LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE ARRAY AND OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME

A light-emitting device array includes a first light-emitting device, a second light-emitting device, and a third light-emitting device. A first beam shaping structure of the first light-emitting device is configured to convert light emitted by a first light-emitting structure of first light-emitting device into first structured light. A second beam shaping structure of the second light-emitting device is configured to convert light emitted by a second light-emitting structure of second light-emitting device into second structured light. Speckle patterns and spatial distributions of the first structured light and the second structured light on a projection plane are the same. A third beam shaping structure of the third light-emitting device is configured to convert light emitted by a third light-emitting structure of third light-emitting device into third structured light.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 112121695, filed Jun. 9, 2023, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a light-emitting device array and an optical transceiver system having the same.

Description of Related Art

With the progress of today's science and technology, the structure called metasurface in the semiconductor industry is applied to the laser optical system to replace the traditional diffractive optical element (DOE), so that the size of the laser optical element having the metasurface can be miniaturized. In addition, since the geometric structure of the metasurface is smaller than the wavelength of visible light, it can have more diverse light wave phase control abilities as compared with the traditional diffractive optical elements.

Although laser optical elements having the metasurfaces bring the possibility of device size miniaturization and the function of laser beam shaping, the light wave control ability of the metasurrfaces is usually fixed after the process is completed. As a result, the laser optical characteristics of the laser optical elements having the metasurfaces are too uniform, which limits the operational flexibility of their application in the real field.

