element for producing white emission and an infrared emitting wavelength converter member for producing infrared emission, according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the white light source of the base; As shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a blue/violet laser device formed of GaN containing material that emits in a spectrum with a centerpoint wavelength between 390 nm and 480 nm. In some embodiments, GaN-containing laser diodes operate in the range of 480nm to 540nm. In some embodiments, the laser diode is composed of III-nitride materials that emit in the ultraviolet region with wavelengths between about 270 nm and about 390 nm. Light from a violet/blue laser device impinges on a wavelength converting element that converts some or all of the blue light to longer wavelength light, producing a white light spectrum. A laser driver is provided for powering a GaN-containing laser device. Light from a blue laser device impinges on a wavelength converting element that converts some or all of the blue light to longer wavelength light and produces a white light spectrum. In some embodiments, one or more beam shaping optics may be provided to shape or focus the white light spectrum. Further included are infrared emitting wavelength converter members having peak emission wavelengths in the range of 650 nm to 2000 nm or more. A second laser device is included that excites the infrared wavelength converter to produce an infrared illumination emission. A laser driver is included to power the infrared emitting laser diode. Some embodiments include a beam shaping element that collects and directs infrared illumination emissions. In one embodiment, the infrared illumination and white light illumination emissions share at least a common beam shaping element such that the visible and infrared illumination areas substantially overlap.

In a specific embodiment, the areas irradiated by the pump lasers partially overlap. In a specific embodiment, a subset of the pump lasers illuminate a fully overlapping region on the first face of the wavelength converting element and one or more other pump lasers overlap on the first face of the wavelength converting element. It is configured to illuminate non-matching or partially overlapping areas.

In one embodiment, an optical fiber is used as the waveguiding element with electromagnetic radiation from one or more laser diodes in-coupled into the fiber at one end and electromagnetic radiation from the other end of the fiber. outcouples out of the fiber and into the fluorescent member. Optical fibers can be made of glass materials such as silica, polymeric materials, or others, and can range in length from 100 μm to about 100 m or more.

In another embodiment, the laser device is copackaged with the wavelength converting element on a common substrate. A molding member may be provided separating either the laser device or the wavelength converting element from the common substrate such that the pump light is incident on the wavelength converting element at an angle that is non-parallel to the surface normal of the wavelength covering member. A transmission mode configuration is also possible in which the laser light is incident on the side surface of the wavelength conversion element that does not face the opening of the package. In addition, other optical elements, mechanical elements, electrical elements, and the like can be mounted on the package.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a laser-based white light source according to an embodiment of the invention with infrared illumination capability operating in reflective mode in a hermetically sealed surface mount package. As shown, the surface mount device package consists of a package base member configured as a support member. A fluorescent plate is provided on the support member and configured in the optical path of light emitted from one or more laser diode members. One or more laser diode members are configured on an elevated mounting surface that is non-parallel to the mounting surface on which the phosphor plate is mounted. This changes the angle of incidence of the laser excitation beam on the fluorescent screen. The phosphor plate is configured in a reflective mode, receiving light emission from the laser diode member at the top of the excitation surface and emitting visible and infrared light from the top surface. A transparent window member is included for sealing around the laser-based visible/infrared emitting source.

In some embodiments, a laser-based white light source configured with an infrared illumination source is configured with an infrared sensor or infrared imaging system. The infrared illumination source of the present invention is used to direct infrared electromagnetic radiation onto a target area or object, and an infrared sensor or imaging system detects the presence, movement, or other characteristics of objects or objects within the illumination area. may be arranged to An infrared sensor triggers a response when a characteristic is detected. As an example, a visible light laser-based white light is triggered to activate and illuminate the target material with visible white light. Some embodiments of the present invention include infrared tracking, also known as Infrared Homing, which uses infrared electromagnetic radiation emitted by a target to track the movement of the object. High-temperature objects such as people, vehicles, and aircraft emit strong infrared rays.

In one embodiment, a light projection device comprising a dynamic laser-based light source or microdisplay element provides dynamic beam steering, beam patterning or beam pixelation effects. Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) scanning mirrors or "flying mirrors", digital light processing (DLP) chips, digital mirror devices (DMD), or microdisplays such as liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) are mounted and emitted The spatial pattern and/or color of light can be dynamically changed. In one embodiment, the light is pixelated to form a spatial pattern or image of white light by activating certain pixels while others are not. In another example, the dynamic light source is configured to steer or point the light beam. Steering and pointing can be accomplished by user input consisting of dials, switches, joystick mechanisms, or directed by feedback loops including sensors.

