CN216901952U

CN216901952U - Traffic signal lamp based on super lens

Info

Publication number: CN216901952U
Application number: CN202220255205.4U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 朱瑞; 朱健; 郝成龙; 谭凤泽
Original assignee: Shenzhen Metalenx Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Metalenx Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-02-08
Filing date: 2022-02-08
Publication date: 2022-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-08

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of traffic signal lights, and more particularly, to a traffic signal light based on superlenses. A superlens-based traffic signal comprising: primary optical means comprising at least a light source and superlens means and arranged to emit collimated light; a secondary optical device disposed downstream of the primary optical device on the optical path and configured to diffuse and deflect light; the super lens device comprises a first substrate and a first super surface structure arranged on the first substrate, wherein the first super surface structure comprises a plurality of regularly arranged first nanostructure units. The traffic signal lamp based on the super lens utilizes the primary optical device consisting of the super lens device and the light source, can reduce the thickness of the traffic signal lamp, saves the occupied space, and improves the optical performance of the traffic signal lamp through the secondary optical device. The super-lens-based LED can adopt close packing, and uniform light emission without granular sensation which cannot be realized in the conventional traffic lamp is realized.

Description

Traffic signal lamp based on super lens

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of traffic signal lights, and more particularly, to a traffic signal light based on superlenses.

Background

Nowadays, as LEDs are popularized for use in the field of illumination, LEDs have been widely used as light sources for road traffic signals, and optical design is generally required twice before LED traffic signals are constructed. In the primary optical design, namely the optical design when the LED IC is packaged into an LED device, the light-emitting angle, the light intensity, the luminous flux size, the light intensity distribution, the range and the distribution of color temperature and the like of the LED are adjusted. In such a primary optical design of a road traffic signal lamp, a fresnel lens is usually used as a collimating optical element to make the illumination capability stronger and clearer.

In addition, the use of pincushion, wedge prisms, for example, is also considered in the secondary optical design of existing traffic lights in order to re-diffuse the beam and produce a satisfactory light distribution.

However, the surface of the LED packaged by the resin lens used in the existing road traffic signal lamp is convex, which occupies more space and is not suitable for large-area packaging. In addition, the Fresnel lens in the existing traffic signal lamp is not light and thin enough, and the whole body is thick; and the light intensity at the edge of the Fresnel lens is reduced, so that the edge area of the Fresnel lens emits light unevenly, and the Fresnel lens has the characteristics of stronger middle light intensity and weaker edge light intensity, and is uneven.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, the traffic signal lamp based on the super lens provided by the present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems.

In order to achieve the purpose, the utility model provides the following technical scheme:

in one form, there is provided a superlens-based traffic signal comprising:

primary optical means comprising at least a light source and superlens means and arranged to emit collimated light;

a secondary optical device disposed downstream of the primary optical device on the optical path and configured to diffuse and deflect light;

the super lens device comprises a first substrate and a first super surface structure arranged on the first substrate, wherein the first super surface structure comprises a plurality of regularly arranged first nanostructure units.

In one manner that may be implemented, in the primary optic, the light source is an array of LEDs; the super lens device is a collimating super lens; wherein the superlens device is disposed downstream of the LED array in the optical path.

In one manner that may be practiced, the primary optic is an LED array encapsulated with a superlens arrangement, and the primary optic further includes a holder for holding the LED array and the superlens arrangement.

In one practical manner, the LED array can be configured as a square, a regular hexagon or a regular octagon.

In one embodiment, the secondary optical device is a light distribution lens.

In one manner that may be implemented, the light distribution lens can be selected from: a pincushion lens, a cylindrical lens or a wedge lens.

In one implementation, the secondary optical device is an angular selective superlens device, and the angular selective superlens device includes a second substrate and a second super-surface structure disposed on the second substrate, and the second super-surface structure includes a plurality of regularly arranged second nanostructure units.

In one manner that may be implemented, the first nanostructure elements and the second nanostructure elements are both arranged in an array; and are all regular hexagons or squares.

In one practical way, the first nanostructure unit and the second nanostructure unit are regular hexagons, and at least one nanostructure is disposed at each vertex and center position of the regular hexagons.

In one practical way, the first nanostructure unit and the second nanostructure unit are both square, and each vertex and central position of the square is provided with at least one nanostructure.

In one manner that may be implemented, the material of each of the first nanostructure element and the second nanostructure element comprises one of titanium oxide, silicon nitride, fused silica, aluminum oxide, gallium nitride, gallium phosphide, amorphous silicon, crystalline silicon, and hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

In one manner that may be implemented, the materials of the first nanostructure element and the second nanostructure element are both polarization-dependent structures or polarization-independent structures; the polarization dependent structure comprises nanofins or nanoellipsoids; the polarization independent structure comprises a nanocylinder or a nanocylinder.

