# US 10,120,214 B2 · Systems and methods for light beam position detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,120,214 B2 - Document ID: US10120214B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/192,811 - Filed: 2016-06-24 - Published: 2018-04-05 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-24 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Linda Irish; Russell Gruhlke; Manav Raina - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120214B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/113: {Circuit or control arrangements} - G01J 3/0289: {Field-of-view determination; Aiming or pointing of a spectrometer; Adjusting alignment; Encoding angular position; Size of measurement area; Position tracking} - G01J 3/44: Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry {; Fluorescence spectrometry} - G01S 7/4814: {of transmitters alone} - G01S 7/4817: {relating to scanning} - G01S 7/4818: {using optical fibres} - G02B 26/103: {having movable or deformable optical fibres, light guides or waveguides as scanning elements (light guides per se G02B6/00)} - G06F 3/0423: {using sweeping light beams, e.g. using rotating or vibrating mirror} - G01N 21/359: using near infrared light - G01N 2021/1738: {Optionally different kinds of measurements; Method being valid for different kinds of measurement} - G06T 2207/10052: Images from lightfield camera - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Disclosed herein are techniques for determining the position of a light beam on a beam shaping device. A feature can be formed on the beam shaping device to affect at least a portion of a light beam when the feature is illuminated by the light beam. When the light beam is directed onto the feature on the beam shaping device, a feature detection signal may be generated by a detector in response to detecting at least the portion of the light beam affected by the feature that has been illuminated by the light beam. The position of the light beam on the beam shaping device at a time instant can then be determined based, at least in part, on the feature detection signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a beam shaping device comprising a feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device configured to affect at least a portion of a light beam upon illumination by the light beam, the beam shaping device configured to illuminate a point on a target with the light beam; a beam directing device configured to direct the light beam onto the beam shaping device at different positions, wherein the different positions comprise a location of the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device; an optical detector configured to generate a feature detection signal in response to detecting at least the portion of the light beam affected by the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device that has been illuminated by the light beam; and a processor configured to determine a position of the light beam on the beam shaping device at a time based, at least in part, on the feature detection signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the light beam comprises a laser beam; and wherein the beam shaping device is configured to illuminate the point on the target with the laser beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the beam shaping device comprises a lens; and wherein the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device comprises at least one of a line, a dent, or a particle formed on a surface of the lens or inside the lens. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the beam shaping device comprises a plurality of lenses; and wherein the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device comprises a reflective coating in an area at a boundary of two lenses in the plurality of lenses. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of lenses is arranged in one of a one-dimensional array, a two-dimensional array, and a three-dimensional array. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device is configured to affect at least the portion of the light beam upon illumination by the light beam by causing at least one of: i) a detectable change in reflection of at least the portion of the light beam, ii) a detectable change in transmission of at least the portion of the light beam, iii) a detectable change in absorption of at least the portion of the light beam, or iv) a detectable combination thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the beam directing device comprises an optical fiber configured to guide the light beam and vibrate upon stimulation, such that the light beam is directed onto the beam shaping device at different positions when the optical fiber vibrates. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the optical fiber comprises a cantilever portion having a floating end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the beam directing device comprises an actuator configured to stimulate the optical fiber such that the vibration of the optical fiber results in a predetermined scan pattern of the light beam. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the actuator comprises one of a piezoelectric tube, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator, an electromagnetic actuator, and an acoustic actuator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a pulsed fiber laser configured to generate the light beam. ### Claim 12 A method for use in detecting a position of a light beam, the method comprising: controlling, by a controller, a beam directing device to direct the light beam onto a beam shaping device at different positions, wherein the beam shaping device comprises a feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device configured to affect at least a portion of the light beam upon illumination by the light beam, the beam shaping device configured to illuminate a point on a target with the light beam; and wherein the different positions comprise a location of the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device; generating, by a detector, a detection signal in response to detecting at least the portion of the light beam affected by the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device that has been illuminated by the light beam; and determining, by a processor, the position of the light beam on the beam shaping device at a time based, at least in part, on the detection signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the light beam comprises a laser beam; and wherein the beam shaping device is configured to illuminate the point on the target with the laser beam. