Patent Description:
A 3D recognition technology is widely used in fields such as face recognition for unlocking and payment. A laser module is an indispensable core component for 3D recognition, and is mainly used to emit ultra-short femtosecond pulses or project specific light patterns, so that a system obtains depth information. As one of the most important components in the laser module, a laser chip plays a key role during working of the laser module.

The laser chip is a semiconductor device sensitive to temperature. A higher temperature indicates a lower photoelectric conversion efficiency of the laser chip. The high temperature may easily damage a lattice structure of the laser chip to reduce a service life of the laser chip. However, for laser modules in the related art, laser chips mostly dissipate heat through circuit boards connected to the laser chips, resulting in low heat dissipation efficiency of the laser chips.

<CIT> describes a method and apparatus for cooling electronic or optoelectronic devices.

<CIT> describes a heat spreader facet plane apparatus.

Embodiments of this disclosure provide a laser module and an electronic device, so as to resolve a problem of low heat dissipation efficiency of a laser chip in a laser module in the related art.

In order to resolve the foregoing technical problem, this disclosure is implemented as follows:.

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure more clearly, the following briefly introduces the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments of this disclosure. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description show merely some embodiments of this disclosure, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

The following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this disclosure. Apparently, the described embodiments are some but not all of the embodiments of this disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of this disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of this disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> is a sectional view of a laser module according to an embodiment of this disclosure; <FIG> is a top view of the laser module in <FIG>; <FIG> is a structural diagram of a heat dissipation body in the laser module provided in <FIG>; <FIG> is a structural diagram of a heat dissipation body that has not been installed in the laser module provided in <FIG>; and <FIG> is a left side view of <FIG>.

Specifically referring to <FIG>, an embodiment of this disclosure provides a laser module, including an optical assembly <NUM>, a laser chip <NUM>, a power supply structure <NUM>, a packaging structure <NUM>, and a heat dissipation structure <NUM>. The laser chip <NUM> is disposed on a side of the optical assembly <NUM>, and the power supply structure <NUM> includes a first electrode <NUM> and a second electrode <NUM>. The first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> are both connected to the laser chip <NUM> for supplying power to the laser chip <NUM>. An accommodating cavity is formed in the packaging structure <NUM> and the optical assembly <NUM> is at least partially received in the accommodating cavity. The heat dissipation structure <NUM> is sleeved on the outer side of the packaging structure <NUM>, and the heat dissipation structure <NUM> abuts against the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>.

According to the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this disclosure, the heat dissipation structure <NUM> abuts against the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>, and therefore the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> can conduct heat generated by the laser chip <NUM>, the first electrode <NUM>, and the second electrode <NUM> to the heat dissipation structure <NUM>. Furthermore, the heat dissipation structure <NUM> sleeved on the outer side of the packaging structure <NUM> makes the heat dissipation structure <NUM> have a larger heat dissipation area for heat dissipation, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency of the laser module to ensure working performance and a service life of the laser chip <NUM>.

In addition, the heat dissipation structure <NUM> sleeved on the outer side of the packaging structure <NUM> can function to fasten and support the packaging structure <NUM>. For example, in a case that the packaging structure <NUM> is a columnar structure, the heat dissipation structure <NUM> may be a tubular structure that sleeves an outer surface of the packaging structure <NUM> to surround the packaging structure <NUM>, thereby fastening the packaging structure <NUM>.

The heat dissipation structure <NUM> may be a material with relatively optimal thermal conductivity but no electrical conductivity, so as to ensure the heat dissipation performance of the heat dissipation structure <NUM> and further prevent the power supply structure <NUM> from leaking electricity through the heat dissipation structure <NUM>, thereby ensuring use safety of the laser module.

Optionally, the power supply structure <NUM> may be disposed on a side of the laser chip <NUM> away from the optical assembly <NUM>. For example, the power supply structure <NUM> may be a circuit board, and the laser chip <NUM> may be attached to the circuit board, so that the laser chip <NUM> and the power supply structure <NUM> have a larger contact area, to improve heat transfer efficiency between the power supply structure <NUM> and the laser chip <NUM> and further help improve heat dissipation efficiency of the laser chip <NUM>.

