Patents by Inventor Holger Joachim MOENCH
Holger Joachim MOENCH has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240128719Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor component for emitting light includes providing a base body, the base body comprising an active layer for generating the light and a tunnel contact, and forming a stop structure by implantation in a region of the tunnel contact. The stop structure delimits the tunnel contact and serves to constrict a current introduced into the active layer. Defects due to crystal imperfections are generated by the implantation so that the implanted region is transparent for the light having an emitted wavelength.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Roman Koerner, Alexander Weigl, Holger Joachim Moench, Berthold Schmidt
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Patent number: 11796640Abstract: A time-of-flight depth camera includes a VCSEL array, an optical arrangement, an evaluator and a light detector having at least one detector pixel. The VCSEL array or the optical arrangement are arranged to provide different illumination patterns in a reference plane in a defined field-of-view of the time-of-flight depth camera. The light detector is arranged to detect the different illumination patterns and the evaluator is arranged to reconstruct a depth image of the field of view with a resolution of a predefined number of pixels P based on the detected different illumination patterns. A number of the detected different illumination patterns N is at least 5% of the predefined number of pixels P, preferably at least 10% of the predefined number of pixels P and most preferred at least 20% of the predefined number of pixels P.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBHInventors: Matthew John Lawrenson, Joachim Wilhelm Hellmig, Holger Joachim Moench, Nicholas Walker, Jan Jasper Van Den Berg
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Patent number: 11692925Abstract: A laser sensor module for detecting a particle density of small particles with a particle size between 0.05 ?m and 10 ?m includes a first laser configured to emit a first measurement beam, a second laser configured to emit a second measurement beam, and an optical arrangement configured to focus the first measurement beam to a first measurement volume and to focus the second measurement beam to a second measurement volume. The optical arrangement includes a first numerical aperture and a second numerical aperture arranged to detect a predetermined minimum particle size. The laser sensor module further includes a first detector configured to determine a first self-mixing interference signal of a first optical wave, a second detector configured to determine a second self-mixing interference signal of a second optical wave, and an evaluator.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2019Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBHInventors: Johannes Hendrikus Maria Spruit, Alexander Marc Van Der Lee, Petrus Theodorus Jutte, Holger Joachim Moench, Joachim Wilhelm Hellmig, Roy Ovink
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Patent number: 11563306Abstract: A VCSEL device includes a first electrical contact, a substrate, a second electrical contact, and an optical resonator arranged on a first side of the substrate. The optical resonator includes a first reflecting structure comprising a first distributed Bragg reflector, a second reflecting structure comprising a second distributed Bragg reflector, an active layer arranged between the first and second reflecting structures, and a guiding structure. The guiding structure is configured to define a first relative intensity maximum of an intensity distribution within the active layer at a first lateral position such that a first light emitting area is provided, to define at least a second relative intensity maximum of the intensity distribution within the active layer at a second lateral position such that a second light emitting area is provided, and to reduce an intensity in between the at least two light-emitting areas during operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBHInventors: Holger Joachim Moench, Stephan Gronenborn
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Publication number: 20230020718Abstract: A Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser VCSEL, includes an optical resonator with a first reflector, a second reflector, and an active region for laser emission arranged between the first reflector and the second reflector and remaining regions outside of the active region, and an electrical contact arrangement configured to provide an electrical drive current to electrically pump the optical resonator. The optical resonator further comprises a loss layer introducing optical and/or electrical losses to increase wavelength shift of the laser emission when varying the drive current. If the loss layer is an optical loss layer, the optical losses introduced by the loss layer are higher than the sum of the optical losses in the remaining regions. If the loss layer is an electrical loss layer, the electrical losses introduced by the loss layer are higher by a factor of at least 5 than the electrical losses in the remaining regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Ulrich Weichmann, Holger Joachim Moench
