TWO DIMENSIONAL OPTICAL SCANNING IMAGE SYSTEM

• US 20080304123A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Washington
• Original Assignee: University of Washington
• Inventors: Wang, Wei-Chih, Reinhall, Per G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,700,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/196
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/04 Prisms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/124 Geodesic lenses or integrated gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/34 utilising prism or grating G02B6/293 takes precedence

Abstract

An ultra high speed miniature two dimensional electro-optic image acquisition system uses prisms of varying geometries to control the amount of horizontal deflection and a Bragg grating to control the amount of vertical deflection. A collimating lens array and a Gaussian profile Bragg grating help confine the beam diameter of the deflected light beam. A separate prism further bends light into the vertical direction. A spherical lens focuses light onto a photodetector array for display.

Claims

1. A scanner, comprising:

an optical device to receive an incident light beam at an angle of incidence, the optical device having disposed therein;

a first deflector to deflect the incident light beam towards a first direction, the first deflector comprising;

a first prism having a first geometry;

at least a second prism having a second geometry different from the first geometry;

a second deflector to deflect the first deflected light beam towards a second direction; and

a lens array disposed in or on the optical device to direct the incident light beam towards the first prism.

2. The scanner of claim 1, wherein the optical device further comprises a light source to emit the incident light beam.

3. The scanner of claim 2, wherein the light source comprises a laser diode.

4. The scanner of claim 3, wherein the lens array comprises a layer of electro-optic material disposed in or on the optical device after the laser diode.

5. The scanner of claim 4, wherein the layer of electro-optic material comprises a first plano-convex lens.

6. The scanner of claim 5, further comprising at least a second layer of electro-optic material comprising at least a second plano-convex lens, wherein at least a second plano-convex lens is separated from the first plano-convex lens by free space.

7. The scanner of claim 2, further comprising an optical fiber to couple incident light to the optical device, and wherein the lens array comprises:

at least one convex lens disposed in or on the optical device, the convex lens to focus the incident light; and

at least one concave lens disposed in or on the optical device, the concave lens to collimate the focused light beam, wherein the at least one convex lens is disposed between the first prism and the optical fiber, wherein the at least one concave lens is disposed between the at least one convex lens and the first prism, wherein the at least one convex lens is separated from the optical fiber by free space, and wherein the at least one concave lens is separated from the at least one convex lens by free space.

8. The scanner of claim 7, further comprising:

a second convex lens disposed in or on the optical device; and

a third convex lens disposed in or on the optical device, wherein the second convex lens is disposed between the at least one concave lens and the third convex lens, wherein the third convex lens is disposed between the second convex lens and the first prism, wherein the second convex lens is separated from the at least one concave lens by free space, wherein the third convex lens is separated from the second convex lens by free space, wherein the third convex lens is separated from the first prism by free space.

9. The scanner of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first, second, and/or third convex lenses has geometry that is different from geometry of remaining convex lenses.

10. The scanner of claim 1, wherein optical device includes a core comprising electro-optic material.

11. The scanner of claim 1, wherein the first prism is to disperse the incident light beam at a first angle, and wherein the second prism is to disperse the light from the first angle at a second angle different from the first angle.

12. The scanner of claim 1, wherein the a difference between the angle of incidence and an angle of exit from the second deflector is determined by geometry of the first and second prisms, an input refractive index and an output refractive index of the first prism, and an input refractive index and an output refractive index of the second prism.

13. The scanner of claim 12, wherein the first and/or second prisms comprise electro-optic material, wherein the electro-optic material is to change refractive indexes in response to a voltage being applied, and wherein a difference between the angle of incidence and an angle of exit from the second deflector is further determined by the change in refractive indexes of the first and/or second prisms.

14. The scanner of claim 12, wherein the first and/or second prisms comprise liquid crystal material, wherein the liquid crystal material is to change refractive indexes in response to a voltage being applied, and wherein the a difference between the angle of incidence and an angle of exit from the second deflector is further determined by the change in refractive indexes of the first and/or second prisms.