In particular embodiments of the invention that include dual-band light sources capable of emitting in visible and infrared wavelength bands, one or more emission bands from the light source are dynamically activated by alternating illumination bands. It works by a feedback loop with a sensor that creates a bright illumination source. Such sensors include infrared imaging units including infrared cameras or focal plane arrays, chemical sensors such as microphones, geophones, hydrophones, hydrogen sensors, _CO2 sensors, or electronic nose sensors, flow sensors, water meters, gas meters, Geiger Counters, altimeters, airspeed sensors, speed sensors, optical parallax rangefinders, piezoelectric sensors, gyroscopes, inertial sensors, accelerometers, MEMS sensors, hall effect sensors, metal detectors, voltage detectors, photoelectric sensors, light detection detectors, photoresistors, pressure sensors, strain gauges, thermistors, thermocouples, pyrometers, thermometers, motion detectors, passive infrared sensors, Doppler sensors, biosensors, capacitance sensors, video sensors, transducers, image sensors, infrared sensors , RADAR, SONAR, LIDAR, and the like.

One example is a dynamic lighting feature that includes a feedback loop with infrared sensors that detect motion and objects. A dynamic light source is configured to sense the spatial location of the motion and illuminate the object or location with visible light by steering the output beam to that location with respect to the object or location for which motion is detected. . Another example includes dynamic optical features that include feedback loops with sensors, such as accelerometers. The accelerometer predicts where the laser light source device is moving and steers the output beam to that position before the user of the device moves the light source to point it at the desired position. Of course, these are only examples of dynamic light sources with feedback loops involving sensors, and there can be many implementations of the inventive concept involving combinations of dynamic light sources and sensors.

FIG. 3 shows a feedback loop comprising a GaN-containing violet/blue pump laser and wavelength conversion element for producing white light emission and an infrared emitting laser diode for producing infrared light emission, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of a laser-based white light source configured with a sensor forming a . This diagram is merely an example and should not unduly limit the scope of utility model claims. As shown in FIG. 3, a blue/violet laser device is provided that emits in a spectrum centered between 390 nm and 480 nm. Light from a blue laser device impinges on a wavelength converting element that converts some or all of the blue light to longer wavelength light and produces a white light spectrum. A laser driver is provided for powering a GaN-containing laser device to excite a visible emitting wavelength member. Further included is an infrared emitting laser device for producing infrared illumination. Directional infrared electromagnetic radiation from the laser diode is incident on the wavelength converting element and either reflected by or transmitted through the wavelength converting element, following the same optical path as the white light emission. A second laser driver is included that powers the infrared emitting laser diode and provides a controlled amount of current at a voltage sufficiently high to operate the infrared laser diode.

In accordance with the present invention, the infrared emitting illumination source of FIG. 3 includes sensors configured to provide inputs to the first laser driver and/or the second laser driver. As an example, the first laser driver consists of an infrared sensor that detects motion or objects using an infrared illumination source. When detection is triggered using the infrared illumination source, the first laser driver activates the first laser diode to produce white light and illuminate the object or target with visible light. It would be useful in many situations to be able to covertly detect objects with infrared illumination without being noticed by animals or humans.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a spatial sensing system using GaN-containing laser diodes and/or included infrared emitting laser diodes consists of a laser-based visible light source and an infrared illumination source. As an example, the spatial sensing capability can be configured as a depth detector with time-of-flight calculations.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides white light and/or infrared light sources for use in motor vehicles for lighting the exterior or interior environment of the vehicle. Specific applications include parking lights, headlights, fog lights, directional lights, and spotlights.

In one embodiment, the device is attached to a radio-controlled or autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle. Unmanned aerial vehicles may be drones, i.e., small helicopters not configured to carry a pilot or the like, multi-rotor or single-rotor VTOLs such as quadcopters, and small vehicles such as airplanes. An unmanned aerial vehicle may be a full-scale aircraft with integrated radio or autopilot systems. The unmanned aerial vehicle may be a body that can obtain lift by buoyancy, such as a large airship, airship, helium balloon, and hydrogen balloon.

In some embodiments, the device is used in augmented reality applications. One such application is a light source that can interact with augmented reality glasses or headsets to provide dynamic light sources that can provide more information about the user's environment. For example, in addition to enabling communication with augmented reality headsets via visible light communication (LiFi), there are also devices capable of rapidly scanning light spots and projecting light patterns onto indoor objects. This dynamically adjusted light pattern or light spot is adjusted so fast that the human eye cannot perceive each spot. Augmented reality headsets are equipped with cameras that image light patterns as they are projected onto objects and infer information about the shape and position of indoor objects. Augmented reality systems can then provide a more immersive experience to users by providing images designed to be more integrable with indoor objects from the system display.

In one embodiment, a dynamic white light source can be used to provide dynamic headlights for automobiles. The shape, intensity, and color point of the projected light are changed according to inputs from various sensors in the vehicle.

Optionally, the GaN-containing material includes one or more of GaN, AlN, InN, InGaN, AlGaN, InAlN, InAlGaN.

