Beam focusing and scanning system using micromirror array lens

• US 20050264867A1
• Filed: 11/02/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stereo D Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Angstrom, Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
• Inventors: Seo, Cheong Soo, Cho, Gyoung Il, Kim, Tae Hyeon
• Granted Patent: US 7,354,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/291
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0825 the reflecting element being a flexible sheet or membrane, e.g. for varying the focus flexible mirrors for cosmetic use A45D42/24
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/085 the reflecting means being moved or deformed by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/105 with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors G02B26/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/40 Optical focusing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/09 Multifaceted or polygonal mirrors , e.g. polygonal scanning mirrors; Fresnel mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/32 using active means, e.g. light emitter including both an active and a passive focus detecting device G02B7/285; using ultrasound G02B7/40

Abstract

A beam focusing and scanning system using a micromirror array lens (optical system) includes a light source configured to emit light and a micromirror array lens, including at least one micromirror, optically coupled to the light source, configured to reflect the light onto a projection medium (projection plane). The optical system also includes at least one actuating component coupled to the at least one micromirror, configured to move the at least one micromirror to enable the at least one micromirror to focus the light on the projection medium. The advantages of the present invention include high speed variable focusing and scanning, large focal length variation, phase compensation, high reliability and optical efficiency, low power consumption and low cost.

Claims

1. An optical system, comprising:

at least one light source configured to emit light;

a micromirror array lens including at least one micromirror, optically coupled to the at least one light source, configured to focus the light onto a projection medium; and

at least one actuating component coupled to the at least one micromirror of the micromirror array lens, configured to move the at least one micromirror to enable the at least one micromirror to focus the light on the projection medium.

2. The optical system of claim 1, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component comprises:

translation in one degree of freedom; and

rotation in two degrees of freedom.

3. The optical system of claim 1, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is configured to scan the projection medium by traversing the light focused by the micromirror array lens across the projection medium.

4. The optical system of claim 2, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is configured to scan the projection medium by traversing the light focused by the micromirror array lens across the projection medium.

5. The optical system of claim 3, wherein the scan of the projection medium is configured to allow data to be recorded to the projection medium.

6. The optical system of claim 4, wherein the scan of the projection medium is configured to allow data to be recorded to the projection medium.

7. The optical system of claim 1, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is configured to compensate for light phase aberrations.

8. The optical system of claim 2, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is configured to compensate for light phase aberrations.

9. The optical system of claim 3, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is configured to compensate for light phase aberrations.

10. The optical system of claim 5, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is configured to compensate for light phase aberrations

11. The optical system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control circuitry coupled to the at least one actuating component, configured to control movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component.

12. The optical system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry comprises semiconductor microelectronics.

13. The optical system of claim 1, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is controlled by at least one of the group consisting of:

electrostatic force; and

electromagnetic force.

14. The optical system of claim 2, wherein the movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is controlled by at least one of the group consisting of:

electrostatic force; and

electromagnetic force.

15. The optical system of claim 11, wherein the movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is controlled by at least one of the group consisting of:

electrostatic force; and

electromagnetic force.

16. The optical system of claim 1, further comprising:

a read sensor coupled to the micromirror array lens, configured to read data from the projection medium in response to a scan of the projection medium by traversing the light focused by the micromirror array lens across the projection medium.

17. The optical system of claim 2, further comprising:

a read sensor coupled to the micromirror array lens, configured to read data from the projection medium in response to a scan of the projection medium by traversing the light focused by the micromirror array lens across the projection medium.

18. The optical system of claim 16, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is configured to compensate for light phase aberrations.

19. The optical system of claim 17, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is configured to compensate for light phase aberrations.

20. An optical system, comprising:

at least one light source configured to emit light;

a micromirror array lens including at least one micromirror, optically coupled to the at least one light source, configured to focus the light onto a projection medium; and

at least one actuating component coupled to the at least one micromirror of the micromirror array lens, configured to move the at least one micromirror to enable the at least one micromirror to focus the light on the projection medium.

a read sensor coupled to the micromirror array lens, configured to read data from the projection medium in response to a scan of the projection medium by traversing the light focused by the micromirror array lens across the projection medium.

21. The optical system of claim 20, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component comprises:

translation in one degree of freedom; and

rotation in two degrees of freedom.

22. The optical system of claim 20, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is configured to compensate for light phase aberrations.

23. The optical system of claim 21, wherein movement of the at least one micromirror by the at least one actuating component is configured to compensate for light phase aberrations.

24. A method in an optical system, comprising:

emitting light from a light source onto a micromirror;

adjusting a position of the micromirror to focus the light onto a projection medium.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

adjusting the position of the micromirror to compensate for light phase aberrations.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

scanning the projection medium by traversing the light focused by the micromirror across the projection medium.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

recording data to the projection medium in response to the scanning of the projection medium.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

sensing light reflected from the projection medium in response to the light focused by the micromirror; and

reading data from the projection medium in response to the sensing of the light reflected from the projection medium.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

adjusting the position of the micromirror to compensate for light phase aberrations.