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Patent number: 11522342Abstract: A VCSEL device includes a first electrical contact, a substrate, a second electrical contact, and an optical resonator arranged on a first side of the substrate. The optical resonator includes a first reflecting structure comprising a first distributed Bragg reflector, a second reflecting structure comprising a second distributed Bragg reflector, an active layer arranged between the first and second reflecting structures, and a guiding structure. The guiding structure is configured to define a first relative intensity maximum of an intensity distribution within the active layer at a first lateral position such that a first light emitting area is provided, to define at least a second relative intensity maximum of the intensity distribution within the active layer at a second lateral position such that a second light emitting area is provided, and to reduce an intensity in between the at least two light-emitting areas during operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBHInventors: Holger Joachim Moench, Stephan Gronenborn
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Publication number: 20220123530Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus is adapted to generate a structured light pattern. The optoelectronic apparatus has: a first array of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs); a first homogenization optics arrangement associated with the first array of VCSELs; a second array of VCSELs; a second homogenization optics arrangement associated with the second array of VCSELs; and a pattern optics arrangement configured to generate a structured light pattern based on a common homogeneous intensity distribution in an intermediate plane. The first homogenization optics arrangement and the second homogenization, each associated with a different one of the first array of VCSELs or the second array of VCSELs, are arranged such that their intensity distributions add up to the common homogeneous top-hat intensity distribution in the intermediate plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2021Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Stephan Gronenborn, Holger Joachim Moench
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Publication number: 20220094137Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser device includes: an optical resonator; a photodiode; and a contact arrangement. The optical resonator includes: two distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) and an active region between the DBRs. The photodiode has a light absorption region in the optical resonator. The contact arrangement provides drive current to pump the optical resonator, and contacts the photodiode. The active region has an InxGa1-xAs layer, where 0?x<1. The light absorption region has an InyGa1-yAs layer, where 0<y<1, and y>x. The InyGa1-yAs layer is an intrinsic layer of the light absorption region. The InyGa1-yAs layer is 15-50 nm thick. The light absorption region has an undoped layer with a material different from the InyGa1-yAs layer. The InyGa1-yAs layer is immediately adjacent to the undoped layer. An intrinsic zone of the light absorption region is at least 70 nm thick.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Ulrich Weichmann, Philipp Henning Gerlach, Susanne Weidenfeld, Holger Joachim Moench
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Patent number: 11171468Abstract: A laser arrangement includes a laser array including a multitude of lasers and an optical device configured to provide a defined illumination pattern in a defined field-of-view. The optical device includes a multitude of localized optical structures, each respective localized optical structure being associated with at least one respective laser of the laser array and being arranged to redirect laser light emitted by the at least one respective laser such that laser light emitted by the at least one respective laser appears to be emitted from at least one apparent position of the laser array. The localized optical structures are arranged such that laser light emitted by at least one respective selected laser appears to be emitted from at least two apparent positions of the laser array. The optical device is arranged such that the apparent positions are distributed in an irregular pattern.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBHInventors: Stephan Gronenborn, Holger Joachim Moench, Ralph Engelbertus Theodorus Gudde
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Patent number: 11099259Abstract: A time-of-flight camera module includes a controller, a time-of-flight detector, a laser device, and an optical unit comprising a polarization rotator arranged to rotate a plane of polarized light. The controller is configured to modulate the time-of-flight detector and the laser device in a depth sensing mode. The time-of-flight detector is configured to record depth data of a scene in the depth sensing mode by means of modulated laser light emitted by the laser device and reflected from an object in the scene. The depth data is descriptive of a distance to the object in the scene. The controller is further configured to modulate the time-of-flight detector and the polarization rotator in a surface polarization sensing mode. The time-of-flight detector is configured to record polarization data of the scene in the surface polarization sensing mode by detection light received from the object in the scene after traversing the polarization rotator.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBHInventors: Holger Joachim Moench, Matthew John Lawrenson, Nicholas Walker, Jan Jasper Van Den Berg
