EP1836512A1

EP1836512A1 - Beam splitter arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP1836512A1
Application number: EP05700685A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dr. Wieland Hill
Original assignee: Limo Patentverwaltung GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Focuslight Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2005-01-04
Filing date: 2005-01-04
Publication date: 2007-09-26
Also published as: IL184256A0; WO2006072260A1; CN100510782C; JP2008526511A; CN101095067A; US20070268794A1; CA2593124A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a beam splitter arrangement comprising at least one beam splitting means, which is suited for splitting a light beam into a number of partial beams. To this end, the beam splitting means comprises at least one first and at least one second optical array (1, 2), which are situated at a distance from one another and which have a number of optically functional elements. A whole multiple of optically functional elements of the first optical array (1) is assigned to each optically functional element of the second optical array (2).

Description

"Beam splitter arrangement"

The present invention relates to a beam splitter arrangement comprising at least one beam splitter means suitable for splitting a light beam into a plurality of sub-beams.

Beam splitter arrangements of the type mentioned in various embodiments are already known from the prior art. For example, a light beam can be split into two sub-beams with the aid of a partially transmissive mirror, which can be used as a beam splitting means. In order to be able to generate a large number of partial beams, a corresponding number of partially transparent mirrors are required as beam splitter means. So that the radiation power can be divided as precisely as possible on the individual partial beams, very high-quality and precise mirror coatings are required. Also known from the prior art are beam splitter arrangements which work with polarization optics or with mirrors partially introduced into the beam path. Such beam splitter arrangements also require very many individual components to produce a large number of partial beams.

Important technical applications such as the simultaneous laser drilling of workpieces or the measurement of sample arrays with the aid of laser beams require the splitting of a primary laser beam into a multiplicity of partial beams. This can be achieved with the beam splitter means described above only with a very high cost.

In order to be able to produce a large number of sub-beams with relatively few individual optical components, so-called diffractive beam splitting means have been developed. An example of this diffractive Beam splitter is shown in the magazine "Laser Focus World" (12/2003, pp. 73 to 75) .These components, which are very complex in their design and manufacture, can disperse a light beam very uniformly and precisely into a large number of partial beams The diffractive beam splitting means known from the prior art consists, inter alia, in their efficiency being of the order of only about 80%, since substantial portions of the primarily incident light are lost by scattering and diffraction into higher orders Beam splitting agents can reduce their durability and service life, especially at higher light intensities.

This is where the present invention begins.

Object of the present invention is to provide a beam splitter assembly of the type mentioned, which is simple and therefore inexpensive to produce and allows a relatively uniform distribution of light or other electromagnetic radiation in a plurality of partial beams with low losses.

This object is achieved by a beam splitter arrangement of the type mentioned above with the characterizing features of claim 1. According to the invention, it is proposed that the beam splitter means comprise at least one first and at least one second optical array, which are spaced apart from one another and have a plurality of optically functional elements, wherein an optically functional element of the second optical array is an integer multiple of optically functional elements of the first optical array Arrays is assigned. As a result, a light beam striking the beam splitter arrangement is split into a plurality of individual partial beams, the number of partial beams generated being determined, inter alia, by the number of optically functional elements of the partial beam first optical arrays, which are each associated with an optically functional elements of the second optical array depends. In order to be able to fulfill this assignment condition, the diameters of the optically functional elements of the first optical array may be smaller than the diameters of the optically functional elements of the second optical array. It is also possible to fulfill the assignment condition in another way, for example by a special shaping of the optically functional elements of the optical arrays.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the optically functional elements of the optical arrays are lens elements. Optical arrays with lens elements can be produced relatively easily and thus cost-effectively with high precision. In this embodiment, a light beam striking the beam splitter arrangement can be decomposed with the aid of the lens elements of the first optical array into a plurality of partial beams which are imaged into a focal plane of the lens elements of the first optical array. The second optical array, which also has lens elements, is then used as Fourier optics. In the far field of each individual lens element of the second optical array, an angular distribution of the light intensity is then generated which corresponds to the intensity distribution in the focal plane of this corresponding lens element in front of the second optical array.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is proposed that the optical arrays are arranged such that the lens elements of the second optical array and their associated lens elements of the first optical array have common focal planes. In this way, partial beams with low divergence and different Propagation angles are generated in the far field of the second optical array.

