Oscillator assembly with counter-rotating mass

An oscillatory assembly, comprising:

• a stator;
• a rotor configured to move with one degree of freedom relative to the stator;
• a counter-rotating mass (CRM) elastically and rotatably mounted on the stator, wherein the rotor is rotatably mounted on the CRM, the CRM configured to rotationally oscillate relative to the stator and to rotate with one degree of freedom relative to the stator and the rotor, and further wherein:
• the rotor comprises at least a first rotor magnet and a second rotor magnet, each mounted on the rotor, the first rotor magnet configured to move with the rotor between a first terminal point and a second terminal point, the second rotor magnet configured to move with the rotor between a third terminal point and a fourth terminal point;
• the CRM comprises at least a first, a second, a third and a fourth torque transfer magnets disposed on the CRM proximal to the first, second, third, and fourth terminal points of the rotor, respectively, each torque transfer magnet generating a magnetic field configured to repel the rotor magnets;
• the first rotor magnet is magnetically coupled to the first and second torque transfer magnets, and the second rotor magnet is magnetically coupled to the third and fourth torque transfer magnets, the first rotor magnet generating a magnetic field that causes the first and second torque transfer magnets to move the CRM, and the second rotor magnet generating a magnetic field that causes the third and the fourth torque transfer magnets to move the CRM;
• and further wherein:
• the stator comprises at least one coil positioned external to a path travelled by each of the rotor magnets, wherein the at least one coil is electromagnetically coupled to the rotor magnets and is configured to, upon energizing, generate a magnetic field that causes the rotor to move.

A LIDAR scanning system, comprising:

• a light source configured to generate at least one light beam;
• an oscillator assembly, the assembly comprising:
• a stator;
• a rotor configured to move with one degree of freedom relative to the stator, the rotor further comprising:
• at least one rotor magnet disposed on the rotor, wherein the at least one rotor magnet is configured to move with the rotor between a first terminal point and a second terminal point;
• a counter-rotating mass (CRM) rotatably and elastically mounted on the stator, wherein the rotor is rotatably mounted on the CRM, the CRM configured to move with one degree of freedom relative to the stator and the rotor, the CRM further comprising:
• at least a first energy conversion element (ECE) disposed on the CRM, wherein the first ECE is configured to transfer torque from the rotor to the CRM, thereby causing rotation of the CRM;
• and
• at least a second ECE disposed on the CRM, wherein the second ECE is configured to transfer torque from the rotor to the CRM, thereby causing rotation of the CRM;
• a light deflector coupled to the rotor;
• a first actuator coupled to the rotor, the first actuator configured to rotate the light deflector about a first scan axis;
• a second actuator configured to rotate the light deflector about a second scan axis, the light deflector configured to deflect the at least one light beam to a field of view (FOV);
• at least one processor configured to control the light source, the first actuator and the second actuator to cause the light deflector to scan the FOV.