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device is configured to affect at least the portion of the light beam upon illumination by the light beam by causing at least one of: i) a detectable change in reflection of at least the portion of the light beam, ii) a detectable change in transmission of at least the portion of the light beam, iii) a detectable change in absorption of at least the portion of the light beam, or iv) a detectable combination thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the beam shaping device comprises a lens; and wherein the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device comprises at least one of a line, a dent, or a particle formed on a surface of the lens or inside the lens. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the beam shaping device comprises a plurality of lenses; and wherein the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device comprises a reflective coating in an area at a boundary of two lenses in the plurality of lenses. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the beam directing device comprises an optical fiber configured to guide the light beam and vibrate upon stimulation, such that the light beam is directed onto the beam shaping device at different positions when the optical fiber vibrates. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the beam directing device comprises an actuator configured to stimulate the optical fiber such that the vibration of the optical fiber results in a predetermined scan pattern of the light beam. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined scan pattern comprises a spiral pattern. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the actuator comprises one of a piezoelectric tube, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator, an electromagnetic actuator, and an acoustic actuator. ### Claim 21 An apparatus comprising: means for beam shaping, the means for beam shaping comprising a feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device configured to affect at least a portion of a light beam upon illumination by the light beam, the beam shaping device is configured to illuminate a point on a target with the light beam; means for directing the light beam onto the means for beam shaping at different positions, wherein the different positions comprise a location of the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device; means for generating a detection signal in response to detecting at least the portion of the light beam affected by the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device that has been illuminated by the light beam; and means for determining a position of the light beam on the means for beam shaping at a time based, at least in part, on the detection signal. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device is configured to affect at least the portion of the light beam upon illumination by the light beam by causing at least one of: i) a detectable change in reflection of at least the portion of the light beam, ii) a detectable change in transmission of at least the portion of the light beam, iii) a detectable change in absorption of at least the portion of the light beam, or iv) a detectable combination thereof. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for beam shaping comprises a lens; and wherein the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device comprises at least one of a line, a dent, or a particle formed on a surface of the lens or inside the lens. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for beam shaping comprises a plurality of lenses; and wherein the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device comprises a reflective coating in an area at a boundary of two lenses in the plurality of lenses. ### Claim 25 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including machine-readable instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, causing the one or more processors to: control, through a controller, a beam directing device to direct a light beam onto a beam shaping device at different positions, wherein the beam shaping device comprises a feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device configured to affect at least a portion of the light beam upon illumination by the light beam, the beam shaping device is configured to illuminate a point on a target with the light beam; and wherein the different positions comprise a location of the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device; receive a detection signal generated by a detector in response to detecting at least the portion of the light beam affected by the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device that has been illuminated by the light beam; and determine a position of the light beam on the beam shaping device at a time based, at least in part, on the detection signal. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device is configured to affect at least the portion of the light beam upon illumination by the light beam by causing at least one of: i) a detectable change in reflection of at least the portion of the light beam, ii) a detectable change in transmission of at least the portion of the light beam, iii) a detectable change in absorption of at least the portion of the light beam, or iv) a detectable combination thereof. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the beam shaping device comprises a lens; and wherein the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device comprises at least one of a line, a dent, or a particle formed on a surface of the lens or inside the lens. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the beam shaping device comprises a plurality of lenses; and wherein the feature formed on or inside the beam shaping device comprises a reflective coating in an area at a boundary of two lenses in the plurality of lenses. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the beam directing device comprises an optical fiber configured to guide the light beam and vibrate upon stimulation, such that the light beam is directed onto the beam shaping device at different positions when the optical fiber vibrates. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the beam directing device comprises an actuator configured to stimulate the optical fiber such that the vibration of the optical fiber results in a predetermined scan pattern of the light beam.