Increasing VCSEL projector spatial resolution
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorArnaud Laflaquière
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical device includes a radiation source, which is configured to emit a beam of light, and a scanning cell positioned to receive the beam of light. The scanning cell includes transparent entrance and exit faces, at least one of the faces including a flexible membrane. A transparent fluid is contained between the entrance and exit faces, so that the beam enters the transparent fluid through the entrance face and exits the transparent fluid through the exit face. At least one actuator is coupled to the flexible membrane, and configured, responsively to an applied electrical signal, to apply an asymmetrical deformation to the flexible membrane, thereby deflecting the beam by refraction in the transparent fluid.
Claims20
An optical device, comprising:
- a radiation source, which is configured to emit a beam of light;
- and
- a scanning cell positioned to receive the beam of light and comprising:
- transparent entrance and exit faces, at least one of the faces comprising a flexible membrane;
- a transparent fluid contained between the entrance and exit faces, so that the beam enters the transparent fluid through the entrance face and exits the transparent fluid through the exit face;
- and
- at least one actuator coupled to the flexible membrane, and configured, responsively to an applied electrical signal, to apply an asymmetrical deformation to the flexible membrane, thereby deflecting the beam by refraction in the transparent fluid.
A method of scanning, comprising:
- directing a beam of light into a scanning cell having transparent entrance and exit faces and containing a transparent fluid between the entrance and exit faces, at least one of the faces comprising a flexible membrane, such that the beam enters the transparent fluid through the entrance face and exits the transparent fluid through the exit face;
- and
- applying an electrical signal to at least one actuator coupled to the flexible membrane so as to create an asymmetrical deformation to the flexible membrane, thereby deflecting the beam by refraction in the transparent fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.