Reflector for Laser Interrogation of Three-Dimensional Objects

• US 20080130080A1
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Southern California
• Original Assignee: University of Southern California
• Inventors: Will, Peter M.
• Application Number:
  US11/943,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20080130080A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/223
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0816 by means of one or more reflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A digital control for light beams. A position of an output light beam is changed based on a digital input control formed of a plurality of bits. The device may use movable mirrors to change the position of the output light beams.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

applying an input optical beam to an array of reflector elements;

reflecting said input optical beam through said array to form an output optical beam; and

controlling said reflector elements using digital bits, such that each change of each single digital bit changes an output position of said output optical beam.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said mirror array includes a plurality of moving mirrors, each of which deflects said input optical beam according to said digital bits.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein at least some of said plurality of moving mirrors are each moved by a different amount than others of said moving mirrors.

4. A method as in claim 2, wherein said plurality of moving mirrors are each moved by the same amount.

5. A method as in claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of moving mirrors has a substantially different size.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said mirror array includes an array of movable mirrors, and at least one unmovable mirror, positioned in a location to reflect light from one of said movable mirrors to another of said movable mirrors.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said unmovable mirror is substantially flat.

8. A method as in claim 6, wherein said unmovable mirror is substantially curved.

9. A method as in claim 6, wherein said unmovable mirror includes a plurality of separated parts, collectively defining a curved profile, but each of said separated parts being substantially flat.

10. A method as in claim 6, wherein said unmovable mirror includes a plurality of angled surfaces.

11. A method as in claim 6, wherein said angled surfaces are Fresnel surfaces.

12. A method as in claim 4, further comprising changing an angle of attack for each of a plurality of reflections.

13. A method as in claim 1, wherein said mirror array includes a first sub array of movable mirrors extending along a first specified shaped surface, and a second sub array of movable mirrors extending along a second specified shaped surface.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein said first and second shaped surfaces are substantially flat.

15. A method as in claim 13, wherein said first and second specified shaped surfaces are substantially curved.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein each of said mirrors are substantially flat.

17. A method as in claim 13, wherein each of said reflector elements includes a reflective membrane which is moved between first and second positions.

18. A method as in claim 13, wherein each of said reflector elements includes first and second parts which are movable relative to one another.

19. An optical device comprising:

an array of movable reflector elements; and

a controller for said array of reflector elements, said controller operating based on a plurality of digital bits which operate to change a position of said array of reflector elements to produce an output beam at a position based on said digital bits.

20. A device as in claim 19, wherein each of said reflector elements comprises a movable, reflective membrane.

21. A device as in claim 19, wherein each of said reflector elements comprises first and second parts, which reflect light from a first location when touching one another, and reflect light from a second location when not touching one another, and an element for moving said first and second parts relative to one another.

22. A device as in claim 19, further comprising a plane mirror, which reflects between different ones of said reflector elements.

23. A device as in claim 21, wherein said plane mirror is substantially flat.

24. A device as in claim 21, wherein said plane mirror is formed along a curved area.

25. A device as in claim 24, wherein said plane mirror is formed of a plurality of different mirrored elements, each of which is substantially flat.

26. A device as in claim 19, wherein each of said reflector elements are movable by different amounts.

27. A device as in claim 19, wherein each of said reflector elements are movable by the same amount.

28. A device as in claim 19, wherein each of said plurality of moving mirrors has a substantially different size.

29. A device as in claim 28, wherein there are a series of said movable mirrors, and at least a plurality of said movable mirrors are twice as large as a movable mirror prior to it in said series.