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US 2011/0299147 A1Published application
High-Speed Multi-Dimensional Beam Scanning System With Angle Amplification
AssigneeDuke University
InventorJungsang Kim
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Abstract
A beam-steering system having high positional resolution and fast switching speed is disclosed. Embodiments of the beam-steering system comprise a diffraction limited optical system that includes a reflective imager and two controllably rotatable MEMS elements. The optical system is characterized by a folded optical path, wherein light propagating on the path is incident on each MEMS element more than once. Each MEMS element imparts an optical effect, such as angular change, on the output beam. By virtue of the fact that the optical system is multi-bounce optical system, the optical effect at each MEMS element is multiplied by the number of times the light hits that MEMS element.
Claims25
An apparatus comprising:
- an optical system, wherein the optical system receives a first beam at a first input angle, θIn1, with respect to an optical axis, and wherein the optical system directs the first beam at a first output angle, θOut1, with respect to the optical axis, and further wherein the optical system comprises;
- a first element whose angular position about a first rotation axis is controllable;
- a second element whose angular position about a second rotation axis is controllable;
- and
- a reflective imager;
- wherein a change in the angular position of the first element about the first rotation axis by Δθ1 results in a change in θOut1 that is greater than |2xΔθ1|;
- and
- wherein a change in the angular position of the second element about the second rotation axis by Δθ2 results in a change in θOut1 that is greater than |2xΔφ2|.
5 more elements
An optical system comprising:
- a first element having a first optical axis, wherein the first element is controllably rotatable about a first rotation axis that is orthogonal to the first optical axis, and wherein the first element receives a first optical signal at an input angle, θIn, with respect to the first optical axis;
- a second element having a second optical axis, wherein the second element is controllably rotatable about a second rotation axis that is orthogonal to the second optical axis, and wherein the second element provides the first optical signal at an output angle, θOut, with respect to the second optical axis;
- and
- a reflective imager having a focal length, f1, and a third optical axis, wherein the first optical axis, second optical axis, and third optical axis are substantially parallel and substantially coplanar, and wherein each of the first optical axis and second optical axis are separated from the third optical axis by a distance, d;
- wherein the first element and the second element are substantially coplanar in a first plane that is substantially orthogonal to the third optical axis, and wherein the first plane is located at a distance substantially equal to 2f1 from the reflective imager;
- wherein a first optical path between the first path and the second path includes the first element, second element and reflective imager, wherein the first optical signal is incident on each of the first element and second element n times, wherein n>1;
- wherein a rotation of the first element about the first rotation axis by a first angle, φ1, results in a change in θOut that is greater than |2φ1|;
- and
- wherein a rotation of the second element about the second rotation axis by a second angle, φ2, results in a change in θOut that is greater than |2φ2|.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing an optical system having an optical axis, wherein the optical system comprises a first element, a second element, and a reflective imager, wherein the first element is controllably rotatable about a first rotation axis, and wherein the second element is controllably rotatable about a second rotation axis;
- receiving a first input beam at the optical system, wherein the first input beam is received at an angle, θIn1, relative to the optical axis;
- providing a first output beam from the optical system, wherein the first output beam is provided at an angle, θOut1, relative to the optical axis;
- selecting a first value for θIn1, wherein the first value enables a change in the rotation angle, Δφ1, of the first element about the first rotation axis to induce a change in θOut1 that is greater than |2Δφ1|, and wherein the first value enables a change in the rotation angle, Δφ2, of the second element about the second rotation axis to induce a change in θOut1 that is greater than |2Δφ2|;
- controlling the angular position of a first element about a first rotation axis;
- and
- controlling the angular position of a second element about a second rotation axis.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.