Scanning optical systems
AssigneesBritish Columbia Cancer Agency Branch, The University of British Columbia
InventorsHaishan Zeng, Hadi Mansoor, Mu Chiao, Keqin Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Scanning mechanisms that have application in confocal imaging use electromagnetic actuation to move elements in an optical system. An objective lens mounted to a flexure comprising a magnetic material is actuated in the axial direction by an electromagnet coil. An optical path may pass through the coil. Scanning in transverse directions may be provided using magnetically actuated flexible beams which move the tip of an optical fiber or other pinhole in one or more transverse directions. Actuators may be actuated using driving currents that include an AC component and a DC bias component. The scanning mechanisms may be miniaturized and may be constructed to provide real-time imaging.
Claims40
An optical scanning device comprising:
- a flexure comprising a ferromagnetic material, the flexure having a mounting portion movable in an axial direction;
- a first lens mounted to the mounting portion of the flexure;
- an electromagnet adjacent to the flexure and spaced apart from the flexure in the axial direction.
An optical scanning device comprising:
- a first lens;
- a collimating lens arranged to deliver collimated light to the first lens;
- a pinhole located at a focal point of the collimating lens on a side of the collimating lens away from the first lens;
- and
- a mechanism for scanning the pinhole in at least one dimension transverse to the direction of the optical axis of the collimating lens.
A method for operating an optical scanning device which has an electromagnetic actuator for actuating either a pinhole light source or a lens, the method comprising powering the electromagnet with a current with both an AC component and a DC bias component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.