Preferably, at least a part of the lens elements is convex. In this case, the distribution of a light beam incident on the beam splitter arrangement into a plurality of partial beams can take place at least partially real.

In an alternative embodiment, at least a portion of the lens elements may be concave. Then, the division of a falling on the beam splitter assembly light beam into a plurality of partial beams at least partially made virtually.

The lens elements of at least one of the optical arrays may in a preferred embodiment be spherical lens elements.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is proposed that the lens elements of at least one of the optical arrays are cylindrical lens elements.

In principle, it is possible to use lens elements with any other lens shapes in the optical arrays. However, as far as possible surface-filling optical arrays are generally particularly advantageous for the highest possible efficiency of the beam splitter arrangement. For this purpose, in particular rectangular or hexagonal lens elements can be used.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that at least one of the optical arrays on opposite sides comprises first and second cylindrical lens elements, wherein the cylinder axes of the first cylindrical lens elements on a rear side of the at least one of the optical arrays are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the cylinder axes of the second Cylinder lens elements are oriented on a front side of the at least one of the optical array. Such cylindrical lens arrays, the cylindrical lens elements of which have mutually perpendicular cylindrical axes on opposite sides, are particularly suitable for a decomposition of a light beam impinging on the beam splitter arrangement into a two-dimensional arrangement of partial beams.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the beam splitter arrangement has at least one lens means, which is arranged in the beam path of the beam splitter arrangement behind the second optical array and is suitable for focusing the partial beams into a focal plane. The lens means performs a second Fourier transform of the sub-beams passing through the lens means. The now two-fold Fourier transformation by means of the second optical array and the lens means causes the partial beams are imaged in a focal plane behind the lens means. In this way, for example, a dot pattern can be generated in the focal plane of the lens means.

The lens means may be preferably spherical.

In a variant of the beam splitter arrangement, the optically functional elements of at least one of the optical arrays may be mirrors. Mirror arrays provide comparable results and are particularly advantageous if the electromagnetic radiation impinging on the beam splitter arrangement is attenuated or not sufficiently refracted during transmission through lens elements. Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show in it

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a

Beam splitter assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the beam splitter assembly of FIG. 1; FIG.

3a shows a schematically simplified representation of a first and second optical array of the beam splitter arrangement according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 as well as the dot pattern generated with the beam splitter arrangement;

3b shows a schematically simplified representation of a first alternative variant of the optical arrays of the beam splitter arrangement and the dot pattern generated;

3b shows a schematically simplified representation of a second alternative variant of the optical arrays of the beam splitter arrangement and the dot pattern generated;

Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of a

Beam splitter arrangement according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, there are shown two views of a beam splitter assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view and Fig. 2 a Planar view of the beam splitter arrangement according to FIG. 1. For clarification, Cartesian coordinate systems are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The beam splitter arrangement comprises a first optical array 1, which has on its rear side a plurality of convexly shaped first cylindrical lens elements 10a-12c (see FIG. 1) and on its front side a plurality of convexly shaped second cylindrical lens elements 13a-15c (see FIG. 2). Alternatively, at least a part of the first and second cylindrical lens elements 10a-12c, 13a-15c of the first optical array 1 can also be made concave. The first and second cylindrical lens elements 10a-12c, 13a-15c in this embodiment have largely identical diameters and curvatures. It can be seen that the cylinder axes of the first cylindrical lens elements 10a-12c on the rear side of the first optical array 1 each extend substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the cylinder axes of the second cylindrical lens elements 13a-15c, which are also substantially mutually parallel, on the front side of the first optical arrays 1 are oriented. In principle, any shape and arrangement of the lens elements in the first optical array 1 is possible. For example, instead of the cylindrical lens elements 10a-12c, 13a-15c, spherical lens elements can also be used.

