Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a buried numerical aperture expander may be utilized to provide a head-up or virtual display at a larger field of view without requiring a larger amount of space, larger sized display, or larger sized optics. The buried numerical aperture expander is capable of selectively reflecting light emanating from a display such that the reflected light is expanded into a larger field of view, while simultaneously allowing other light to be transmitted through the buried numerical aperture expander without expansion so that the buried numerical aperture expander may be deployed in conjunction with a windshield or window without adversely affecting the ability to see through buried numerical aperture expander.

Abstract: A spatially aware apparatus includes a projector. Projected display contents can change based on the position, motion, or orientation of the apparatus. The apparatus may include gyroscope(s), accelerometer(s), global positioning system (GPS) receiver(s), radio receiver(s), or any other devices or interfaces that detect, or provide information relating to, motion, orientation, or position of the apparatus.

Abstract: A scan assembly includes an emitter array containing a plurality of optical emitters. Each optical emitter generates a corresponding image beam and the scan assembly scans the image beams in a plurality of overlapping display zones. The overlap of adjacent image display zones forms blending zones and the scan assembly can modulate the intensities of the image beams as a function of the position of the image beams in the blending zones. This modulation for a given blending zone may be a linearly increasing intensity of a first image beam and a linearly decreasing intensity of a second image beam.

Abstract: Devices are formed on a semiconductor wafer in an interdigitated relationship and are released by deep reactive ion etching. MEMS scanners are formed without a surrounding frame. Mounting pads extend outward from torsion arms. Neighboring MEMS scanners are formed with their mounting pads interdigitated such that a regular polygon cannot be formed around a device without also intersecting a portion of one or more neighboring devices. MEMS scanners may be held in their outlines by a metal layer, by small semiconductor bridges, or a combination.

Abstract: A MEMS oscillator, such as a MEMS scanner, has an improved and simplified drive scheme and structure. Drive impulses may be transmitted to an oscillating mass via torque through the support arms. For multi-axis oscillators drive signals for two or more axes may be superimposed by a driver circuit and transmitted to the MEMS oscillator. The oscillator responds in each axis according to its resonance frequency in that axis. The oscillator may be driven resonantly in some or all axes. Improved load distribution results in reduced deformation. A simplified structure offers multi-axis oscillation using a single moving body. Another structure directly drives a plurality of moving bodies. Another structure eliminates actuators from one or more moving bodies, those bodies being driven by their support arms.

Abstract: The temperature of a laser diode changes in response to video content across a line of a displayed image, and the radiance changes as a function of temperature. An adaptive model estimates the temperature of the laser diode based on prior drive current values. For each displayed pixel, diode drive current is determined from the estimated diode temperature and a desired radiance value. A feedback circuit periodically measures the actual temperature and updates the adaptive model.

Abstract: A high performance MEMS scanner is disclosed. In some embodiments, scanner mirror has a wide and short aspect ratio that is similar to rotating polygon facets. Long torsion arms allow large rotation angles including 20° zero-to-peak mechanical and greater. Suspensions couple the scan mirror to torsion arms, reducing dynamic mirror deformation by spreading the torque load. “leverage members” at the distal ends of the torsion arms help reduce stress concentrations. Elimination of a mounting frame increases device yield. Heater leads allow for precise trimming of the scanner resonant frequency. A compressive mount holds mounting pads against mounting structures.

Abstract: A MEMS oscillator, such as a MEMS scanner, has an improved and simplified drive scheme and structure. Drive impulses may be transmitted to an oscillating mass via torque through the support arms. For multi-axis oscillators drive signals for two or more axes may be superimposed by a driver circuit and transmitted to the MEMS oscillator. The oscillator responds in each axis according to its resonance frequency in that axis. The oscillator may be driven resonantly in some or all axes. Improved load distribution results in reduced deformation. A simplified structure offers multi-axis oscillation using a single moving body. Another structure directly drives a plurality of moving bodies. Another structure eliminates actuators from one or more moving bodies, those bodies being driven by their support arms.