Beam-shaping optics include slow-axis collimating lenses, fast-axis collimating lenses, aspheric lenses, ball lenses, total internal reflection (TIR) optics, parabolic lens optics, refractive optics, and modified as needed. It includes a combination of one or more optical elements selected from micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirrors configured to direct, collimate, and focus an output light beam having a uniform angular distribution.

Optionally, one of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirrors, digital light processing (DLP) chips, digital mirror devices (DMD), and liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) chips are selected for the beam steering optics. .

Claims (31)

A white light system,
a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode having a ridge waveguide with facet regions at the ends of the ridge waveguide;
said gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode configured to output directed electromagnetic radiation through one of said facet regions;
said directed electromagnetic radiation from said gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode is characterized by a first peak wavelength;
disposed in the path of said directed electromagnetic radiation from said gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode and said directed electromagnetic radiation having said first peak wavelength is at least partially directed at said first peak wavelength; a white light system comprising: a first wavelength converter configured to convert to a long at least second peak wavelength and produce white light emission having at least said second peak wavelength;
An infrared (IR) system,
An infrared emitting laser diode configured to output infrared radiation, the infrared emitting laser diode configured to output directional electromagnetic radiation characterized by a third peak wavelength in the infrared region of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. A mobile device comprising: an infrared system comprising: 2. The gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode and/or infrared emitting laser diode is configured for use in time-of-flight sensors, LIDAR sensors, or other sensor applications. mobile equipment as described in . Mobile equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode and/or the infrared emitting laser diode is configured for communication or data transmission in a LiFi system. 3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the infrared system is configured for night vision or infrared lighting applications and operates independently of the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is one of a car, a drone, an unmanned vehicle, an aircraft, a ship, an underwater vehicle, an off-road vehicle, and a truck. A mobile device having a lighting system,
a light source, said light source comprising:
A laser diode configured as a first pump light device, having an optical cavity having an optical waveguiding region and one or more facet regions, wherein at least one of the facet regions provides a first pumping light from the laser diode through at least one of the facet regions. a laser diode configured to output directed electromagnetic radiation characterized by a peak wavelength of 1;
a first wavelength converter optically coupled to the path for receiving the directional electromagnetic radiation from the first pump light device, the directional electromagnetic radiation having the first peak wavelength being at least partially Specifically, a first wavelength converter configured to convert said first peak wavelength to at least a second peak wavelength longer than said first peak wavelength to produce visible white light emission having at least said second peak wavelength;
an infrared emitting laser diode configured to provide infrared emission, the infrared emitting laser diode configured to output directional electromagnetic radiation characterized by a third peak wavelength in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; A mobile device comprising: The first peak wavelength from the first pump light device is in the violet wavelength region of 390 nm to 430 nm, or the laser diode emits at the first peak wavelength in the blue wavelength region of 430 nm to 480 nm. 7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the mobile device is a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode configured to: The first wavelength converter is optically coupled to the directional electromagnetic radiation from the infrared emitting laser diode, the first wavelength converter configured to reflect and/or scatter the infrared emission. 7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the infrared emission and the visible white emission overlap within the same spatial region. The first wavelength converter is configured to transmit and/or scatter the infrared emission from the infrared emitting laser diode, the infrared emission and the visible white emission overlapping within the same spatial region. 7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein . The first wavelength converter is made of a fluorescent material, the fluorescent material including Ce-doped ceramic yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), or Ce-doped single crystal YAG, or powdered YAG with a binder material. 7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the fluorescent material has a light conversion efficiency of at least 50 lumens per light watt. The infrared emitting laser diode is configured to emit light at the third peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 700 nm to 1100 nm, the wavelength range of 1100 nm to 2500 nm, or the wavelength range of 2500 nm to 15000 nm. Item 7. The mobile device according to Item 6. 7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the infrared emitting laser diode is based on a material system of GaAs, InP, InGaAs, InAs, InAlAs, AlGaAs, AlInGaP, InGaAsP, InGaAsSb, or combinations thereof. slow-axis collimating lenses, fast-axis collimating lenses, aspheric lenses, ball lenses, total internal reflection (TIR) optics, parabolic lens optics, refractive optics, and to direct, collimate, and focus visible white emission. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising a beam shaper including a combination of one or more optical elements selected from micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirrors configured to modify at least the angular distribution. mobile equipment. the visible white emission having the at least second peak wavelength is coupled into an optical fiber member, or the infrared emission having the third peak wavelength is coupled into an optical fiber, or the visible emission having the second peak wavelength Both the white light emission and the infrared light emission having the third peak wavelength are coupled into an optical fiber member, the optical fiber being a single mode fiber (SMF) or a multimode fiber (MMF), the core of the optical fiber 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the diameter ranges from about 1 um to 10 um, about 10 um to 50 um, about 50 um to 150 um, about 150 um to 500 um, about 500 um to 1 mm, about 1 mm to 5 mm or greater than 5 mm. mobile equipment. Motor vehicle, characterized in that at least one of the external lighting system or the internal lighting system is equipped with mobile equipment according to claim 6. 7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the infrared emitting laser diode is configured for night vision or infrared illumination applications and operates independently of the laser diode. 7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the laser diode and/or infrared emitting laser diode is configured for use in time-of-flight sensors, LIDAR sensors, or other sensor applications. 7. Mobile equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that the laser diode and/or the infrared emitting laser diode is configured for communication or data transmission in a LiFi system. 7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the mobile device is one of a car, a drone, an unmanned vehicle, an aircraft, a ship, an underwater vehicle, an off-road vehicle, and a truck. a light source, said light source comprising:
A laser diode configured as a first pump light device, having an optical cavity having an optical waveguiding region and one or more facet regions, wherein at least one of the facet regions provides a first pumping light from the laser diode through at least one of the facet regions. a laser diode configured to output a first directed electromagnetic radiation characterized by one peak wavelength;
a first wavelength converter optically coupled to the first path for receiving the first directional electromagnetic radiation from the first pump optical device, the first wavelength converter having the first peak wavelength; configured to at least partially convert one directed electromagnetic radiation to at least a second peak wavelength longer than said first peak wavelength to produce visible white light emission having at least said second peak wavelength a first wavelength converter;
an infrared emitting laser diode configured to provide infrared emission, the infrared emitting laser diode outputting directional electromagnetic radiation characterized by a third peak wavelength in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum;
a package member composed of a base member;
at least one common support member supporting at least the laser diode and the first wavelength converter;
and a beam shaper that directs the visible white emission and the infrared emission to illuminate a target of interest. The first peak wavelength from the laser diode is a violet wavelength region of 390 nm to 430 nm, or the laser diode is a laser diode containing gallium and nitrogen, and the first peak wavelength is 430 nm. 21. Illumination system according to claim 20, characterized in that it is in the green wavelength region of ~480 nm. The first wavelength converter is configured to reflect and/or scatter the infrared emission from the infrared emitting laser diode, the infrared emission and the visible white emission overlapping within the same spatial region. 21. A lighting system according to claim 20, characterized in that . said visible white emission having said at least said second peak wavelength is coupled into a fiber optic member, or said infrared emission having at least said third peak wavelength is coupled into said fiber optic member, or said second peak wavelength and said infrared emission having at least said third peak wavelength are both coupled into said optical fiber member, said optical fiber being single mode fiber (SMF) or multimode fiber (MMF) wherein the core diameter of the optical fiber is at least one of the ranges of about 1 um to 10 um, about 10 um to 50 um, about 50 um to 150 um, about 150 um to 500 um, about 500 um to 1 mm, about 1 mm to 5 mm, or greater than 5 mm. 21. A lighting system according to claim 20, characterized in that . Portable Spotlights, Large Spotlights, Searchlights, Outdoor Lighting, Indoor Lighting, Detection, Imaging, Projection Display, Spatially Dynamic Lighting Devices, LIDAR, LiFi, Visible White Light Communications, General Lighting, Commercial Lighting and Displays, configured for use in one or more applications including automotive lighting, automotive communication and/or detection, defense and security, search and rescue, industrial processing, internet communications, or agriculture or horticulture 21. A lighting system according to claim 20. 21. The lighting system of Claim 20, wherein the infrared emitting laser diode is configured for night vision or infrared lighting applications and operates independently of the laser diode. 21. The lighting system of claim 20, wherein the laser diode and/or infrared emitting laser diode is configured for use in time-of-flight sensors, LIDAR sensors or other sensor applications. 21. The lighting system of claim 20, wherein said laser diode and/or said infrared emitting laser diode is configured for communication or data transmission in a LiFi system. 21. A mobile device using the lighting system of claim 20, said mobile device being one of a car, a drone, an unmanned vehicle, an aircraft, a watercraft, an underwater vehicle, an off-road vehicle, a truck. , a mobile device. The first wavelength converter is made of a fluorescent material, the fluorescent material including Ce-doped ceramic yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), or Ce-doped single crystal YAG, or powdered YAG with a binder material. 21. The lighting system of claim 20, wherein said fluorescent material has a light conversion efficiency of at least 50 lumens per light watt. The infrared emitting laser diode is configured to emit light at the third peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 700 nm to 1100 nm, the wavelength range of 1100 nm to 2500 nm, or the wavelength range of 2500 nm to 15000 nm. Item 21. The lighting system according to Item 20. 21. The illumination system of claim 20, wherein the infrared emitting laser diode is based on a material system consisting of GaAs, InP, InGaAs, InAs, InAlAs, AlGaAs, AlInGaP, InGaAsP, InGaAsSb, or combinations thereof.

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