Diffractive lenses have revolutionized optics in recent decades by enabling highly accurate manipulation of light using precisely etched microstructures on their surface. Diffractive lens splitters have gained popularity in industry due to their ability to split a single input beam into multiple output beams. Diffractive lens splitters are used in various industrial applications that require precise laser beam control, such as laser ablation, singulation, drilling, microscopy, and flat panel production.
1. Laser Ablation of Solar Panel Passivation
Solar panel passivation is a process that improves the efficiency of solar cells by removing impurities and creating a protective layer on the back surface of the cells. Laser ablation is a technique used to remove the passivation layer selectively and enable contacting. A high-power laser beam is focused on the surface of the solar cells, and the diffractive lens splitter is used to split the laser beam into multiple beams with controlled spacing and intensity. This allows for high throughput removal of the passivation layer without damaging the underlying cells.
2. Laser Singulation (Dicing) of Semiconductor Wafers
Semiconductor wafers are cut into individual chips using a process called laser singulation. Diffractive lens splitters are used to split the laser beam into multiple beams with precise spacing, which allows for efficient and precise cutting of the wafer. The diffractive lens splitter can also be used to adjust the beam divergence and focus, which further improves the quality and precision of the cuts.
3. Laser Drilling of PCB and Thin Membranes
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) and thin membranes are used in various industrial applications, such as electronic devices and medical implants. Laser drilling is a technique used to create precise holes in these materials. Diffractive lens splitters are used to split a single laser beam into multiple beams with controlled spacing and intensity. This allows for efficient and precise drilling of the holes, even in complex patterns.
4. Advanced Microscopy (STED)
Advanced microscopy techniques such as stimulated emission depletion microscopy (STED) require precise control over the position and intensity of the laser beam. Diffractive lens splitters are used to split a single laser beam into multiple beams with precise spacing and intensity. This allows for high-resolution imaging of biological samples, such as cells and tissues, with sub-diffraction-limited resolution.
5. Laser Line Lift-Off/Annealing for Flat Panel Production
Flat panel production involves the creation of high-quality displays for various industrial applications, such as TVs and smartphones. Laser line lift-off and annealing are critical processes in this production. Diffractive lens splitters are used to split a single laser beam into a line of multiple beams with controlled spacing and intensity. This allows for efficient and precise lift-off of the thin-film layers and annealing of the underlying layers, resulting in high-quality displays produced at high throughput.