In the beam propagation direction (z-direction), a second optical array 2 is arranged behind the first optical array 1. This second optical array 2 also has on its rear side a plurality of convexly shaped first cylindrical lens elements 20a-20c whose cylinder axes extend substantially parallel to one another. On its front side, the second optical array 2 a plurality of convexly shaped second cylindrical lens elements 21a-21c, the cylinder axes of which are likewise oriented substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to the cylinder axes of the first cylindrical lens elements 20a-20c. Alternatively, at least a portion of the cylindrical lens elements 20a-20c, 21a-21c of the second optical array 2 may be concave. Alternatively, differently shaped and differently arranged lens elements (for example, spherical lens elements) can be used in the second optical array 2. It can be seen that the diameters of the first and second cylindrical lens elements 20a-20c, 21a-21c of the second cylindrical lens array 2 in this embodiment are larger than the diameters of the first and second cylindrical lens elements 10a-12c, 13a-15c of the first optical array 1. The diameters of the comparatively small cylindrical lens elements 10a-12c, 13a-15c of the first optical array 1 may, for example, be on the order of 0.1 to 1 mm.

It is clear from FIG. 1 that in each case one of the first cylindrical lens elements 20a-20c on the rear side of the second optical array 2 is assigned exactly three of the first cylindrical lens elements 10a-12c on the rear side of the first optical array 1. For example, the cylindrical lens elements 20 a of the second optical array 2 are assigned the cylindrical lens elements 10 a, 10 b, 10 c of the first optical array 1. The same applies to the cylindrical lens element 20b, to which the cylindrical lens elements 11a, 11b, 11c of the first optical array 1 are assigned, and for the cylindrical lens element 20c, to which the cylindrical lens elements 12a, 12b, 12c of the first optical array 1 are assigned.

From the shown in Fig. 2, with respect to FIG. 1 rotated by 90 ° top view is clear that each one of the second Cylinder lens elements 21 a - 21 c on the front of the second cylindrical lens array 2 are assigned exactly three of the second cylindrical lens elements 13 a - 15 c on the front side of the first cylindrical lens array 1. Thus, the cylindrical lens element 21 a of the second optical array 2, the cylindrical lens elements 13 a, 13 b, 13 c of the first optical array 1 are assigned to the cylindrical lens element. The same applies to the cylindrical lens element 21b, to which the cylindrical lens elements 14a, 14b, 14c of the first optical array 1 are assigned, and to the cylindrical lens element 21c, to which the cylindrical lens elements 15a, 15b, 15c of the first optical array 1 are assigned.

It is noteworthy, regardless of the selected geometric shape and arrangement of the lens elements, that the ratio of the total number of lens elements of the first optical array 1 to the total number of lens elements of the second optical array 2 is an integer.

In addition to the two optical arrays 1, 2, the beam splitter arrangement has a lens means 3, which in this embodiment is spherical and arranged in the z direction (beam propagation direction) behind the second optical array 2.

An essentially parallel light beam which impinges on the beam splitter arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is first decomposed into a plurality of partial beams by means of the first optical array 1. The division of the light beam into a plurality of partial beams is real in the embodiment shown here, since both the cylindrical lens elements 10a - 12c, 13a - 15c of the first optical array 1 and the cylindrical lens elements 20a - 20c, 21 a - 21 c of the second optical array 2 are each made convex. Become alternatively the convex Cylindrical lens elements 1 Ga - 12c, 13a - 15c, 20a - 20c, 21 a - 21 c used in both optical arrays 1, 2 concave cylindrical lens elements, the division of the incident light beam in a plurality of partial beams, however, takes place virtually.

Since the first cylindrical lens elements 10a-12c on the rear side of the first optical array 1 have substantially identical geometrical (diameter and curvature) and optical properties, all the first cylindrical lens elements 10a-12c each have a common focal plane at a distance fi behind the first optical array 1 (see Fig. 1). The same applies to the second cylindrical lens elements 13a-15c on the front side of the first optical array 1 and their common focal plane at a distance f ₄ behind the first optical array 1 (see FIG. 2). The first and second cylindrical lens elements 20a-20c, 21a-21c of the second optical array 2 also each have common focal planes in front of the second optical array 2. The common focal plane of the first cylindrical lens elements 20a can be seen in FIG

- 20c of the second optical array at a distance h and in Fig. 2, the common focal plane of the second cylindrical lens elements 21 a

- 21 c of the second optical array 2 at a distance f. ₅

The second optical array 2 is thus arranged in the embodiment shown here so that the focal plane of the first cylindrical lens elements 20a-20c of the second optical array 2 coincides with the focal plane of the first cylindrical lens elements 10a-12c of the first optical array. In addition, the focal plane of the second cylindrical lens elements 21a-21c of the second optical array 2 coincides with the focal plane of the second cylindrical lens elements 10a-12 of the first optical array 1. The second optical array 2 serves as shown here Beam splitter arrangement as Fourier optics and is used for a first Fourier transform of the partial beams.

