Collimating Metalenses and Technologies Incorporating the Same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018274750-A1
Application number	US-201815922770-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 15, 2018
Priority date	Sep 23, 2015
Publication date	Sep 27, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Metalenses and technologies incorporating the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, the metalenses are in the form of a hybrid multiregion collimating metalens that includes a first region and a second region, wherein the hybrid multiregion collimating metalens is configured to collimate (e.g., visible) light incident thereon. In some instances the first region includes an array of first unit cells that contain subwavelength spaced nanostructures, such that the first region functions as a subwavelength high contrast grating (SWHCG), whereas the second region includes an array of second unit cell, wherein the array of second unit cells includes a near periodic annular arrangement of nanostructures such that the second region approximates the functionality of a locally periodic radial diffraction grating. Lighting devices including such metalenses are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A multiregion hybrid collimating metalens ( 401 ), comprising:
a substrate ( 303 ) having a first side ( 309 ) and a second side ( 311 ); and a metasurface ( 305 ) formed on said first side ( 309 ) of said substrate, the metasurface comprising at least one region ( 701 );
wherein:
the at least one region ( 701 ) comprises an array of first unit cells ( 830 ), wherein the array of first unit cells ( 830 ) comprises an arrangement of nanostructures ( 910 ), such that each first unit cell ( 830 ) functions as a radial diffraction grating structure.

2 . (canceled)

3 . (canceled)

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . The collimating metalens ( 401 ) of claim 1 , wherein said collimating metalens ( 401 ) has a numerical aperture greater than 0.5.

7 . The collimating metalens ( 401 ) of claim 6 , wherein said collimating metalens ( 401 ) has a numerical aperture greater than or equal to about 0.8.

8 . The collimating metalens ( 401 ) of claim 1 , wherein said collimating metalens ( 401 ) has a lens transmission of greater than 80% for light in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

9 . The collimating metalens ( 401 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one region ( 701 ) is configured as a notch pass filter for certain wavelengths of light incident on the collimating metalens ( 401 ).

10 . A lighting device ( 495 , 595 ), comprising:
a first light source ( 409 , 502 ); and a collimating metalens ( 401 , 501 ) proximate said first light source ( 409 , 502 ), said collimating metalens ( 401 , 501 ) being a hybrid multiregion collimating metalens ( 700 ) comprising:
a substrate ( 303 ) having a first side ( 309 ) and a second side ( 311 ); and
a metasurface ( 305 ) formed on said first side ( 309 ), the metasurface ( 305 ) comprising a first region ( 701 ) extending radially around an optical axis of said metalens ( 401 , 501 ) and a second region ( 703 ) extending radially around said first region ( 703 );

wherein:
said first light source ( 409 , 502 ) is configured to emit light rays ( 415 , 503 ) in a first wavelength or wavelength range, at least a portion of said light rays ( 415 , 503 ) being incident on said hybrid multiregion collimating metalens ( 700 );
said hybrid multiregion collimating metalens ( 700 ) is configured to collimate said light rays ( 415 , 503 ), thereby producing collimated light rays ( 415 , 503 ) in a region down field (DFR) of said hybrid multiregion collimating metalens ( 700 ), relative to said first light source ( 409 , 502 );
wherein the first light source is a laser diode.

11 . The lighting device ( 495 , 595 ) of claim 10 , wherein:
the first region ( 701 ) comprises an array of first unit cells ( 820 ) containing subwavelength spaced nanostructures ( 910 ), such that said first region ( 701 ) functions as a subwavelength high contrast grating (SWHCG); and the second region ( 703 ) comprises an array of second unit cells ( 830 ), wherein the array of second unit cells ( 830 ) comprises a near periodic annular arrangement of nanostructures ( 910 ), such that the second region ( 703 ) approximates the functionality of a locally periodic radial diffraction grating.

12 . The lighting device ( 495 , 595 ) of claim 11 , wherein:
the array of first unit cells ( 820 ) comprises a hexagonal array of said subwavelength spaced nanostructures ( 910 ).

13 . The lighting device ( 495 , 595 ) of claim 11 , wherein:
the array of first unit cells ( 820 ) has a duty cycle that varies as a function of a position of a respective one of said first unit cells ( 820 ) in said first array, relative to an optical axis of said hybrid multiregion collimating metalens ( 700 ).