The laser chip <NUM> and the power supply structure <NUM> may be located outside the packaging structure <NUM>. Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, the laser chip <NUM> and the power supply structure <NUM> may be located inside the packaging structure <NUM>, so that the laser chip <NUM> and the power supply structure <NUM> can be fastened by the packaging structure <NUM>, further ensuring overall stability of the laser module.

In an optional implementation, the heat dissipation structure <NUM> includes a heat dissipation body <NUM> and a heat conductor <NUM>, and the heat dissipation body <NUM> is sleeved on the outer side of the packaging structure <NUM>. One side of the heat conductor <NUM> abuts against the heat dissipation body <NUM>, and another side of the heat conductor <NUM> abuts against the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>. In other words, the heat conductor <NUM> is disposed between the power supply structure <NUM> and the heat dissipation body <NUM>. For example, the heat conductor <NUM> may have a ring structure, with an inner wall of the heat conductor <NUM> abutting against the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>, and an outer wall of the heat conductor <NUM> abutting against the heat dissipation body <NUM>. In this case, the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> each have a larger contact area with the heat conductor <NUM>, so that the heat conductor <NUM> can absorb more quickly the heat that is conducted to the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> from the first electrode <NUM>, the second electrode <NUM>, and the laser chip <NUM>, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the laser module.

The heat conductor <NUM> is made of an electrically non-conductive material, and the heat dissipation body <NUM> is made of a metal material. The heat conductor <NUM> made of the electrically non-conductive material does not have electrical conductivity, so as to further prevent the power supply structure <NUM> from leaking electricity through the heat conductor <NUM>, thereby ensuring use safety of the laser module.

The heat dissipation body <NUM> made of the metal material has better thermal conductivity, and the heat dissipation body <NUM> made of the metal material has a better electromagnetic shielding effect. For example, the material of the heat dissipation body <NUM> may be copper, and copper has a relatively high thermal conductivity coefficient and features good stability and low costs, thereby reducing manufacturing costs of the laser module.

In addition, the heat dissipation body <NUM> is sleeved on the outer side of the packaging structure <NUM>, and as shown in <FIG>, the laser chip <NUM> is received in the accommodating cavity of the packaging structure <NUM>. Therefore, the heat dissipation body <NUM> made of the metal material can reduce electromagnetic interference of the laser module to other components of the electronic device.

Optionally, the heat dissipation body <NUM> includes a substrate <NUM> and an extension piece <NUM>. The substrate <NUM> is sleeved on the outer side of the packaging structure <NUM>, and the substrate <NUM> includes a first end and a second end opposite to each other, where the first end abuts against the heat conductor <NUM>, and the second end is connected to the extension piece <NUM>. The extension piece <NUM> is located on a side of the optical assembly <NUM> away from the laser chip <NUM>.

For example, when the packaging structure <NUM> is a hollow columnar structure, and the substrate <NUM> may be a tubular structure that is sleeved on the outer surface of the packaging structure <NUM>. The substrate <NUM> of the tubular structure includes the first end and the second end opposite to and facing away from each other. The first end abuts against the heat conductor <NUM> to absorb the heat of the heat conductor <NUM>. The second end is close to the optical assembly <NUM>, and the extension piece <NUM> is disposed on the second end. The extension piece <NUM> is located on the side of the optical assembly <NUM> away from the laser chip <NUM>, to fasten the optical assembly <NUM>, thereby ensuring installation stability of the optical assembly <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in a specific implementation, the substrate <NUM> includes a first side plate <NUM>, a second side plate <NUM>, a third side plate <NUM>, and a fourth side plate <NUM> that are sequentially connected. A first through hole <NUM> is surrounded by the first side plate <NUM>, the second side plate <NUM>, the third side plate <NUM>, and the fourth side plate <NUM>. The packaging structure <NUM> is located in the first through hole <NUM>, and the extension piece <NUM> is disposed on the first side plate <NUM> and/or the third side plate <NUM>. The through hole is square, and the packaging structure <NUM> is also a square structure. The first side plate <NUM>, the second side plate <NUM>, the third side plate <NUM>, and the fourth side plate <NUM> are sequentially connected to form the square-shaped substrate <NUM>, and the substrate <NUM> may be an outer surface that covers the packaging structure <NUM>, so that the substrate <NUM> has a larger surface area to increase the heat dissipation area of the heat dissipation body <NUM>, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the laser module and better supporting and fastening the packaging structure <NUM>.

