FREE SPACE MULTIPLE LASER DIODE MODULES
Systems, devices, and methods for optical engines and laser projectors that are well-suited for use in wearable heads-up displays (WHUDs) are described. Generally, the optical engines of the present disclosure integrate a plurality of laser diodes (e.g., 3 laser diodes, 4 laser diodes) within a single, hermetically sealed, encapsulated package. Such optical engines may have various advantages over existing designs including, for example, smaller volumes, better manufacturability, faster modulation speed, etc. WHUDs that employ such optical engines and laser projectors are also described.
1 . A laser projector, comprising:
an optical engine, comprising:
a base substrate;
a plurality of chip submounts bonded to the base substrate;
a plurality of laser diodes, each of the plurality of laser diodes bonded to a corresponding one of the plurality of chip submounts;
at least one laser diode driver circuit bonded to the base substrate, the at least one laser diode driver circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of laser diodes to selectively drive current to the plurality of laser diodes; and
a cap comprising at least one wall and at least one optical window that together define an interior volume sized and dimensioned to receive at least the plurality of chip submounts and the plurality of laser diodes, the cap being bonded to the base substrate to provide a hermetic seal between the interior volume of the cap and a volume exterior to the cap, and the optical window positioned and oriented to allow light emitted from the plurality of laser diodes to exit the interior volume; and
at least one scan mirror positioned to receive laser light from the plurality of laser diodes and controllably orientable to redirect the laser light over a range of angles.
2 . The laser projector of claim 1 , further comprising a processor communicatively coupled to optical engine to modulate the generation of light signals.
3 . The laser projector of claim 1 , further comprising a beam combiner positioned and oriented to combine light beams emitted from the plurality of laser diodes into a single aggregate beam.