The lens means 3, which is arranged in the z-direction behind the second optical array 2, effects a second Fourier transformation of the partial beams. Due to the double Fourier transformation using the second optical array 2 and the lens means 3, the intensity distribution in the focal planes of the first and second cylindrical lens elements 20a-20c, 21a-21c of the second optical array 2 into a focal plane of the lens means 3 at a distance f ₃ imaged by the lens means 3 and averaged over the individual apertures of the first and second cylindrical lens elements 20a - 20c, 21 a - 21 c. Since in each case three of the first cylindrical lens elements 10a-12c or three of the second cylindrical lens elements 13a-15c of the first cylindrical lens array 1 are assigned to exactly one of the first and second cylindrical lens elements 20a-20c, 21a-21c of the second cylindrical lens array 2, the periodic arrangement causes the first and second cylindrical lens elements 10a - 12c, 13a - 15c of the first cylindrical lens array 1 that in the focal planes of the first and second cylindrical lens elements 20a - 20c, 21 a - 21 c of the second cylindrical lens array 2 very similar intensity distributions can be generated.

With the beam splitter arrangement shown in Fig. 1 and Fig.2 can then in the image-side focal plane of the lens means 3 at a distance h, a dot pattern can be generated which the average intensity pattern in the focal points of the first and second cylindrical lens elements 10a - 12c, 13a - 15c of the first optical array 1 before each one of the first and second cylindrical lens elements 20a-20c, 21a-21c of the second optical array 2. Thus, a dot pattern with a relatively homogeneous intensity distribution is produced in the focal plane of the lens means 3, which has a total of nine pixels P1 - P9. This dot pattern is shown in Fig. 3a.

In FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, different optical arrays 1, 2, which can be used in the beam splitter arrangement shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, as well as the resulting dot patterns in the focal plane of the lens means 3, are shown in a greatly simplified manner. The dot pattern shown in Fig. 3a with a total of nine pixels P1 - P9 can be generated directly with the beam splitter arrangement described in detail above.

If, according to FIG. 3b, an optical array 1 having two first cylindrical lens elements on the rear side and four second cylindrical lens elements on the front side, which are respectively assigned to one of the first and second cylindrical lens elements 20a-20c, 21a-21c of the second optical array 2, is used , one obtains a total of eight pixels in the focal plane of the lens means 3.

An optical array 1 with cylindrical lens elements whose cylinder axes are offset from one another on the front or rear side or an optical array with lens elements having hexagonal apertures produces the dot pattern shown in FIG. 3c with a total of six mutually offset pixels in the focal plane of FIG Lens means 3.

It is generally clear that by suitable choice of the number, shape and geometric arrangement of the optically functional elements of the first optical array 1, which are each associated with an optically functional element of the second optical array 2, the number of resulting pixels and their spatial distribution can be varied. This can be over, for example the shape and arrangement of the apertures of the lens elements used in the two optical arrays 1, 2 selectively vary the number of pixels generated with the aid of the beam splitter arrangement.

Fig. 4 shows schematically the beam path of a second embodiment of the present invention. In turn, one recognizes the first optical array 1, which has a plurality of first convex-shaped cylindrical lens elements 10a on its rear side. In the beam propagation direction (z-direction) behind the first optical array 1, a second optical array 2 is arranged, which has on its rear side a plurality of convexly shaped first cylindrical lens elements 20a. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the diameters of the first cylindrical lens elements 20a of the second optical array 2 are again larger than the diameters of the first cylindrical lens elements 10a of the first optical array 1. The diameters of the first cylindrical lens elements 10a of the first optical array 1 can be of the order of 0, for example , 1 to 1 mm. It can be seen that in this exemplary embodiment, four of the first cylindrical lens elements 10a of the first optical array 1 are assigned to exactly one of the first cylindrical lens elements 20a of the second optical array 2. The optical arrays 1, 2 may also have second cylindrical lens elements on their front sides, the cylinder axes of which may be oriented substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to the cylinder axes of the first cylinder lens elements 10a, 20a on the rear sides of the optical arrays 1, 2.

