Virtual Prototyping

Interaction of a (augmented ) plane-wave (intensity) with a rectangular periodic structure at four different time points (FDTD)

Green Photonics - Virtual Prototyping

The following simulation methods and tools are applied in the context of Virtual Prototyping:

  • Ray-tracing (ASAP, Zemax) – Simulation tools based on geometrical optics
    • Optimization of the uniformity of color in white light LEDs
    • Optimization of the distribution of light intensity and efficiency of LED modules
    • Optimization of illumination systems (based on LED, but also on conventional light sources such as halogen and incandescent bulbs and fluorescent tube lighting)
      • Reflectors
      • Hybrid systems (reflectors + refractive optics)
      • Macro- and micro-optics arrays
  • Ray-tracing (ASAP, Zemax) – Simulation tools based on geometrical optics Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD Solutions) - simulation tool based on wave optics
    • Calculation and analysis of diffractive structures (structure sizes in the range of the wavelength of light)
      • Periodic structures (1D, 2D, 3D mesh)
      • Microlens array for light control
      • Photonic structures and diffractive optics
      • Incoupling and outcoupling structures for solar cells, waveguides, optical sensor devices
      • Simulation of particle and surface scattering
  • Holistic simulation of complex optical systems that have both refractive and diffractive optical components
    • Combination of ray tracing and wave optical simulations (FDTD), including interfaces for considerations of data exchange and coherence
  • CAD (Rhino, Autocad)
    • Modeling and data export of geometries for optics
  • Creation of algorithms (MATLAB)
    • Calculation of free-form optics
    • Data processing and interfaces for data exchange between different simulation methods

Snapshot of the interaction between a plane-wave (intensity) with a triangular outcoupling structure. Left: wavelength is 10 times smaller than the structure -> total reflection at the edges prevents light outcoupling (evanescent fields visible along the edges); interference at the structure apex causes outcoupling of a small portion of the incident light. Right: the wavelength has the same dimensions as the structure -> outcoupling occurs due to interference effects along the entire structure width

Ray-tracing simulation of a white-light LED module, including the representation of the absorption within the color conversion layer