The different types of DOEs (beam-splitters, pattern generators, kinoforms, beam shapers and gratings) utilize a microstructure surface relief profile for their optical function. Light transmitted by a DOE can be reshaped to almost any desired distribution,just by diffraction and the subsequent propagation. The DOE only encodes the shape of the desired intensity pattern, but maintains other parameters of the incident light source (e.g. beam size, divergence, polarization).
Due to their design flexibility, DOEs can have optical functions that can otherwise not be achieved at all, or only with
complicated optical systems. Moreover, compared to refractive optical elements, DOEs are typically much thinner and lighter,making them an attractive replacement in a number of applications.
In most scenarios the incident laser beam is collimated, or focused to a fixed distance behind the DOE. Wavelength Nanjing can offer solutions also for non-collimated or partially collimated light sources. To do so, the DOE microstructure combine pattern generation with focal power. In addition, the focusing properties of Wavelength Nanjing’s DOEs are not limited to fixed working distances. Instead, our pattern generators can provide required focal power to achieve focusing of the laser to strongly inclined target planes. In fact, the best focus location per diffraction direction can be matched to almost arbitrary surfaces.