The extension piece <NUM> may be disposed on the first side plate <NUM> or the third side plate <NUM>, or the extension piece <NUM> is disposed on the first side plate <NUM> and the third side plate <NUM> each. For example, the extension piece <NUM> is disposed on the first side plate <NUM>, with the extension piece <NUM> connected to the third side plate <NUM>, so that the extension piece <NUM> is attached to the optical assembly <NUM>, to press the optical assembly <NUM>, thereby fastening the optical assembly <NUM>.

Alternatively, the extension piece <NUM> is disposed on the first side plate <NUM>, the second side plate <NUM>, the third side plate <NUM>, and the fourth side plate <NUM> each, and the extension pieces <NUM> are attached to the side of the optical assembly <NUM> away from the laser chip <NUM>. In other words, the extension piece <NUM> can function to fasten the optical assembly <NUM>.

Specifically, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a first extension piece <NUM> and a second extension piece <NUM> are disposed on the first side plate <NUM>, and a third extension piece <NUM> and a fourth extension piece <NUM> are disposed on the third side plate <NUM>. The first extension piece <NUM> is connected to the third extension piece <NUM> and the second side plate <NUM>. The third extension piece <NUM> is connected to the second side plate <NUM>, the second extension piece <NUM> is connected to the fourth extension piece <NUM> and the fourth side plate <NUM>, and the fourth extension piece <NUM> is connected to the fourth side plate <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the first side plate <NUM>, the second side plate <NUM>, the third side plate <NUM>, and the fourth side plate <NUM> are welded to form a hollow quadrangular prism structure, and the packaging structure <NUM> and part of the optical assembly <NUM> are all received in the quadrangular prism structure. The first extension piece <NUM> and the third extension piece <NUM> are both welded to the top end of the second side plate <NUM>, and the second extension piece <NUM> and the fourth extension piece <NUM> are both welded to the top end of the fourth side plate <NUM>. A top view of the laser module is shown in <FIG>. In this way, the first extension piece <NUM>, the third extension piece <NUM>, the second extension piece <NUM>, and the fourth extension piece <NUM> also press on the top of the optical assembly <NUM>, to further fasten the optical assembly <NUM>, preventing the optical assembly <NUM> from falling off and ensuring stability of the laser module. In addition, with such disposition, additional fixing parts are not required to fasten the optical assembly <NUM>, thereby reducing hardware costs of the laser module.

Referring to <FIG> again, a second through hole is formed in the heat conductor <NUM>, the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> are located in the second through hole, and the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> both abut against the inner wall of the heat conductor <NUM>. The first electrode <NUM> may be a positive electrode, and the second electrode <NUM> may be a negative electrode, so as to supply power to the laser chip <NUM>. The first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> may have a plate-like structure, and the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> may be packaged in the packaging structure <NUM>.

Optionally, the laser chip <NUM> is attached to the first electrode <NUM>, so that the laser chip <NUM> and the first electrode <NUM> have a larger contact area. In this way, the heat generated by the laser chip <NUM> can be conducted faster to the first electrode <NUM>, and then conducted to the heat conductor <NUM> through the first electrode <NUM>.

Optionally, the optical assembly <NUM> includes an optical element <NUM> and a collimating element <NUM>. The collimating element <NUM> is disposed on a side of the laser chip <NUM>, and the collimating element <NUM> is received in the accommodating cavity. The optical element <NUM> is disposed on a side of the collimating element <NUM> away from the laser chip <NUM>, and the extension piece <NUM> abuts against a side of the optical element <NUM> away from the collimating element <NUM>. It can be understood that the laser light emitted by the laser chip <NUM> passes through the collimating element <NUM> and is then projected to the optical element <NUM> in the form of parallel light. The optical element <NUM> is used to project the parallel light in the form of scattered light, so that the laser light emitted by the laser chip <NUM> can have a larger coverage.