For the foregoing reason, there is a need to solve the above-mentioned problem by providing a light-emitting device array and an optical transceiver system having the same.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a light-emitting device array.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a light-emitting device array includes a first light-emitting device, a second light-emitting device, and a third light-emitting device. The first light-emitting device includes a first light-emitting structure and a first beam shaping structure located on the first light-emitting structure. The first beam shaping structure is configured to convert light emitted by the first light-emitting structure into first structured light. The second light-emitting device includes a second light-emitting structure and a second beam shaping structure located on the second light-emitting structure. The second beam shaping structure is configured to convert light emitted by the second light-emitting structure into second structured light. Speckle patterns and spatial distributions of the first structured light and the second structured light on a projection plane are the same. The third light-emitting device includes a third light-emitting structure and a third beam shaping structure located on the third light-emitting structure. The third beam shaping structure is configured to convert light emitted by the third light-emitting structure into third structured light. A speckle pattern and a spatial distribution of the third structured light and the speckle pattern and the spatial distribution of the first structured light on the projection plane are different.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first structured light converted by the first beam shaping structure, the second structured light converted by the second beam shaping structure, and the third structured light converted by the third beam shaping structure has a reference light, and the reference lights are the same as one another.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first beam shaping structure has a first metasurface, the second beam shaping structure has a second metasurface, and the third beam shaping structure has a third metasurface.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a geometric pattern of the first metasurface is the same as a geometric pattern of the second metasurface, and the geometric pattern of the first metasurface is different from a geometric pattern of the third metasurface.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first metasurface, the second metasurface, and the third metasurface has a plurality of meta-atoms. Each of the meta-atoms is in a shape of a cylindrical column, a square column, a rectangular column, or a combination thereof, and has a square lattice or a hexagonal lattice.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first light-emitting structure, the second light-emitting structure, and the third light-emitting structure has a laser diode and a substrate. The substrate is located between the laser diode and the first beam shaping structure, between the laser diode and the second beam shaping structure, or between the laser diode and the third beam shaping structure.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the light-emitting device array further includes a submount and an electrode array. The submount carries the first light-emitting structure, the second light-emitting structure, and the third light-emitting structure. The electrode array is located on the submount and has a plurality of N electrodes and a plurality of P electrodes. Each of the first light-emitting structure, the second light-emitting structure, and the third light-emitting structure is electrically connected to one of the N electrodes and one of the P electrodes.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides an optical transceiver system.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an optical transceiver system includes a light-emitting device array and a receiver array. The light-emitting device array includes a first light-emitting device, a second light-emitting device, and a third light-emitting device. The first light-emitting device includes a first light-emitting structure and a first beam shaping structure located on the first light-emitting structure. The first beam shaping structure is configured to convert light emitted by the first light-emitting structure into first structured light. The second light-emitting device includes a second light-emitting structure and a second beam shaping structure located on the configured to convert light emitted by the second light-emitting structure into second structured light. Speckle patterns and spatial distributions of the first structured light and the second structured light on a projection plane are the same. The third light-emitting device includes a third light-emitting structure and a third beam shaping structure located on the third light-emitting structure. The third beam shaping structure is configured to convert light emitted by the third light-emitting structure into third structured light. A speckle pattern and a spatial distribution of the third structured light and the speckle pattern and the spatial distribution of the first structured light on the projection plane are different. The receiver array is configured to receive the first structured light, the second structured light, and the third structured light.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first beam shaping structure has a first metasurface, the second beam shaping structure has a second metasurface, and the third beam shaping structure has a third metasurface.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a geometric pattern of the first metasurface is the same as a geometric pattern of the second metasurface, and the geometric pattern of the first metasurface is different from a geometric pattern of the third metasurface.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the optical transceiver system further includes a modulator, a focusing lens, and an image recognition system. The modulator is electrically connected to the light-emitting device array. The focusing lens is disposed on one side of the receiver array. The image recognition system is electrically connected to the receiver array.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first structured light converted by the first beam shaping structure, the second structured light converted by the second beam shaping structure, and the third structured light converted by the third beam shaping structure has a reference light, and the reference lights are the same as one another.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the light-emitting device array of the optical transceiver system further includes a submount and an electrode array. The submount carries the first light-emitting structure, the second light-emitting structure, and the third light-emitting structure. The electrode array is located on the submount and has a plurality of N electrodes and a plurality of P electrodes. Each of the first light-emitting structure, the second light-emitting structure, and the third light-emitting structure is electrically connected to one of the N electrodes and one of the P electrodes.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a light-emitting device array.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a light-emitting device array includes a first light-emitting device, a second light-emitting device, and a third light-emitting device. The first light-emitting device includes a first light-emitting structure and a first beam shaping structure located on the first light-emitting structure. The first beam shaping structure is configured to convert light emitted by the first light-emitting structure into first structured light. The second light-emitting device includes a second light-emitting structure and a second beam shaping structure located on the configured to convert light emitted by the second light-emitting structure into second structured light. The second beam shaping structure has a second metasurface. The third light-emitting device includes a third light-emitting structure and a third beam shaping structure located on the third light-emitting structure. The third beam shaping structure is configured to convert light emitted by the third light-emitting structure into third structured light. A speckle pattern and a spatial distribution of the third structured light and the speckle pattern and the spatial distribution of the first structured light on a projection plane are different.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first structured light converted by the first beam shaping structure, the second structured light converted by the second beam shaping structure, and the third structured light converted by the third beam shaping structure has a reference light, and the reference lights are the same as one another.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first beam shaping structure has a first metasurface, and the third beam shaping structure has a third metasurface.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a geometric pattern of the first metasurface is the same as a geometric pattern of the second metasurface, and the geometric pattern of the first metasurface is different from a geometric pattern of the third metasurface.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first metasurface, the second metasurface, and the third metasurface has a plurality of meta-atoms. Each of the meta-atoms is in a shape of a cylindrical column, a square column, a rectangular column, or a combination thereof, and has a square lattice or a hexagonal lattice.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first light-emitting structure, the second light-emitting structure, and the third light-emitting structure has a laser diode and a substrate. The substrate is located between the laser diode and the first beam shaping structure, between the laser diode and the second beam shaping structure, or between the laser diode and the third beam shaping structure.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the light-emitting device array further includes a submount and an electrode array. The submount carries the first light-emitting structure, the second light-emitting structure, and the third light-emitting structure. The electrode array is located on the submount and has a plurality of N electrodes and a plurality of P electrodes. Each of the first light-emitting structure, the second light-emitting structure, and the third light-emitting structure is electrically connected to one of the N electrodes and one of the P electrodes.

