Integrated photonics module for optical projection

Abstract

Optical apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate and a first array of surface-emitting radiation sources, which are mounted on a surface of the substrate so as to emit optical radiation along respective axes that are perpendicular to the surface. A second array of optical elements is mounted over the first array and aligned with the respective axes so that each optical element receives and transmits the optical radiation emitted by a respective radiation source.

1 . Optical apparatus, comprising:
 a semiconductor substrate;   a first array of surface-emitting radiation sources, which are mounted on a surface of the substrate so as to emit optical radiation along respective axes that are perpendicular to the surface; and   a second array of optical elements, which are mounted over the first array and aligned with the respective axes so that each optical element receives and transmits the optical radiation emitted by a respective radiation source.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface-emitting radiation sources comprise vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) diodes. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the VCSEL diodes are arranged on the semiconductor substrate in the form of a two-dimensional matrix. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical elements comprise microlenses. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , and comprising an optical module, which comprises a patterned element, wherein the optical elements are aligned with the radiation sources so as to direct the optical radiation into the optical module. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the patterned element comprises a diffractive optical element (DOE). 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the patterned element comprises a microlens array. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the optical elements that are mounted over the first array comprise first microlenses, which are aligned with the respective axes of the radiation sources, and wherein the microlens array comprises second microlenses, which are arranged to generate a pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , and comprising a projection lens, which is configured to project the pattern onto an object. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , and comprising:
 an imaging assembly, which is configured to capture an image of the pattern on the object; and   a processor, which is configured to process the image so as to generate a depth map of the object.   
     
     
         11 . A method for producing a photonics module, comprising:
 mounting a first array of surface-emitting radiation sources on a surface of a semiconductor substrate so as to emit optical radiation along respective axes that are perpendicular to the surface; and   mounting a second array of optical elements over the first array in alignment with the respective axes so that each optical element receives and transmits the optical radiation emitted by a respective radiation source.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the surface-emitting radiation sources comprise vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) diodes. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the VCSEL diodes are arranged on the semiconductor substrate in the form of a two-dimensional matrix. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the optical elements comprise microlenses. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein mounting the second array comprises aligning the optical elements with the radiation sources so as to direct the optical radiation into an optical module, which comprises a patterned element. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the patterned element comprises a diffractive optical element (DOE). 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the patterned element comprises a microlens array. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the optical elements that are mounted over the first array comprise first microlenses, which are aligned with the respective axes of the radiation sources, and wherein the microlens array comprises second microlenses, which are arranged to generate a pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , and comprising mounting a projection lens over the microlens array so as to project the pattern onto an object. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , and comprising:
 capturing an image of the pattern on the object; and   processing the image so as to generate a depth map of the object.