15. The scanner of claim 1, wherein second deflector comprises a Bragg grating.

16. The scanner of claim 15, wherein the Bragg grating includes a substantially Gaussian profile.

17. The scanner of claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving a third prism, the third prism to further deflect the first deflected light beam from the Bragg grating towards the second direction;

means for receiving a spherical lens, the spherical lens to focus light deflected from the Bragg grating;

means for receiving electrical power; and

an integrated detector array coupled to detect the deflected light.

18. A scanner, comprising:

a biocompatible material; and

an optical device disposed in the biocompatible material, the optical device having disposed therein or thereon;

a first prism operationally coupled to the lens array, the first prism having a first geometry;

at least a second prism operationally coupled to the first prism, the second prism having at least a second geometry different from the first geometry; and

a Bragg grating operationally coupled to the second prism.

19. The scanner of claim 18, further comprising a lens array disposed in or on the optical device, the lens array operationally coupled to the first prism.

20. The scanner of claim 19, further comprising a light source disposed in the biocompatible material, the light source operationally coupled to the lens array.

21. The scanner of claim 20, further comprising means disposed in the biocompatible material for receiving a spherical lens and/or a third prism, the spherical lens and/or the third prism to be operationally coupled to the Bragg grating.

22. The scanner of claim 21, further comprising means disposed in the biocompatible material for receiving electrical power, the means for receiving electrical power operationally coupled to the optical device.

23. The scanner of claim 22, further comprising means disposed in the biocompatible material for receiving a third prism, the third prism to be operationally coupled to the spherical lens.

24. The scanner of claims 18 through 23, further comprising a photodetector array disposed in the optical device, the photodetector array operationally coupled to the Bragg grating, spherical lens, and/or third prism.

25. The scanner of claim 18, wherein the biocompatible material comprises silicone rubber, dimethicone, and/or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

26. The scanner of claim 18, wherein the optical device comprises electro-optic material.

27. A method for packaging a scanner, the method comprising:

disposing the scanner in a container, the scanner having a first prism disposed in or on a optical device and operationally coupled to a second prism disposed in or on the optical device, the scanner having further a Bragg grating disposed in or on the optical device, the Bragg grating operationally coupled to the second prism; and

disposing a biocompatible material in the container.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising impressing a pattern into the biocompatible material, wherein impressing a pattern into the biocompatible material comprises making an opening for the scanner to receive electrical power.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising impressing a pattern into the biocompatible material, wherein impressing a pattern into the biocompatible material comprises making a depression, the depression shaped to receive a spherical lens.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising impressing a pattern into the biocompatible material, wherein impressing a pattern into the biocompatible material comprises making a depression, the depression shaped to receive a prism.

31. A method for operating a scanner, comprising:

receiving a light beam at an optical device having disposed therein or thereon a first prism having a first geometry, at least a second prism having at least a second geometry, and a means for bending a light beam, wherein the light beam includes an angle of incidence;

bending the incident light beam from the angle of incidence into a first angle using the first prism;

bending the light beam bent into the first angle into a second angle using the second prism;

bending the light beam bent into the second angle into a third angle using the means for bending the light beam; and

detecting the light beam bent into the third angle using a light detector.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

coupling the light beam having the angle of incidence to a lens array disposed in or on the optical device;

focusing and/or collimating the light beam having the angle of incidence using the lens array; and

coupling the focused and/or collimated light beam towards the first prism using the lens array.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising receiving electrical power at the first and second prisms, wherein the first and/or second angles are determined by the amount of electrical power received.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising receiving electrical power at the means for bending the light beam, wherein the third angle is determined by the amount of electrical power received.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising focusing the light beam bent into the third angle into a substantially Gaussian shape using the means for bending the light beam.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising bending the Gaussian-shaped light beam into a fourth angle onto the detector using a third prism.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising focusing the Gaussian-shaped light beam on the light detector using a spherical lens.