According to the aforementioned embodiments of the present disclosure, since the light-emitting device array includes the first light-emitting device, the second light-emitting device, and the third light-emitting device, and because the speckle patterns and the spatial distributions of first structured light and the second structured light on the projection plane are the same and the speckle patterns and the spatial distributions of third structured light and the first structured light on the projection plane are different, the first structured light, the second structured light, and the third structured light can realize a variety of different speckle patterns and spatial distributions on the projection plane and allow the light-emitting device array to emit the structured lights with a high degree of freedom. In addition, since the light-emitting device array has a plurality of light-emitting devices, images projected by the light-emitting device array can have better image resolution, and the light-emitting device array can realize the scanning function of the two-dimensional laser beam array.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1depicts a schematic view of a light-emitting device array100in operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.2depicts speckle patterns S1to S3of first structured light SL1, second structured light SL2, and third structured light SL3inFIG.1on a projection plane PP. A description is provided with reference toFIG.1andFIG.2. The light-emitting device array100includes a first light-emitting device110, a second light-emitting device120, and a third light-emitting device130. The first light-emitting device110includes a first light-emitting structure111and a first beam shaping structure112located on the first light-emitting structure111. The first beam shaping structure112is configured to convert light emitted by the first light-emitting structure111into the first structured light SL1. The second light-emitting device120includes a second light-emitting structure121and a second beam shaping structure122located on the second light-emitting structure121. The second beam shaping structure122is configured to convert light emitted by the second light-emitting structure121into the second structured light SL2. On the projection plane PP, spatial distributions of the first structured light SL1and the second structured light SL2are the same, and the speckle pattern S1of first structured light SL1and the speckle pattern S2of the second structured light SL2are the same. The third light-emitting device130includes a third light-emitting structure131and a third beam shaping structure132located on the third light-emitting structure131. The third beam shaping structure132is configured to convert light emitted by the third light-emitting structure131into the third structured light SL3. On the projection plane PP, the spatial distribution of the first structured light SL1and a spatial distribution of the third structured light SL3are different, and the speckle pattern S1of first structured light SL1and the speckle pattern S3of the third structured light SL3are also different.

In some embodiments, the projection plane may be a face or a hand of a person. For example, the light-emitting device array100can be applied to a facial recognition system, facial expression recognition of a mobile phone, 3D sensing of augmented reality (AR) glasses, and pedestrian and hand recognition in a somatosensory game. In some other embodiments, the projection plane PP may be some other plane, and the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

In greater detail, since the light-emitting device array100includes the first light-emitting device110, the second light-emitting device120, and the third light-emitting device130, and because on the projection plane PP the speckle pattern S1of first structured light SL1and the speckle pattern S2of the second structured light SL2are the same and they are different from the speckle pattern S3of the third structured light SL3, the first structured light SL1, the second structured light SL2, and the third structured light SL3can realize a variety of different speckle patterns and spatial distributions on the projection plane PP and allow the light-emitting device array100to emit structured lights with a high degree of freedom. In addition, since the light-emitting device array100has a plurality of light-emitting devices (such as the first light-emitting device110, the second light-emitting device120, and the third light-emitting device130), images projected by the light-emitting device array100can have better image resolution, and the light-emitting device array100can be applied to the scanning function of the two-dimensional laser beam array.

Additionally, each of the first structured light SL1converted by the first beam shaping structure112, the second structured light SL2converted by the second beam shaping structure122, and the third structured light SL3converted by the third beam shaping structure132has a reference light RL, and the refence lights RL are the same as one another. Such a configuration can allow the light-emitting device array100to have the functions of calibration and positioning in 3D sensing.

