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Light steering device with an array of oscillating reflective slats

  • US 9,128,190 B1
  • Filed: 11/26/2013
  • Issued: 09/08/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device comprising:

  • a plurality of mirrors arranged to rotate about respective axes of rotation parallel to a reflective surface of the respective mirrors, and wherein the axes of rotation of the plurality of mirrors are arranged to be aligned in parallel and in a common plane;

    a plurality of electromagnets arranged to attract the plurality of mirrors via induced magnetic fields generated in the mirrors so as to apply torque on the respective mirrors about their respective axes of rotation, wherein each of the plurality of electromagnets is arranged to apply torque to only one of the plurality of mirrors such that each of the plurality of mirrors is associated with a mirror-associated set of electromagnets in the plurality of electromagnets;

    a plurality of driving circuits for operating the plurality of electromagnets using a plurality of driving signals, wherein each driving circuit is configured to receive a respective input and generate, based on the respective input, a respective driving signal for operating a respective mirror-associated set of electromagnets;

    a plurality of detectors configured to detect orientations of the plurality of mirrors;

    a controller configured to;

    (i) receive data from the plurality of detectors indicative of detected orientations of the plurality of mirrors, (ii) determine, based on the detected orientations, driving parameters sufficient to cause the plurality of driving circuits to operate the plurality of electromagnets such that the plurality of mirrors oscillate in phase at an operating frequency, and (iii) provide the determined driving parameters as input to the plurality of driving circuits; and

    a light source configured to emit light pulses directed toward the plurality of mirrors such that the light pulses are reflected by the plurality of mirrors.

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