Scanning apparatus and associated method

• US 6,680,788 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
• Original Assignee: MCNC, Inc.
• Inventors: Roberson, Mark Windsor, Dausch, David Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERRY, EUNCHA P
• Application Number:
  US09/689,557
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 372/50, 372/20, 356/3.09, 356/3.12, 356/4.01, 369/44.37, 369/121, 359/209, 359/210, 359/196, 359/197, 385/16
• US Class Current: 359/199.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4814 of transmitters alone
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0875 by means of one or more refracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/005 Optical components external to the laser cavity, specially adapted therefor, e.g. for homogenisation or merging of the beams or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping H01S5/026, H01S5/18388 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/021 Silicon based substrates
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/42 Arrays of surface emitting lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/423 having a vertical cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1121 One-way transmission

Abstract

A scanning apparatus adapted to track or other wise communicate with a remote object is provided, comprising a plurality of individually actuatable laser devices, each laser device emitting a laser beam. The scanning apparatus further comprises a moveable lens member disposed adjacent to the output ports such that the laser beams are directed therethrough, the lens member being moveable and cooperable with the laser devices such that each laser beam is directed in a different direction after passing through the lens member. The scanning apparatus is further configured to provide laser beam agility by selectively actuating individual laser devices so as to coarsely track the remote object and to provide laser beam steerability by moving the lens member with respect to an actuated laser device so as to finely track the remote object. An associated method is also provided.

Claims

1. A scanning apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of individually actuatable laser devices for emitting respective laser beams, selective actuation of individual laser devices thereby providing laser beam agility;

a laterally movable macrolens member disposed adjacent to the laser devices such that the laser beams are directed therethrough, the macrolens member being cooperable with the laser devices such that each laser beam is directed in a different direction after passing through the macrolens member; and

at least one piezoelectric actuator operably engaged with the macrolens member and configured to laterally move the macrolens member with respect to the laser devices so as to provide laser beam steerability.

2. A scanning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the macrolens member is laterally movable within a plane disposed in spaced parallel relation to the laser devices.

3. A scanning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the laser devices comprise an array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).

4. A scanning apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a substrate on which the laser devices in the array are mounted by solder-bumping.

5. A scanning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the laser devices are arranged in a substantially planar array.

6. A scanning apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the array comprises a plurality of sub-arrays.

7. A scanning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the macrolens member is configured to cooperate with the laser devices to track moving objects within a distance range of between about 500 meters and about 2500 meters.

8. A scanning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the macrolens member is configured to cooperate with the laser devices to provide a predetermined magnitude of angular coverage.

9. A scanning apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a controller capable of individually and selectively actuating the laser devices, wherein sequential actuation of individual laser devices by the controller coarsely attunes the respective laser beams to a corresponding trajectory such that the apparatus is capable of tracking a moving object.

10. A scanning apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the controller is further configured to direct the piezoelectric actuator to laterally move the macrolens member with respect to the laser devices so as to finely attune the laser beams to the trajectory.

11. A scanning apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a detection device for detecting signals from a remote object.

12. A scanning apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the controller is responsive to the detection device so as to actuate the laser devices and direct the piezoelectric actuator to laterally move the macrolens member in order to track the remote object.

13. A scanning apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of individually actuatable laser devices for emitting respective laser beams;

a laterally movable macrolens member disposed adjacent to the laser devices such that the laser beams are directed therethrough, the macrolens member being cooperable with the laser devices such that each laser beam is directed in a different direction after passing through the macrolens member;

at least one piezoelectric actuator in communication with the macrolens member for laterally moving the macrolens member; and

a controller configured to individually and selectively actuate the laser devices and to actuate the at least one peizoelectric actuator,

wherein sequential actuation of individual laser devices by the controller provides laser beam agility and actuation of the at least one peizoelectric actuator by the controller provides laser beam steerability by laterally moving the macrolens member with respect to the laser devices.

14. A scanning apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the macrolens member is laterally movable within a plane disposed in spaced parallel relation to the laser devices.

15. A scanning apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the laser devices comprise an array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).

16. A scanning apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising a substrate on which the laser devices in the array are mounted by solder-bumping.

17. A scanning apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the laser devices are arranged in a substantially planar array.

18. A scanning apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the array comprises a plurality of sub-arrays.

19. A scanning apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the macrolens member is configured to cooperate with the laser devices to track moving objects within a distance range of between about 500 meters and about 2500 meters.

20. A scanning apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the macrolens member is configured to cooperate with the laser devices to provide a predetermined magnitude of angular coverage.

21. A scanning apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the controller is configured to sequentially actuate individual laser devices so as to coarsely attune the respective laser beams to a corresponding trajectory to track a moving object.

22. A scanning apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the controller is further configured to direct the at least one piezoelectric actuator tolaterally move the macrolens member with respect to the laser devices so as to finely attune the laser beams to the trajectory.

23. A scanning apparatus according to claim 22 further comprising a detection device for detecting signals from a remote object.

24. A scanning apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the controller is responsive to the detection device so as to actuate the laser devices and to direct the at least one piezoelectlic actuator to laterally move the macrolens member in order to track the remote object.

25. A method of tracking a remote object, said method comprising:

providing an array of laser devices capable of emitting laser beams therefrom in spaced relation to a laterally movable macrolens member to form a scanning apparatus configured such that the laser beams are directed through the macrolens member, the macrolens member being configured so as to direct each laser beam in a different direction;

sequentially actuating selected laser devices such that the emitted laser beams directed through the macrolens member are coarsely attuned to a trajectory of the remote object; and

selectively laterally moving the macrolens member with at least one piezoelectric actuator operably engaged therewith and with respect to all actuated laser device such that the laser beam emitted thereby is finely attuned to the trajectory.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein providing the array of laser devices further comprises providing a solder-bumped array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) in spaced relation to the movable macrolens member.

27. A method according to claim 25 further comprising interacting with the remote object by transmitting signals to the remote object and receiving signals from the remote object.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein receiving signals from the remote object comprises receiving reflections of the laser beams from the remote object.

29. A method according to claim 28 further comprising actuating a selected laser device in response to the signals received from the remote object.

30. A method according to claim 28 further comprising laterally moving the macrolens member with the at least one piezoelectric actuator in response to the signals received from the remote object.