In one manner that may be implemented, the first and second substrates are each one of fused silica, crown glass, flint glass, and sapphire.

The utility model has the beneficial effects that: the traffic signal lamp based on the super lens provided by the utility model utilizes the primary optical device consisting of the super lens device and the light source, the thickness of the traffic signal lamp can be reduced, the occupied space is saved, and the LED based on the super lens can adopt close packing, so that the uniform light emitting without granular sensation which cannot be realized in the existing traffic lamp is realized. Further, by further using a superlens in the secondary optical device, the weight of the entire traffic signal can be further reduced and the cost can be further reduced.

Drawings

The technical scheme and other beneficial effects of the utility model are obvious from the detailed description of the specific embodiments of the utility model in combination with the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a primary optical design of a superlens-based traffic signal of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a super-lens based traffic signal lamp with a pincushion light distribution lens according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a super lens angularly selected by a light distribution lens of a traffic signal lamp based on the super lens according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a superlens arrangement of a superlens-based traffic signal lamp according to the present invention, with angularly selective superlenses;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an LED array of a superlens-based traffic signal of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a superlens-based traffic signal according to the present invention; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

FIG. 6A is a schematic view of a super-surface structure being a regular hexagon;

FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of a square-shaped super-surface structure;

FIG. 6C is a schematic diagram of a nanopillar in a nanostructure;

fig. 6D is a schematic diagram of a nanofin in a nanostructure.

Reference numerals:

1. a light source; 2. a superlens device; 3. a support; 4. an array of LEDs; 5. angularly selecting a superlens; 6. a pillow lens; 7. a collimating superlens array;

8. a nanostructure; 81. a substrate; 82. a filling layer; 83. a nanofin; 84. a nano elliptic cylinder.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, like numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatus and methods consistent with certain aspects of the present application, as detailed in the appended claims.

The terminology used in the present application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the utility model. As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and/or" as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It is to be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various information, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one type of information from another. For example, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information, without departing from the scope of the present application. The word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "at … …" or "when … …" or "in response to a determination", depending on the context. The features of the following examples and embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict.

Referring to fig. 1 to 6, an embodiment of the present application provides a superlens-based traffic signal lamp, including: primary optics and secondary optics.

As shown in fig. 1, in particular, the primary optical device comprises at least: a light source 1 and a superlens arrangement 2, and a primary optical arrangement for emitting collimated light.

The superlens device 2 is disposed downstream of the light source 1 on the light path, wherein the superlens device 2 includes a first substrate and a first super-surface structure disposed on the first substrate, and the first super-surface structure includes a plurality of regularly arranged first nanostructure units.

The light-emitting angle and the quality of the light spot of the superlens device 2 can be optimized through the design of the first super-surface structure.

Specifically, the light irradiation angle is changed based on the nanostructures 8 of the first nanostructure element, and the nanostructures 8 of the first nanostructure element are designed according to the light irradiation angle so that the light is irradiated at the set angle after passing through the first super-surface structure.

It will be appreciated that the primary optical arrangement is of a primary optical design by which the amount of light emitted by the light source 1 through the superlens arrangement 2 is increased as much as possible and, at the same time, collimated light is emitted.

Further, a secondary optical device is disposed downstream of the primary optical device on the optical path.

It will be appreciated that the secondary optics are of a secondary optical design. The secondary optical design is designed on the basis of the primary optical design packaging, so that the luminous quality of the traffic signal lamp is ensured, and the design requirement of the traffic signal lamp is met.

In this embodiment of this application, super lens device 2 can make the light that sees through it shine according to the angle of setting for because super lens device 2 adopts super surface structure for super lens device 2's marginal zone is the same with the regional transmittance in center, guarantees even printing opacity, and super lens device 2 is thin relative fresnel lens's volume, reduces the optical element volume, saves the space that super lens device 2 occupy.

In addition, most traffic signal lamp need work all day long, and light source 1 during operation can generate heat, does not have the characteristic of thermalization based on super lens for traffic signal lamp job stabilization nature can improve, can not change because of working for a long time to the regulation and control ability of light beam.

In the embodiment of the present application, the light source 1 is an LED array 4; the super lens device 2 is a collimating super lens; wherein the superlens device 2 is arranged downstream of the LED array 4 in the optical path.

