Acousto-Optic Beam Deflection for High-Speed Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical imaging systems face limitations in flexibility and scanning speed due to reliance on static laser sources and complex electronics, resulting in high power consumption and limited deflection angles, making them unsuitable for modern applications requiring rapid and wide-angle scanning.
Innovation Solution
An optical imaging system comprising a transmitter unit with a light-emitting source, a spatial light modulator, and a transmissive deflecting device with a 2D arrangement of cells, allowing for flexible beam deflection and wider fields of view, along with a receiver unit for focusing and converting optical signals, enabling efficient and compact imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mechanically assisted devices are used to change the pointing direction of an optical imaging system, then the pointing direction flexibility is improved, but the scanning speed is reduced and the device footprint and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanically assisted devices with acousto-optic deflectors that use acoustic waves to modulate the refractive index of an optical medium, enabling beam deflection without moving parts. This substitution of mechanical systems with acoustic-field-based systems resolves the contradiction by achieving pointing direction flexibility through acoustic modulation rather than mechanical movement, thereby maintaining high scanning speeds while reducing device footprint and power consumption.
2Ease of operation
If active optical devices such as liquid crystals are used to tune the pointing direction, then the pointing direction control is improved, but the scanning speed is reduced and the deflection angles are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs acousto-optic deflectors that utilize changes in acoustic frequency and amplitude to dynamically control beam deflection angles and positions. By changing the acoustic parameters (frequency, amplitude) rather than relying on slow liquid crystal reorientation, the system achieves rapid pointing direction control with high scanning speeds and extended deflection angles, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and scanning speed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If active optical devices are used to tune the pointing direction, then the pointing direction adjustment is improved, but the power consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic control architectures required for liquid crystal devices with a simpler acousto-optic control system. The acousto-optic deflector uses acoustic wave generation and modulation, which can be controlled with simpler electronics compared to the multi-layer liquid crystal alignment and addressing schemes. This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining adaptable pointing direction adjustment capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves compact and reconfigurable optical imaging with reduced power consumption, compatible with various applications, including LIDAR, robotics, and spaceflight, by enabling high-resolution depth mapping and real-time environmental monitoring with improved scanning speed and deflection angles.
Implementation Method 1
a light modulator, associated with a first field of view, configured to deflect the at least one first optical beam in a first deflection direction within the first field of view to generate a first deflected beam, by applying an external control signal
Implementation Method 2
a transmissive deflecting device, associated with a second field of view and comprising a two-dimensional (2D) arrangement of deflecting cells, each of the deflecting cells being reachable by the first deflected beam and being associated with an elementary field of view, the transmissive deflecting device being configured to generate at least one second deflected beam from the first deflected beam
Implementation Method 3
a light-focusing device configured to focus a portion of the at least one second deflected beam received after propagation in a target environment located outside the transmitter unit
Implementation Method 4
at least one photo-detector configured to convert the focused portion of the second deflected beam into an output electrical signal
Data Source
AI summary
An optical imaging system including a transmitter unit and a receiver unit. The transmitter unit includes a light-emitting source generating at least one first optical beam at a given wavelength; a light modulator, associated with a first field of view, detects the at least one first optical beam in a first deflection direction within the first field of view to generate a first deflected beam, by applying an external control signal; and a transmissive deflecting device, associated with a second field of view and including a two-dimensional arrangement of deflecting cells, each of the deflecting cells being reachable by the first deflected beam and being associated with an elementary field of view, the transmissive deflecting device generating at least one second deflected beam from the first deflected beam using an operational deflecting cell of the plurality of deflecting cells that receives the first deflected beam.