Abstract: A scanning beam projection system includes a two-mirror scanning system. One mirror scans in one direction, and a second mirror scans in a second direction. A fast scan mirror receives a modulated light beam from a fold mirror and directs the modulated light beam to a slow can mirror. The fold mirror may be formed on an output optic or may be formed on a common substrate with the slow scan mirror.

Abstract: An imaging system (200) includes a plurality of laser sources (201) configured to produce a plurality of light beams (204). One or more optical alignment devices (220) orient the light beams (204) into a collimated light beam (205). A light modulator (203) modulates the collimated light beam (205) such that images (206) can be presented on a display surface (207). Speckle is reduced with an optical feedback device (221) that causes the laser sources (201) to operate in a coherence collapsed state. Examples of optical feedback devices (221) include partially reflective mirrors and beam splitter-mirror combinations.

Abstract: An image generation apparatus provides interpolation and distortion correction. The interpolation and distortion correction may be provided in one or two dimensions. Nonlinear image scan trajectories, such as sinusoidal and bi-sinusoidal trajectories are accommodated. Horizontal and vertical scan positions are determined using a linear pixel clock, and displayed pixel intensities are determined using interpolation techniques.

Abstract: A lightweight, compact image projection module has a laser package having a common exit port, and a plurality of lasers mounted in the package and operative for emitting a plurality of laser beams of different wavelengths through the common exit port. An optical assembly focuses the laser beams exiting the common exit port, and includes a common focusing lens through which the laser beams pass along respective paths that are in angular misalignment. An optical corrector element in at least one of the paths corrects the misalignment to produce aligned beams. A scanner sweeps the aligned beams in a pattern of scan lines, each scan line having a number of pixels. A controller causes selected pixels to be illuminated, and rendered visible, by the aligned beams to produce the image.

Abstract: An imaging system (200), such as a scanned laser projection system, includes one or more laser sources (201) configured to produce one or more light beams (204), and a light modulator (203) configured to produce images (206) from the light beams (204). Optional optical alignment devices (220) can be used to orient the light beams (204) into a combined light beam (205). A birefringent wedge (221) is disposed between at least one of the laser sources (201) and the light modulator (203). The birefringent wedge (221) is configured to receive light from the laser sources (201) and deliver two angularly separated and orthogonally polarized light beams (223) to the light modulator (203) so as to reduce speckle appearing when the images (206) are displayed on a display surface (207). An optional glass wedge (1004) can be used to correct optical path deviation (1001) introduced by the birefringent wedge (221).

Abstract: An image projection system (100) has a laser (102, 104, 106) providing at least one beam (103, 105, 107) to a scan mirror apparatus (130) for scanning the at least one beam (103, 105, 107) in two orthogonal directions (404, 406). The scan mirror (130) includes an oscillating portion (204, 904) disposed contiguous to a frame (202) and includes a reflective portion (218, 918) capable of reflecting the beam (103, 105, 107). Circuitry (500) is provided for measuring the capacitance between interdigitated teeth (212, 214, 912, 914) on the frame (202) and the oscillating portion (204, 904).

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a MEMS device including a scanner rotatable about at least one rotation axis, with the scanner having a characteristic resonant frequency. According to one embodiment, the MEMS device includes drive electronics operable to generate a drive signal that causes the scanner to oscillate at an operational frequency about the at least one rotation axis. The drive signal has a drive frequency selected to be about equal to the characteristic resonant frequency or a sub-harmonic frequency of the characteristic resonant frequency. According to another embodiment, the drive electronics are operable to generate a drive signal having a plurality of drive-signal pulses that moves the scanner at an operational frequency and sensing electronics are operable to sense a position of the scanner only when the drive-signal pulses of the drive signal are not being transmitted by the drive electronics. The MEMS device embodiments may be incorporated in scanned beam imagers, endoscopes, and displays.

Abstract: An imaging system (200) includes a plurality of laser sources (201) configured to produce a plurality of light beams (204). One or more optical alignment devices (220) orient the light beams (204) into a collimated light beam (205). A light modulator (203) modulates the collimated light beam (205) such that images (206) can be presented on a display surface (207). Speckle is reduced with an optical feedback device (221) that causes the laser sources (201) to operate in a coherence collapsed state. Examples of optical feedback devices (221) include partially reflective mirrors and beam splitter-mirror combinations.

Abstract: A lightweight, compact image projection module, especially for mounting in a housing having a light-transmissive window, is operative for causing selected pixels in a raster pattern of scan lines to be illuminated to produce an image of high resolution in color. The direction of scanning of the scan lines is switched between alternate frames, and the resulting image is the superposition of successive frames integrated for viewing by the human eye.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a MEMS based scanning platform is arranged to have increased efficiency by driving a first frame of the scanning platform directly by applying a drive voltage to a set of comb fingers disposed on the first frame to cause the first frame to oscillate via torsional rotation of a first flexure and by driving a second frame of the scanning platform indirectly via mechanical coupling of the second frame with the first frame via a second flexure, wherein damping losses and work capacity are such that the operation of the scanning mirror is more efficient than if the set of comb fingers were disposed on the second frame and directly driven by the drive voltage. The scanning platform may comprise a 1D scanner, a 2D scanner, or a multiple-dimensional scanner.