In some embodiments, the first beam shaping structure112has a first metasurface113, the second beam shaping structure122has a second metasurface123, and the third beam shaping structure132has a third metasurface133. Since the first light-emitting structure111, the second light-emitting structure121, and the third light-emitting structure131may be semiconductor laser devices, and the process of the metasurfaces and the process of the semiconductor laser devices can be integrated, the process of the light-emitting device array100can skip the optical device manufacturer and the semiconductor packaging manufacturer for configuring the diffractive optical elements (DOE) and realize monolithic integration. As a result, a size of the light-emitting device array100can be further reduced.

In addition to that, a geometric pattern G1of the first metasurface113is the same as a geometric pattern G2of the second metasurface123(as shown inFIG.4andFIG.5), and the geometric pattern G1of the first metasurface113is different from a geometric pattern G3of the third metasurface133(as shown inFIG.4andFIG.6). Such a configuration allows the speckle pattern S1of first structured light SL1to be the same as the speckle pattern S2of the second structured light SL2and to be different from the speckle pattern S3of the third structured light SL3, so that the light-emitting device array100can be applied to the time-multiplexing technology with high resolution and high precision. In some embodiments, each of the speckle pattern S1, the speckle pattern S2, and the speckle pattern S3may include a dot array, a random speckle arrangement, or a mesh pattern distribution. In the present embodiment, the speckle pattern S1and the speckle pattern S2are dot arrays, and the speckle pattern S3is a random speckle arrangement.

In addition, the light-emitting device array100may further include a submount140and an electrode array150. The submount140carries the first light-emitting structure111, the second light-emitting structure121, and the third light-emitting structure131. The electrode array150is located on the submount140. The electrode array150has a plurality of N electrodes152and a plurality of P electrodes154. Each of the first light-emitting structure111of the first light-emitting device110, the second light-emitting structure121of the second light-emitting device120, and the third light-emitting structure131of the third light-emitting device130is electrically connected to one of the N electrodes152and one of the P electrodes154. Such a configuration allows each of the first light-emitting device110, the second light-emitting device120, and the third light-emitting device130of the light-emitting device array100to operate independently (for example, independently control the lighting up and lighting off of each of the light-emitting devices), so that the light-emitting device array100can emit the structured lights with a high degree of freedom.

FIG.3Adepicts a side view of the first light-emitting device110inFIG.1on the electrode array150.FIG.3Bdepicts a top view of the first light-emitting device110inFIG.1on the electrode array150. A description is provided with reference toFIG.3AandFIG.3B. The first light-emitting device110includes the first light-emitting structure111and the first beam shaping structure112located on the first light-emitting structure111. The first beam shaping structure112has the first metasurface113. The first metasurface113has a plurality of meta-atoms114. In some embodiments, each of the meta-atoms114may be in a shape of a cylindrical column, a square column, a rectangular column, or a combination thereof, and may have a square lattice or a hexagonal lattice. Additionally, top surface areas of these meta-atoms114may be different, so that the first beam shaping structure112can determine the spatial distribution and optical characteristics of the first structured light SL1. In some embodiments, one type of the spatial distribution of the first structured light SL1can be designed by using computer generated holography (CGH), and the geometric pattern G1of the first metasurface113and the arrangement method of the meta-atoms114can be constructed based on the ideal far-field pattern of the first structured light SL1. Since the configurations of the second light-emitting device120and the third light-emitting device130are similar toFIG.3, a description in this regard is not repeated.

