Multipath Lenses for Eye-Safe High Power Optical Communications

Laser diodes enable high-speed optical data transmission. In optical wireless communications (OWC), how-ever, laser safety limits the output power to a few mW or less. Consequently, laser diode links are limited in range and field of view (FOV). Multipath lenses (MPLs) are a novel type of faceted lens that enable an increase of the laser power by a factor of 100 or more compared to single laser sources, which enables optical outputs of hundredths of mW and more. Due to their high efficiency and low-cost produc-tion, the patented MPL outperforms other approaches such as conventional lenses, diffusers, diffractive optical ele-ments (DOEs), and laser diode arrays. This whitepaper introduces the principles and properties of MPLs and provides real numbers for developers to assess if the MPL is a promising technology for their development.

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