The LED array 4 may be an existing LED array packaged by a resin lens, wherein the chip of the LED array 4 is a main body for emitting light, and the quality of the chip determines the amount of light emitted by the LED. In this embodiment, the light output by the resin lens LED array 4 is collimated by the superlens device 2, wherein the first nanostructure units included in the first super-surface structure of the superlens device 2 are arranged in an array. The light emitted by the LED array 4 is uniformly irradiated after passing through the first nanostructure unit.

In another alternative embodiment, the primary optic is an LED array 4 packaged with a collimating superlens. Wherein, referring to fig. 3, the primary optic further comprises a holder for holding the LED array 4 and the superlens device 2. Here, the light source 1 and the superlens device 2 are respectively disposed at opposite ends of the holder 3. It should be noted here that the volume and weight of the traffic signal of the present application can be further reduced because the light source 1, i.e., the LED array 4, is directly encapsulated by the superlens device 2 having the collimating function without further collimating the light emitted from the superlens LED array 4.

Further, in this embodiment, the LED of the superlens package can be made in any shape of a plane, not limited to a circular shape, compared to the convex spherical structure of the resin lens package. Advantageously, it can be formed in a square, regular hexagon or regular octagon. Advantageously, in the case where the LED ICs in the LED array 4 are square, regular hexagon, etc., since the superlens device can adopt close packing, the LED array 4 is no longer a light emitting point with granular sensation one by one, but can be a surface light source with uniform light emission.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the collimating metalens, the LED array 4 and the holder 3 are packaged, and the light emitting angle, the light intensity, the range and distribution of the light flux of the LEDs, and the like are adjusted to form the optimal light emitting amount.

In one embodiment of the present application, the secondary optical device may be a light distribution lens disposed downstream of the superlens device 2 along the optical path so as to change the irradiation angle of light.

As shown in fig. 2, the light distribution lens may include a pincushion lens 6, a cylindrical lens, a wedge lens, or the like, and the pincushion lens 6 is preferable. The pillow-shaped lens 6 is also an optical mask of the traffic signal lamp, the smooth surface of the pillow-shaped lens 6 is used as the outer surface, and the arc-shaped surface faces the primary optical device.

After the light irradiates on the arc-shaped surface of the light distribution lens, different refraction angles are formed, so that the light irradiates towards a specified direction.

As shown in fig. 3, the secondary optics may further comprise an angular selective superlens 5 with an angular selective supersurface structure, the angular selective superlens 5 being arranged downstream of the superlens arrangement 2 along the optical path for varying the illumination angle of the light.

In particular, the angularly selective superlens 5 may comprise a second substrate and a second super-surface structure disposed on the second substrate.

It can be understood that the included angle between the surface normal of the second substrate and the normal of the interface of the second super-surface structure is not equal to 0 degrees, so that the angular selection and the phase regulation of incident light are realized. That is, the normal line of the interface of the second nanostructure element makes an angle different from 0 ° with the normal line of the second substrate surface, so that the irradiation direction of the incident light is changed, so that the incident light can be irradiated toward a set direction after passing through the angular selective superlens 5. The second super-surface structure may be mass-produced by a photolithography process to reduce the complexity of the processing process of the angularly selective super-lens 5.

In the present embodiment, by providing the pincushion lens 6 or the angular selective super lens 5 downstream in the optical path, the angle of light irradiation is changed, i.e., the direction of incident light irradiation is adjusted to be inclined downward, so that a command for traveling or stopping is given to a vehicle, a pedestrian.

As shown in fig. 6, the first substrate and the second substrate mentioned in the above embodiments may be made of the same material or different materials 81.

Wherein, the material of the substrate 81 is one of the following:

fused quartz, crown glass, flint glass, sapphire, crystalline silicon.

The first and second structural units comprised by the first and second super-surface structures, respectively, may be collectively referred to as a structural unit, which comprises a plurality of nanostructures 8.

Specifically, the structural unit may be a regular hexagon or a square.

It should be noted that, if the structural units are structural units of an array, all the structural units may be square or regular hexagons as required, or the structural units may be arranged in a staggered manner, or one region may be square and the other region may be regular hexagons to form an array structure. It will be appreciated that the actual product may have the absence of nanostructures 8 at the edges of the superlens, due to the limitations of the superlens shape, such that it does not meet the full hexagon or square.

When the structural unit of fig. 6A is a regular hexagon, at least one nanostructure 8 is disposed at each vertex and center position of the regular hexagon.

Specifically, the structural unit includes a central nanostructure 8, which is surrounded by a plurality of peripheral nanostructures 8 with the same distance, and the peripheral nanostructures 8 are uniformly distributed on the circumference to form a regular hexagon, which can also be understood as a regular triangle formed by a plurality of nanostructures 8.