14 . The lighting device ( 495 , 595 ) of claim 11 , wherein:
said array of first unit cells ( 820 ) is configured to impart a first type of approximation of a target hyperboloidal phase to light incident thereon; said array of second unit cells ( 830 ) is configured to impart a second type of approximation of the target hyperboloidal phase to light incident thereon; and the first type of approximation of the target hyperboloidal phase is different than the second type of approximation of the hyperboloidal phase.

15 . The lighting device ( 495 , 595 ) of claim 14 , wherein the second type of approximation of the target hyperboloidal phase is a sawtooth phase change.

16 . The lighting device ( 495 , 595 ) of claim 11 , wherein said hybrid multiregion collimating metalens ( 700 ) has a focal length less than 2 millimeters and a numerical aperture greater than 0.5.

17 . The lighting device ( 495 , 595 ) of claim 11 , wherein said hybrid multiregion collimating metalens ( 700 ) has a numerical aperture greater than or equal to about 0.8.

18 . The lighting device ( 495 , 595 ) of claim 11 , wherein said hybrid multiregion collimating metalens ( 700 ) has a lens transmission of greater than 80% for light in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

19 . (canceled)

20 . The lighting device ( 495 , 595 ) of claim 10 , wherein said lighting device ( 495 , 595 ) is selected from the group consisting of an automotive lamp, a projector, a fiber illuminator, a flash, or a combination thereof.

21 . The collimating metalens ( 401 ) of claim 1 , wherein
the at least one region ( 701 ) extends radially around an optical axis of said collimating metalens ( 401 ); the metasurface comprises a second region ( 703 ) extending radially around said at least one region ( 701 ); and
the second one region ( 703 ) comprises an array of second unit cells ( 830 ), wherein the array of second unit cells ( 830 ) comprises a near periodic annular arrangement of nanostructures ( 910 ), such that the second region ( 703 ) approximates the functionality of a locally periodic radial diffraction grating.

22 . A lighting device ( 495 , 595 ), comprising:
a first light source ( 409 , 502 ); and a collimating metalens ( 401 , 501 ) proximate said first light source ( 409 , 502 ), said collimating metalens ( 401 , 501 ) comprising:
a substrate ( 303 ) having a first side ( 309 ) and a second side ( 311 ); and
a metasurface ( 305 ) formed on said first side ( 309 );

wherein:
said first light source ( 409 , 502 ) is configured to emit light rays ( 415 , 503 ) in a first wavelength or wavelength range, at least a portion of said light rays ( 415 , 503 ) being incident on said collimating metalens ( 401 );
said collimating metalens ( 401 ) is configured to collimate said light rays ( 415 , 503 ), thereby producing collimated light rays ( 415 , 503 ) in a region down field (DFR) of said collimating metalens ( 401 , 501 ), relative to said first light source ( 409 , 502 ); and

wherein:
the first light source emits light in the wavelength range of about 400 to about 700 nm; and
the metasurface ( 305 ) is formed of at least one material selected from the group of materials consisting of a high refractive index low-loss dielectric oxide; a high refractive index low-loss dielectric carbide; a high refractive index low-loss dielectric diamond; a high refractive index low-loss dielectric sulfide; a high refractive index low-loss dielectric nitride; a high-index silicone polymer; and a high-index acrylic polymer.

23 . The lighting device ( 495 , 595 ) of claim 22 , wherein:
the collimating metalens ( 401 , 501 ) is a hybrid multiregion collima

Assignees

• Byrnes Steve
• Aieta Francesco
• Capasso Federico
• Lenef Alan
• Osram Sylvania Inc
• Harvard College

Inventors

• Byrnes Steve
• Aieta Francesco
• Capasso Federico
• Lenef Alan

Classifications

• F21V5/045 Primary

  the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses · CPC title

• F21V5/002

  using microoptical elements for redirecting or diffusing light · CPC title

• F21V5/046

  the lens having a rotationally symmetrical shape about an axis for transmitting light in a direction mainly perpendicular to this axis, e.g. ring or annular lens with light source disposed inside the ring · CPC title

• G02B5/1876

  Diffractive Fresnel lenses; Zone plates; Kinoforms (G02B5/1842, G02B5/1847 take precedence; optical systems having diffractive correction means G02B27/0037; Fresnel lenses operating by refraction G02B3/08) · CPC title

• G02B1/002

  made of materials engineered to provide properties not available in nature, e.g. metamaterials · CPC title