Abstract: An integrated photonics module includes at least one light source and a MEMS scanner coupled to and held in alignment by an optical frame configured for mounting to a host system. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module may include a plurality of light sources and a beam combiner coupled to the optical frame. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module includes a selective fold mirror configured to direct at least a portion of emitted light toward the MEMS scanner in a normal direction and pass scanned light through to a field of view. The selective fold mirror may use beam polarization to select beam passing and reflection. The integrated photonics module may include a beam rotator such as a quarter-wave plate to convert the polarization of the emitted light to a different polarization adapted for passage through the fold mirror. The integrated photonics module may include one or more light detectors.

Abstract: In a portable housing, a digital photographing apparatus (100) may include an image capturing unit (100) operable for capturing at least one digital image (172) and a memory (158, 161) for storing the at least one digital image. Digital photographing apparatus may also include a laser scanning projector (150) operable to optically raster scan the at least one digital image on a remote surface (170) one pixel at a time. The laser scanning projector is operable without focusing adjustment to scan the at least one digital image in focus on the remote surface independent of a distance (174) between the digital photographing apparatus and the remote surface. A controller (154) is operable to read the at least one digital image from the memory and operate the laser scanning projector to project the at least one digital image on the remote surface.

Abstract: A scanning assembly (400) for use in a scanning display includes a reflective scanning surface, such as a scanning mirror (412). The reflected scanning surface can be mounted on a scan plate (409). The scanning assembly (400) is configured to pivot about a first axis (403) and a second axis (404) to form an image. To correct parallelogram distortion, the first axis (403) and second axis (404) are non-orthogonal relative to each other. Torsion arms (407,408) facilitating rotation of the scanning mirror (412) along one axis (403) can be oriented non-orthogonally relative to other torsion arms (413,414) by an amount sufficient to correct parallelogram distortion.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image capture apparatus comprises a light emitter, a beam scanner aligned to receive emitted light and operable to scan the light in a two-dimensional pattern, imaging optics aligned to receive the scanned two-dimensional pattern and image the pattern onto an object, and to collect light scattered from the object, a detector to receive scattered light from the imaging optics, an electronic controller c operable to receive an electrical signal from the detector corresponding to the received scattered light, and an actuator operable to modify the relative alignment between the beam scanner and the imaging optics to change an imaged location on the object. According to an embodiment, a method for capturing an image comprises scanning a beam of light through imaging optics onto a location on a surface, detecting light scattered by the surface, and steering the beam scanner relative to the imaging optics to change the trajectory of the scanned pattern.

Abstract: An integrated photonics module includes at least one light source and a MEMS scanner coupled to and held in alignment by an optical frame configured for mounting to a host system. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module may include a plurality of light sources and a beam combiner coupled to the optical frame. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module includes a selective fold mirror configured to direct at least a portion of emitted light toward the MEMS scanner in a normal direction and pass scanned light through to a field of view. The selective fold mirror may use beam polarization to select beam passing and reflection. The integrated photonics module may include a beam rotator such as a quarter-wave plate to convert the polarization of the emitted light to a different polarization adapted for passage through the fold mirror. The integrated photonics module may include one or more light detectors.

Abstract: An image producing system (1400) delivers images (1414) having reduced speckle by employing one or more drive circuits (1404, 1405, 1406) that deliver both a direct current drive signal (205) and an alternating current drive signal (405) to one or more lasers (1401, 1402, 1403). Specifically, an alternating current drive circuit (403) is used in conjunction with a direct current drive circuit (203) to modulate a drive signal. The modulation can be at a frequency of between 400 MHz and 600 MHz. When lasers, such as the red laser (1401) or the blue laser (1403) of a multi-laser system are modulated in such a fashion, their emitted spectral widths (407) greatly expand, thereby reducing speckle in projected images (1414).

Abstract: A method for detecting scanner phase error in a bidirectional scanned beam imager includes obtaining first and second images derived from respective first and second scan directions, comparing apparent image feature positions in the first and second images, and calculating a phase error corresponding to a difference between the apparent image feature positions. The comparison may include multiplying frequency domain transformations of the images.

Abstract: A guiding-substrate display may include an angle-mapped display engine to generate a modulated photonic output having angle-mapped rays responsive to an electrical signal without the use of an ocular lens. An input optical element receives the modulated photonic output of the angle-mapped display engine and cooperates with the angle-mapped display engine to launch modulated photonic output having selected polarization. An image relay slab receives the modulated photonic output from the input optical element and guides the modulated photonic output from a proximal to a distal location. An output optical element to receives the modulated photonic output from the image relay slab and launches the modulated photonic output having angle-mapped rays toward a viewing region.

Abstract: A scanning beam overlay projection system displays an image on a projection surface by scanning a light beam in a raster pattern. Reflective spots on the projection surface reflect light back to the projection system when illuminated by the light beam. A photodetector in the projection system detects the reflected light, and timing circuits determine where in the raster pattern the reflective spots are located. The image can be scaled and warped to correlate tagged points within the image with the locations of the reflective spots on the projection surface.

Abstract: An integrated photonics module includes at least one light source and a MEMS scanner coupled to and held in alignment by an optical frame configured for mounting to a host system. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module may include a plurality of light sources and a beam combiner coupled to the optical frame. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module includes a selective fold mirror configured to direct at least a portion of emitted light toward the MEMS scanner in a normal direction and pass scanned light through to a field of view. The selective fold mirror may use beam polarization to select beam passing and reflection. The integrated photonics module may include a beam rotator such as a quarter-wave plate to convert the polarization of the emitted light to a different polarization adapted for passage through the fold mirror. The integrated photonics module may include one or more light detectors.