Acousto-optic scanning system with fast non-linear scan
AssigneeYeda Research and Development Co.Ltd
InventorsNir Davidson, Nir Friedman, Ariel Kaplan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An acousto-optic scanning system, which relies on two counter propagating acoustic waves with the same frequency modulation. This scheme completely suppresses the linear frequency chirp, and thus enables the generation of fast non-linear scans and non-constant linear scans. By changing the phase between the modulating signals, this scheme also provides fast longitudinal scans of the focal point.
Claims37
An acousto-optical scanner comprising at least one acousto-optic element disposed in the path of a beam to be scanned, said element supporting at least two frequency-modulated, counter-propagating acoustic waves, such that the frequency chirp across said beam is essentially suppressed.
A two-dimensional acousto-optical scanner comprising at least one acousto-optic element disposed in the path of a beam to be scanned, said element supporting at least two sets of acoustic waves mutually angularly disposed to each other such that the beam is scanned in two dimensions, each set comprising frequency-modulated, counter-propagating acoustic waves, such that the frequency chirp across said beam is essentially suppressed.
An acousto-optical scanner comprising at least one acousto-optic element disposed in the path of a beam to be longitudinally scanned, said element supporting at least two frequency modulated, counter-propagating acoustic waves, two of said waves having a phase angle between them such that said scanner provides a longitudinal scan of a focal plane of the beam.
An acousto-optical scanner comprising at least one acousto-optic element disposed in the path of a beam to be longitudinally scanned, said element supporting at least two sets of frequency modulated, counter-propagating acoustic waves, mutually angularly disposed to each other, two of said waves having a phase angle between them such that said scanner provides a longitudinal scan of a focal point of the beam, without lateral displacement.
A three-dimensional acousto-optical scanner comprising at least one acousto-optic element disposed in the path of a beam to be scanned, said at least one element supporting at least two sets of acoustic waves, mutually angularly disposed to each other such that the beam is scanned in two dimensions, each set of acoustic waves comprising frequency-modulated counter-propagating acoustic waves, and wherein the center frequencies of each of said two frequency-modulated counter-propagating acoustic waves are scanned, and wherein said counter-propagating acoustic waves in said sets have a phase angle between them such that said scanner provides a three dimensional scan of a focal point of said beam.
An acousto-optic scanning system comprising:
- at least one acousto-optic element disposed in the path of a beam to be scanned;
- a generator for supplying frequency modulated drive signals such as to propagate acoustic waves in said at least one acousto-optic element;
- and
- a focusing element for focusing said scanned beam;
- and wherein said acoustic waves comprise at least two frequency-modulated counter-propagating acoustic waves, such that the frequency chirp across said beam is essentially suppressed.
A method of generating a fast, non-linear scan of an optical beam, comprising the steps of:
- disposing at least one acousto-optic element in the path of said beam;
- and
- generating within said at least one acousto-optic element at least two frequency-modulated counter-propagating acoustic waves, such that the frequency chirp across said beam is essentially suppressed.
A method of generating by an acousto-optical scanner a fast, longitudinal scan of a focal plane of an optical beam, comprising the steps of:
- disposing at least one acousto-optic element in the path of said beam;
- and
- generating within said element at least two frequency-modulated counter-propagating acoustic waves, two of said waves having a phase angle between them such that said scanner provides a longitudinal scan of the focal plane of the beam.
A method of generating by an acousto-optical scanner a fast, longitudinal scan of a focal point of an optical beam, comprising the steps of:
- disposing at least one acousto-optic element in the path of said beam;
- and
- generating within said at least one acousto-optic element at least two sets of frequency-modulated counter-propagating acoustic waves, mutually angularly disposed to each other, two of said waves having a phase angle between them such that said scanner provides a longitudinal scan of the focal point of the beam without any lateral displacement.
A method of generating by an acousto-optical scanner a three-dimensional scan of a focal point of an optical beam, comprising the steps of:
- disposing at least one acousto-optic element in the path of said beam;
- and
- generating within said at least one acousto-optic element at least two sets of acoustic waves, mutually angularly disposed to each other, such that the beam is scanned in two dimensions, each set of acoustic waves comprising frequency-modulated counter-propagating acoustic waves;
- scanning the center frequencies of each of said two frequency-modulated counter-propagating acoustic waves;
- and
- wherein said counter-propagating acoustic waves in said sets have a phase angle between them such that said scanner provides a three dimensional scan of the focal point of said beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.