Tunable Fiber Scanner Assembly for Compact Resonance Microspectrometry

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing piezoelectric ceramic tubular structures for fiber scanners in nonlinear microspectrometers face challenges in manufacturing high-quality miniature structures and require complex dispersion compensation for femtosecond pulse transmission, limiting their application in compact optical systems.

Innovation Solution

A tunable fiber scanner is assembled using four micro piezoelectric ceramic chips with a mold-assisted preparation process, incorporating a fiber connector, scanning fiber, micro scanning square tube, fiber ferrule, spiral regulator, and piezoelectric ceramic driver, allowing for resonance scanning and adjustable scanning parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a piezoelectric ceramic tubular structure is used for fiber scanning, then compact structure and small size are achieved, but manufacturing difficulty increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanner sizeVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the piezoelectric ceramic structure from a monolithic tubular form into separate planar ceramic pieces (first, second, third, and fourth pieces). These segmented pieces are assembled to form the scanning structure, significantly easing manufacturing while maintaining the compact tubular configuration. Each ceramic piece can be independently fabricated and then joined together using adhesive or sintering processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite construction by combining multiple piezoelectric ceramic pieces with electrode layers and adhesive materials. The composite structure integrates the advantages of piezoelectric materials with simplified manufacturing processes, allowing the ceramic components to be produced using standard ceramic fabrication techniques rather than complex tubular shaping processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If remote scanning scheme with MEMS galvanometer is used, then scanning function is achieved, but optical path folding increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning functionVSAvoidoptical path folding

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical MEMS galvanometer system with a piezoelectric-driven fiber scanning mechanism. The piezoelectric ceramic pieces directly drive fiber displacement through piezoelectric expansion and contraction, eliminating the need for complex optical path folding and mechanical galvanometer components. This substitution simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining scanning functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If near-end scanning scheme is used, then probe design difficulty is reduced, but fiber core distance limits imaging resolution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprobe designVSAvoidimaging resolution

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic scanning mechanism where the fiber is driven by piezoelectric ceramic pieces to perform lateral displacement. This dynamic positioning capability allows the fiber to scan across the imaging field without requiring a long fixed fiber core distance, thereby maintaining high imaging resolution while simplifying probe design. The piezoelectric-driven fiber can dynamically adjust its position to achieve the required scanning range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 scanner enables easy mass production, low cost, high electrical parameter control, and flexible tuning of scanning parameters, enhancing central symmetry and stability, suitable for optical microscopic imaging applications.

Implementation Method 1

the piezoelectric ceramic driver applies a compensated driving signal to the micro scanning tubular tube, so that the scanning fiber performs resonance scanning along with the vibration of the micro piezoelectric ceramic chips

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

the scanning fiber performs resonance scanning along with vibration of the micro piezoelectric ceramic chips

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentUS20260079048A1Tunable fiber scanner for all-fiber nonlinear microspectrometer and preparation method thereof

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 TIANJIN UNIV

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a tunable fiber scanner for an all-fiber nonlinear microspectrometer, including a scanning fiber, a scanning unit and a driving unit; the scanning unit includes a micro scanning square tube, the scanning fiber is fixed in the center of the micro scanning square tube, and the fiber ferrule is slidable relative to the scanning fiber so as to form an optical fiber cantilever; the spiral regulator controls the scanning fiber to generate lateral movement to obtain a controllable length of the optical fiber cantilever; the driving unit includes a piezoelectric ceramic driver arranged outside the scanner, the piezoelectric ceramic driver applies amplified driving signal to the micro scanning square tube, and the micro scanning square tube receives the amplified driving signal to drive the scanning fiber to scan and drive the optical fiber cantilever to perform resonance scanning.