An essentially parallel light beam striking this beam splitter arrangement is first of all, as already explained in detail in connection with the first exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, by means of the first cylindrical lens elements 10a of the first optical array 1 decomposed into a plurality of partial beams, which are imaged in a focal plane of the first cylindrical lens elements 10a in front of the second optical array 2. The second optical array 2 is again used as Fourier optics. Unlike the embodiment described in FIGS. 1 and 2, no further lens means is arranged behind the second optical array 2 in this exemplary embodiment.

For reasons of simplification, only the first two of the total of four partial beams, which are to be observed behind each of the cylindrical lens elements 20a, are shown in FIG. 4 behind the second optical array 2. These partial beams are denoted by the reference symbols S1, S2. It can be seen that the partial beams S1, S2, which are each identified by the same reference numerals, extend behind the second optical array 2 essentially parallel to one another. In the far field of each individual cylindrical lens element 20a of the second array 2, one can then observe an angular distribution of the intensity of the partial beams S1, S2, which corresponds to the intensity distribution in the object-side focal plane in front of the first cylindrical lens elements 20a of the cylindrical lens array 2.

Because of the periodic arrangement of the first cylindrical lens elements 10a in the first optical array 1 already explained above in connection with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, which are associated with the first cylindrical lens elements 20a of the second optical array 2, the intensity distributions in the focal plane of the first cylindrical lens elements 20a of the second optical array 2 to be very similar. The first cylindrical lens elements 20a of the second optical array 2 therefore produce very similar far fields, so that the intensity distribution in the far field is substantially independent of the illumination of the is independent of the beam profile of the incident on the beam splitter assembly light beam. If, as shown in FIG. 4, the focal planes of the first cylindrical lens elements 10a, 20a of the two optical arrays 1, 2 coincide, small focal spots are produced in this focal plane which lead to a corresponding number of individual beams with low divergence and different propagation angles in the far field. This results in a relatively uniform and, moreover, efficient beam splitting.

Claims

claims:

A beam splitter assembly comprising at least one beam splitter means suitable for splitting a light beam into a plurality of sub-beams, characterized in that the beam splitter means comprises at least a first and at least a second optical array (1, 2) spaced from each other and a plurality of optically functional elements, wherein in each case an optically functional element of the second optical array (2) is associated with an integer multiple of optically functional elements of the first optical array (1).

2. beam splitter arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the optically functional elements of the optical arrays (1, 2) are lens elements.

3. beam splitter arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the optical arrays (1, 2) are arranged so that the lens elements of the second optical array (2) and their associated lens elements of the first optical array (1) have common focal planes.

4. beam splitter arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that at least a part of the lens elements of the optical arrays (1, 2) is convex.

5. beam splitter arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that at least a part of the lens elements of the optical arrays (1, 2) is concave.

6. beam splitter arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the lens elements of the optical arrays (1, 2) are spherical lens elements.

7. beam splitter arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the lens elements of the optical arrays (1, 2) cylindrical lens elements (10a - 15c, 20a - 21 c) are.

8. beam splitter arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one of the optical arrays (1, 2) on opposite sides of first and second cylindrical lens elements (10a - 15c, 20a - 21c), wherein the cylinder axes of the first cylindrical lens elements (10a - 12c , 20a - 20c) on a rear side of the at least one of the optical array (1, 2) in each case parallel to each other and perpendicular to the cylinder axes of the second cylindrical lens elements (13a - 15c, 21 a - 21 c) on a front side of the at least one of the optical array (1, 2) are oriented.

9. beam splitter arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the beam splitter arrangement comprises at least one lens means (3) which is arranged in the beam path of the beam splitter arrangement behind the second optical array (2) and is suitable for the partial beams in a focal plane focus.

10. Beam splitter arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the lens means (3) is designed spherical. 1. Beam splitter arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the optically functional elements of at least one of the optical arrays (1, 2) are mirrors.