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Patent number: 11093031Abstract: A display apparatus configured to be coupled to a movable object includes at least a first laser sensor module and a display device configured to display a field-of-view. The first laser sensor module is configured to determine, by self mixing interference measurements, movements of the movable object with respect to a reference object mechanically coupled to the movable object. The first laser sensor module is configured to emit at least three measurement beams in three different spatial directions to the reference object when the display apparatus is coupled to the movable object and the first laser sensor module is configured to determine velocity vectors or distances collinear to the spatial directions. The display device is configured to integrate at least one virtual object in the field-of-view in accordance with the determined movements of the movable object.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBHInventors: Holger Joachim Moench, Joachim Wilhelm Hellmig
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Patent number: 11092531Abstract: The invention describes a laser sensor module. The laser sensor module comprises at least a first laser (111) being adapted to emit a first measurement beam (111?) and at least a second laser (112) being adapted to emit a second measurement beam (112?). The laser sensor module further comprises an optical device (150) being arranged to redirect the first measurement beam (111?) and the second measurement beam (112?) such that the first measurement beam (111?) and the second measurement beam enclose an angle between 45° and 135°. The laser sensor module comprises one detector (120) being adapted to determine at least a first self-mixing interference signal of a first optical wave within a first laser cavity of the first laser (111) and at least a second self-mixing interference signal of a second optical wave within a second laser cavity of the second laser (112).Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBHInventors: Johannes Henrikus Maria Spruit, Petrus Theodorus Jutte, Alexander Marc Van Der Lee, Holger Joachim Moench, Joachim Wilhelm Hellmig
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Publication number: 20210104867Abstract: A VCSEL array has VCSEL sub-arrays having VCSELs on a substrate. The sub-arrays are electrically contacted by a first electrical contact arrangement common to the VCSELs within a respective sub-array and a second electrical contact arrangement. The second electrical contact arrangement has second electrical contacts contacting a respective VCSEL within the respective sub-array, individually. The second electrical contacts each has a second metal-semiconductor interface to a second semiconductor layer of an associated VCSEL. The second electrical contacts pump the VCSEL along a current path to the first electrical contact arrangement. Current paths between the first electrical contact arrangement and the second electrical contacts via the VCSELs have a symmetry selected out of the group of rotation symmetry, mirror symmetry, and translation symmetry. The first electrical contact arrangement and the second electrical contact arrangement are arranged on the same side of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventors: Alexander Weigl, Stephan Gronenborn, Holger Joachim Moench
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Patent number: 10965103Abstract: A laser arrangement includes a VCSEL array comprising multiple VCSELs arranged on a common semiconductor substrate, an optical structure, and a diffusor structure. The optical structure is arranged to reduce a divergence angle of laser light emitted by each respective VCSEL to a section of the diffusor structure assigned to the respective VCSEL. The diffusor structure is arranged to transform the laser light received from the optical structure to transformed laser light such that a continuous illumination pattern is configured to be provided in a reference plane in a defined field-of-view. The diffusor structure is arranged to increase a size of the illumination pattern in comparison to an untransformed illumination pattern which can be provided without the diffusor structure. The VCSEL array, optical structure, and diffusor structure are arranged such that sections of the diffusor structure do not overlap. Diffusor properties of the diffusor structure vary across the diffusor structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBHInventors: Stephan Gronenborn, Holger Joachim Moench
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Publication number: 20200358257Abstract: A laser arrangement includes a laser array including a multitude of lasers and an optical device configured to provide a defined illumination pattern in a defined field-of-view. The optical device includes a multitude of localized optical structures, each respective localized optical structure being associated with at least one respective laser of the laser array and being arranged to redirect laser light emitted by the at least one respective laser such that laser light emitted by the at least one respective laser appears to be emitted from at least one apparent position of the laser array. The localized optical structures are arranged such that laser light emitted by at least one respective selected laser appears to be emitted from at least two apparent positions of the laser array. The optical device is arranged such that the apparent positions are distributed in an irregular pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2020Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Stephan Gronenborn, Holger Joachim Moench, Ralph Engelbertus Theodorus Gudde