FIG.4depicts a cross-sectional view of the first light-emitting device110inFIG.1in operation on the submount140and the electrode array150. A description is provided with reference toFIG.4andFIG.1. The first light-emitting device110includes the first light-emitting structure111and the first beam shaping structure112located on the first light-emitting structure111. The submount140carries the first light-emitting structure111. The electrode array150is located on the submount140. According to the present embodiment, the first light-emitting structure111may have a substrate115and a laser diode116, and the substrate115is located between the laser diode116and the first beam shaping structure112. This configuration is a flip chip structure, which can occupy a smaller volume as compared with a structure using the wire bonding technology. It is thus beneficial for the miniaturization of the light-emitting device array100. In addition to that, an N electrode117and a P electrode118of the laser diode116may be electrically connected to the N electrode152and the P electrode154of the electrode array150, respectively. As a result, the laser diode116can be driven by the electrode array150to emit a laser beam towards the first beam shaping structure112, and the laser beam is converted into the first structured light SL1having the reference light RL by the first beam shaping structure112. In some embodiments, the laser diode116may include a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) or a photonic crystal surface emitting laser (PCSEL), but the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

FIG.5depicts a cross-sectional view of the second light-emitting device120inFIG.1in operation on the submount140and the electrode array150. A description is provided with reference toFIG.5andFIG.1. The second light-emitting device120includes the second light-emitting structure121and the second beam shaping structure122located on the second light-emitting structure121. In the present embodiment, the second beam shaping structure122is the same as the first beam shaping structure112inFIG.4. The submount140carries the second light-emitting structure121. The electrode array150is located on the submount140. According to the present embodiment, the second light-emitting structure121may have a substrate125and a laser diode126, and the substrate125is located between the laser diode126and the second beam shaping structure122. This configuration is a flip chip structure, which can occupy a smaller volume as compared with a structure using the wire bonding technology. It is thus beneficial for the miniaturization of the light-emitting device array100. In addition, an N electrode127and a P electrode128of the laser diode126may be electrically connected to the N electrode152and the P electrode154of the electrode array150, respectively. In some embodiments, the laser diode126may include a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) or a photonic crystal surface emitting laser (PCSEL), but the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

Additionally, the second beam shaping structure122has the second metasurface123, and the second metasurface123may have a plurality of meta-atoms124. In some embodiments, each of the meta-atoms124may be in a shape of a cylindrical column, a square column, a rectangular column, or a combination thereof, and may have a square lattice or a hexagonal lattice. Top surface areas of these meta-atoms124may be different, so that the second beam shaping structure122can determine the spatial distribution and optical characteristics of the second structured light SL2. In some embodiments, one type of the spatial distribution of the second structured light SL2can be designed by using computer generated holography (CGH), and the geometric pattern G2of the second metasurface123and the arrangement method of the meta-atoms124can be constructed based on the ideal far-field pattern of the second structured light SL2. As a result, the laser diode126can be driven by the electrode array150to emit a laser beam towards the second beam shaping structure122, and the laser beam is converted into the second structured light SL2having the reference light RL by the second beam shaping structure122. In the present embodiment, the arrangement method of the meta-atoms124may be the same as that of the meta-atoms114inFIG.4and the geometric pattern G2of the second metasurface123is the same as the geometric pattern G1of the first metasurface113, so that the spatial distributions of the first structured light SL1and the second structured light SL2may be the same.

FIG.6depicts a cross-sectional view of the third light-emitting device130inFIG.1in operation on the submount140and the electrode array150. A description is provided with reference toFIG.6andFIG.1. The third light-emitting device130includes the third light-emitting structure131and the third beam shaping structure132located on the third light-emitting structure131. In the present embodiment, the third beam shaping structure132is different from the first beam shaping structure112inFIG.4, and is also different from the second beam shaping structure122inFIG.5. The submount140carries the third light-emitting structure131. The electrode array150is located on the submount140. According to the present embodiment, the third light-emitting structure131may have a substrate135and a laser diode136, and the substrate135is located between the laser diode136and the third beam shaping structure132. This configuration is a flip chip structure, which can occupy a smaller volume as compared with a structure using the wire bonding technology. It is thus beneficial for the miniaturization of the light-emitting device array100. In addition to that, an N electrode137and a P electrode138of the laser diode136may be electrically connected to one of the N electrodes152and one of the P electrodes154of the electrode array150, respectively. In some embodiments, the laser diode136may include a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) or a photonic crystal surface emitting laser (PCSEL), but the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