In addition, a light divergence element <NUM> is disposed on a side of the optical element facing the collimating element. The light divergence element <NUM> is used to diverge the laser light emitted by the laser chip <NUM>, so that the laser light emitted by the light divergence element <NUM> has a larger emission angle. Optionally, the light divergent element <NUM> may be a micro galvanometer.

In this embodiment, a process flow for components of the laser module may be as follows: first attach the laser chip <NUM> to the first electrode <NUM>, and connect the laser chip <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> through a wire; dispose the heat conductor <NUM> on the outer side of the first electrode <NUM> and on the outer side of the second electrode <NUM>; package the first electrode <NUM>, the second electrode <NUM>, the heat conductor <NUM>, and the laser chip <NUM> by using a packaging material to form the packaging structure <NUM>; mount the collimating element <NUM> on the side of the laser chip <NUM> away from the first electrode <NUM>; mount the optical element <NUM> on the side of the collimating element <NUM> away from the laser chip <NUM>; bend the substrate <NUM> and the extension piece <NUM>, attach the substrate <NUM> to the outer wall of the packaging structure <NUM>, and attach the extension piece <NUM> to the optical element <NUM>; and then weld the substrate <NUM> and the extension piece <NUM>. The laser module provided in this embodiment of this disclosure has a simpler process flow and lower costs.

According to the technical solution provided in this embodiment of this disclosure, the heat generated by the laser chip <NUM> can be conducted to the heat conductor <NUM> through the power supply structure <NUM>, and then conducted to the heat dissipation body <NUM> through the heat conductor <NUM>. The heat dissipation body <NUM> sleeved on the outer side of the packaging structure <NUM> has a larger overall area, and therefore has a larger heat dissipation area for heat dissipation, improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the laser module and ensuring the working performance and service life of the laser chip <NUM>. Furthermore, the higher heat dissipation efficiency is also good for development of high-power laser modules to apply 3D recognition to long-distance photographing.

An embodiment of this disclosure further provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes the laser module in the embodiment described in <FIG>, and has all technical features of the laser module in the foregoing embodiment, with the same technical effects achieved. Details are not be repeated herein.

Claim 1:
A laser module, comprising:
an optical assembly (<NUM>);
a laser chip (<NUM>), disposed on a side of the optical assembly (<NUM>);
a power supply structure (<NUM>), comprising a first electrode (<NUM>) and a second electrode (<NUM>), wherein the first electrode (<NUM>) and the second electrode (<NUM>) are both connected to the laser chip (<NUM>);
a packaging structure (<NUM>) in which an accommodating cavity is formed, wherein the optical assembly (<NUM>) is at least partially received in the accommodating cavity; and
a heat dissipation structure (<NUM>), sleeved on an outer side of the packaging structure (<NUM>), further characterised in that the heat dissipation structure (<NUM>) abuts against the first electrode (<NUM>) and the second electrode (<NUM>);
the heat dissipation structure (<NUM>) comprises a heat dissipation body (<NUM>) and a heat conductor (<NUM>), wherein the heat dissipation body (<NUM>) is sleeved on the outer side of the packaging structure (<NUM>), one side of the heat conductor (<NUM>) abuts against the heat dissipation body (<NUM>), and another side of the heat conductor (<NUM>) abuts against the first electrode (<NUM>) and the second electrode (<NUM>); wherein the heat conductor (<NUM>) is made of an electrically non-conductive material, and the heat dissipation body (<NUM>) is made of a metal material; and
the heat dissipation body (<NUM>) comprises a substrate (<NUM>) and an extension piece (<NUM>), wherein the substrate (<NUM>) is sleeved on the outer side of the packaging structure (<NUM>), the substrate (<NUM>) comprises a first end and a second end opposite to and facing away from each other, the first end abuts against the heat conductor (<NUM>), the second end is connected to the extension piece (<NUM>), and the extension piece (<NUM>) is located on a side of the optical assembly (<NUM>) away from the laser chip (<NUM>).