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Publication number: 20200335944Abstract: A laser arrangement includes a laser array including a plurality of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting lasers and an optical structure including a diffuser arranged to change a distribution of the laser light. The optical structure is configured to transform the laser light to transformed laser light such that an overlap of the emission cones of at least a group of the plurality of lasers is increased in field-of-view in comparison to perfectly collimated laser light diffused to a flat-top intensity profile in the field-of-view. The optical structure is arranged to redirect the laser light emitted at angles of the emission cone to the field-of-view so as to increase the overlap of the emitted laser light in the field-of-view. The optical structure is also configured to provide a slope angle ? of an intensity profile along a direction of the field-of-view that is smaller than a divergence angle of the laser.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Stephan Gronenborn, Holger Joachim Moench
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Publication number: 20200309661Abstract: The invention describes a laser sensor module. The laser sensor module comprises at least a first laser (111) being adapted to emit a first measurement beam (111?) and at least a second laser (112) being adapted to emit a second measurement beam (112?). The laser sensor module further comprises an optical device (150) being arranged to redirect the first measurement beam (111?) and the second measurement beam (112?) such that the 5 first measurement beam (111?) and the second measurement beam enclose an angle between 45° and 135°. The laser sensor module comprises one detector (120) being adapted to determine at least a first self-mixing interference signal of a first optical wave within a first laser cavity of the first laser (111) and at least a second self-mixing interference signal of a second optical wave within a second laser cavity of the second laser (112).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2017Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: JOHANNES HENRIKUS MARIA SPRUIT, PETRUS THEODORUS JUTTE, ALEXANDER MARC VAN DER LEE, HOLGER JOACHIM MOENCH, JOACHIM WILHELM HELLMIG
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Publication number: 20200303902Abstract: A VCSEL device includes a first electrical contact, a substrate, a second electrical contact, and an optical resonator arranged on a first side of the substrate. The optical resonator includes a first reflecting structure comprising a first distributed Bragg reflector, a second reflecting structure comprising a second distributed Bragg reflector, an active layer arranged between the first and second reflecting structures, and a guiding structure. The guiding structure is configured to define a first relative intensity maximum of an intensity distribution within the active layer at a first lateral position such that a first light emitting area is provided, to define at least a second relative intensity maximum of the intensity distribution within the active layer at a second lateral position such that a second light emitting area is provided, and to reduce an intensity in between the at least two light-emitting areas during operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Holger Joachim Moench, Stephan Gronenborn
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Publication number: 20200256965Abstract: A time-of-flight camera module includes a controller, a time-of-flight detector, a laser device, and an optical unit comprising a polarization rotator arranged to rotate a plane of polarized light. The controller is configured to modulate the time-of-flight detector and the laser device in a depth sensing mode. The time-of-flight detector is configured to record depth data of a scene in the depth sensing mode by means of modulated laser light emitted by the laser device and reflected from an object in the scene. The depth data is descriptive of a distance to the object in the scene. The controller is further configured to modulate the time-of-flight detector and the polarization rotator in a surface polarization sensing mode. The time-of-flight detector is configured to record polarization data of the scene in the surface polarization sensing mode by detection light received from the object in the scene after traversing the polarization rotator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: Holger Joachim Moench, Matthew John Lawrenson, Nicholas Walker, Jan Jasper Van Den Berg
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Publication number: 20200217931Abstract: A time-of-flight depth camera includes a VCSEL array, an optical arrangement, an evaluator and a light detector having at least one detector pixel. The VCSEL array or the optical arrangement are arranged to provide different illumination patterns in a reference plane in a defined field-of-view of the time-of-flight depth camera. The light detector is arranged to detect the different illumination patterns and the evaluator is arranged to reconstruct a depth image of the field of view with a resolution of a predefined number of pixels P based on the detected different illumination patterns. A number of the detected different illumination patterns N is at least 5% of the predefined number of pixels P, preferably at least 10% of the predefined number of pixels P and most preferred at least 20% of the predefined number of pixels P.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Matthew John Lawrenson, Joachim Wilhelm Hellmig, Holger Joachim Moench, Nicholas Walker, Jan Jasper Van Den Berg