In addition, the third beam shaping structure132has the third metasurface133, and the third metasurface133has a plurality of meta-atoms134. In some embodiments, each of the meta-atoms134may be in a shape of a cylindrical column, a square column, a rectangular column, or a combination thereof, and may have a square lattice or a hexagonal lattice. Top surface areas of these meta-atoms134may be different, so that the third beam shaping structure132can determine the spatial distribution and optical characteristics of the third structured light SL3. In some embodiments, one type of the spatial distribution of the third structured light SL3can be designed by using computer generated holography (CGH), and the geometric pattern G3of the third metasurface133and the arrangement method of the meta-atoms134can be constructed based on the ideal far-field pattern of the third structured light SL3. As a result, the laser diode136can be driven by the electrode array150to emit a laser beam towards the third beam shaping structure132, and the laser beam is converted into the third structured light SL3having the reference light RL by the third beam shaping structure132. In the present embodiment, the arrangement method of the meta-atoms134is different from that of the meta-atoms114inFIG.4and the geometric pattern G3of the third metasurface133is different from the geometric pattern G1of the first metasurface113, so that the spatial distributions of the third structured light SL3and the first structured light SL1can be different.

It should be understood that the connection relationships, materials, and functions of the devices that have been described is not repeated, and that must be explained first. In the following description, an optical transceiver system having a light-emitting device array is provided.

FIG.7depicts a schematic diagram of an optical transceiver system200in operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.8depicts the speckle patterns S1to S3of the first structured light SL1, the second structured light SL2, and the third structured light SL3inFIG.7on the projection plane PP. The optical transceiver system200includes a receiver array210and the previously mentioned light-emitting device array100. The light-emitting device array100includes the first light-emitting device110, the second light-emitting device120, and the third light-emitting device130. On the projection plane PP, the spatial distributions of the first structured light SL1and the second structured light SL2are the same, and the speckle pattern S1of first structured light SL1and the speckle pattern S2of the second structured light SL2are the same. Additionally, on the projection plane PP, the spatial distributions of the first structured light SL1and the third structured light SL3are different, and the speckle pattern S1of first structured light SL1and the speckle pattern S3of the third structured light SL3are also different. The receiver array210has a plurality of receivers212, and can receive the first structured light SL1, the second structured light SL2, and the third structured light SL3reflected by the projection plane PP. In greater detail, the light-emitting device array100can emit the structured lights with a high degree of freedom (including the first structured light SL1, the second structured light SL2and the third structured light SL3) to the receiver array210. Therefore, images received by the receiver array210can have better image resolution, and the optical transceiver system200can realize the scanning function of the two-dimensional laser beam array (can freely control the turning on and turning off of each light-emitting device of the light-emitting device array100(such as the first light-emitting device110, the second light-emitting device120, and the third light-emitting device130)).

In some embodiments, the optical transceiver system200may further include a modulator220, a focusing lens230, and an image recognition system240. The modulator220is electrically connected to the light-emitting device array100, so that the modulator220can control the first light-emitting device110, the second light-emitting device120, and the third light-emitting device130through the electrode array150. The focusing lens230is disposed on one side of the receiver array210, for example, located between the projection plane PP and the receiver array210. The focusing lens230is configured so that the first structured light SL1, the second structured light SL2, and the third structured light SL3can be focused on receiver array210. The image recognition system240is electrically connected to the receiver array210, so that the optical transceiver system200can have the function of feature recognition, and can be applied to the image reconstruction technology. In addition to that, the optical transceiver system200having the light-emitting device array100and the receiver array210can be applied to a facial recognition system, facial expression recognition of a mobile phone, 3D sensing of augmented reality (AR) glasses, and pedestrian and hand recognition in a somatosensory game.