When the structural unit of fig. 6B is a square, at least one nanostructure 8 is disposed at each vertex and center of the square.

Specifically, the building block comprises a central nanostructure 8 surrounded by a plurality of peripheral nanostructures 8 spaced apart from each other in a substantially equal distance, forming a square.

It should also be noted that, for the phase required by the nanostructures 8 at different wavelengths, the phase closest nanostructure can be searched in the nanostructure 8 database.

The nanostructures 8 may be all-dielectric structures, having high transmittance in the operating band, and the selectable materials include: titanium oxide, silicon nitride, fused silica, aluminum oxide, gallium nitride, gallium phosphide, amorphous silicon, crystalline silicon, hydrogenated amorphous silicon, and the like.

The nanostructures 8 are sub-wavelength artificial nanostructures.

Specifically, the nanostructure 8 may be a polarization-dependent structure, such as nanofin 83 and nanoelliptic cylinder 84, which impose a geometric phase on the incident light; the nanostructure may also be a polarization independent structure, such as a nanocylinder or a nanosquare, which imparts a propagation phase to the incident light.

It should be noted that the nano-elliptic cylinder 84 may include any one or more of a positive nano-columnar structure, a negative nano-columnar structure, a hollow nano-columnar structure, and a topological nano-columnar structure.

As shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the wavelength bands of operation of the super-surface structure are red, green and yellow in this embodiment. The filling layer 82 is filled between the nanostructures 8 and the nanostructures 8. The filling layer 82 is used to space the two nanostructures 8.

Wherein the filling layer 82 includes air filling or other material with different refractive index from the nanostructure 8, and the other material with different working wavelength is transparent or semitransparent material.

The absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the material in other operating bands and the refractive index of the nanostructure 8 is greater than or equal to 0.5.

In summary, the traffic signal lamp based on the superlens of the present invention utilizes the primary optical device composed of the superlens device 2 and the light source 1, so as to reduce the thickness of the traffic signal lamp and save the space occupied by the traffic signal lamp, and the LED arrays 4 packaged by the superlens can be densely packed, so as to realize uniform light emission without granular sensation, which cannot be realized in the existing traffic lamp.

The above description is only for the specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of the changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present invention, and shall cover the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A superlens-based traffic signal, comprising:

a secondary optical device disposed downstream of the primary optical device on an optical path and configured to diffuse and deflect light;

2. The superlens-based traffic signal of claim 1, wherein in the primary optic, the light source is an LED array; the super lens device is a collimating super lens; wherein the superlens device is disposed downstream of the LED array in the optical path.

3. The superlens-based traffic signal of claim 1, wherein the primary optic is an LED array encapsulated with the superlens arrangement, and further comprising a bracket for securing the LED array and the superlens arrangement.

4. The superlens-based traffic signal of claim 3, wherein the array of LEDs can be configured in a square, regular hexagon, or regular octagon.

5. The superlens-based traffic signal of any of claims 1-4, wherein the secondary optics are light distribution lenses.

6. The superlens-based traffic signal of claim 5, wherein the light distribution lens is selectable from: a pincushion lens, a cylindrical lens or a wedge lens.

7. A superlens-based traffic signal according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the secondary optical device is an angularly selective superlens device comprising a second substrate and a second super-surface structure disposed on the second substrate, the second super-surface structure comprising a plurality of regularly arranged second nanostructure elements.

8. The superlens-based traffic signal of claim 7, wherein the first nanostructure units and the second nanostructure units are arranged in an array; and are all regular hexagons or squares.

9. The superlens-based traffic signal of claim 8, wherein the first nanostructure unit and the second nanostructure unit are each a regular hexagon, at least one of the nanostructures being disposed at each vertex and center of the regular hexagon.

10. The superlens-based traffic signal of claim 8, wherein the first nanostructure unit and the second nanostructure unit are each a square, and at least one of the nanostructures is disposed at each vertex and center of the square.

11. The superlens-based traffic signal of claim 8, wherein the material of each of the first and second nanostructure elements comprises one of titanium oxide, silicon nitride, fused silica, aluminum oxide, gallium nitride, gallium phosphide, amorphous silicon, crystalline silicon, and hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

12. The superlens-based traffic signal of claim 8, wherein the material of the first nanostructure element and the second nanostructure element are both polarization-dependent structures or polarization-independent structures; the polarization-dependent structure comprises a nanofin or a nanoelliptic cylinder; the polarization-independent structure comprises a nanocylinder or a nanocylinder.

13. The superlens-based traffic signal of claim 8, wherein the first and second substrates are each one of fused silica, crown glass, flint glass, and sapphire.