Lens array to disperse zero-order beams of an emitter array on a diffractive optical element

An optical system, comprising:

• an optical component including:
• an emitter array to emit a plurality of beams of light;
• a lens array to collimate and direct each of the plurality of beams of light,
• wherein a pitch between lenses of the lens array is larger than a pitch between emitters of the emitter array such that the plurality of beams of light diverge after exiting the lens array;
• and
• a diffractive optical element to distribute, after direction by the lens array, each of the plurality of beams of light into a plurality of beamlets in association with creating a light pattern,
• wherein the diffractive optical element includes an array of micro diffractive optical elements, each micro diffractive optical element, of the array of micro diffractive optical elements, is configured to distribute a respective one of the plurality of beams of light such that zero-order beamlets, each from a respective one of the plurality of beams of light, diverge, and
• wherein the array of micro diffractive optical elements directs a zero-order beamlet, of the zero-order beamlets, to exit the diffractive optical element such that the zero-order beamlet overlaps with and travels in a same direction as a non-zero-order beamlet in the light pattern,
• wherein the zero-order beamlet and the non-zero-order beamlet are included in a single beam of light of the plurality of beams of light.

An optical device, comprising:

• an emitter array;
• a lens array;
• and
• a diffractive optical element;
• the emitter array comprising:
• a first emitter to emit a first beam of light, and
• a second emitter to emit a second beam of light;
• the lens array comprising:
• a first lens to collimate the first beam of light and direct the first beam of light at a first angle with respect to the diffractive optical element, and
• a second lens to collimate the second beam of light and direct the second beam of light at a second angle with respect to the diffractive optical element,
• wherein the first angle is different from the second angle such that the first beam of light and the second beam of light diverge after exiting the lens array, and
• wherein a pitch between the first lens and the second lens is larger than a pitch between the first emitter and the second emitter;
• and
• the diffractive optical element to distribute the first beam of light and the second beam of light in association with creating patterned light,
• wherein the diffractive optical element includes an array of micro diffractive optical elements configured to distribute the first beam of light and the second beam of light such that a first zero-order beamlet, associated with the first beam of light, and a second zero-order beamlet, associated with the second beam of light, diverge after exiting the diffractive optical element, and
• wherein the array of micro diffractive optical elements directs the first zero-order beamlet to exit the diffractive optical element such that the first zero-order beamlet overlaps with and travels in a same direction as a non-zero-order beamlet associated with the first beam of light, and
• wherein the first zero-order beamlet and the non-zero-order beamlet are included in a single beam of the patterned light.