Abstract: A barcode scanner includes a scanning platform coupled to a fixed platform by flexible members. The scanning platform, fixed platform, and flexible members are made of a polymer such as is commonly used for printed circuit boards. The scanning platform has a laser light source, focusing lens, photodetector, and light collection optic mounted thereto. The polymer qualities and the moment of inertia of the scanning platform can be controlled to achieve a desired mechanical resonance.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a scanning platform coupled to a fixed platform by flexible members. The scanning platform, fixed platform, and flexible members are made of a polymer such as is commonly used for printed circuit boards. The scanning platform has a laser light source, focusing lens, variable focus mechanism, photodetector, and light collection optic mounted thereto. The variable focus mechanism can sweep the outgoing laser light focus to determine the reflection distance. A scan angle may be modified in response. 3D imaging may also be performed.

Abstract: A MEMS oscillator, such as a MEMS scanner, has an improved and simplified drive scheme and structure. Drive impulses may be transmitted to an oscillating mass via torque through the support arms. For multi-axis oscillators drive signals for two or more axes may be superimposed by a driver circuit and transmitted to the MEMS oscillator. The oscillator responds in each axis according to its resonance frequency in that axis. The oscillator may be driven resonantly in some or all axes. Improved load distribution results in reduced deformation. A simplified structure offers multi-axis oscillation using a single moving body. Another structure directly drives a plurality of moving bodies. Another structure eliminates actuators from one or more moving bodies, those bodies being driven by their support arms.

Abstract: A MEMS oscillator, such as a MEMS scanner, has an improved and simplified drive scheme and structure. Drive impulses may be transmitted to an oscillating mass via torque through the support arms. For multi-axis oscillators drive signals for two or more axes may be superimposed by a driver circuit and transmitted to the MEMS oscillator. The oscillator responds in each axis according to its resonance frequency in that axis. The oscillator may be driven resonantly in some or all axes. Improved load distribution results in reduced deformation. A simplified structure offers multi-axis oscillation using a single moving body. Another structure directly drives a plurality of moving bodies. Another structure eliminates actuators from one or more moving bodies, those bodies being driven by their support arms.

Abstract: A scanned light display system includes a light emitter array having a plurality of light sources operable to emit diverging light and an array of collimating elements positioned so that each of the collimating elements receive at least a portion of the light emitted from a corresponding one of the light sources. Each of collimating elements is configured to substantially collimate the received light from at least one corresponding light source into respective beams. The scanned beam display is operable to scan the respective beams to provide an image to a viewer. The displayed image appears substantially fixed to a viewer as the viewer's eye moves relative to the array of collimating elements. In one embodiment, each of the collimating elements is a curved mirror. In other embodiments, each of the collimating elements includes at least one lens or a curved mirror/lens pair.

Abstract: A mechanical optical switch provides an active switching mechanism and an active latching mechanism that are both actuated by piezoelectric elements. The switching mechanism includes a switching frame at which fiber ends are attached to be switched along an opposing array of fixed fiber ends. The active latching mechanism provides for a fast switching of the switching mechanism and a reliable holding of the switching positions. The elements of the switching mechanism and the latching mechanism are monolithically fabricated from a wafer. The piezoelectric elements are integrated by bonding. The switch is substantially free of gliding friction, which reduces switching forces and makes the switch highly reliable over an extended lifetime.

Abstract: A mechanical optical switch provides an active switching mechanism and an active latching mechanism that are both actuated by piezoelectric elements. The switching mechanism includes a switching frame at which fiber ends are attached to be switched along an opposing array of fixed fiber ends. The active latching mechanism provides for a fast switching of the switching mechanism and a reliable holding of the switching positions. The elements of the switching mechanism and the latching mechanism are monolithically fabricated from a wafer. The piezoelectric elements are integrated by bonding. The switch is substantially free of gliding friction, which reduces switching forces and makes the switch highly reliable over an extended lifetime.

Abstract: A control system for controlling individual mirrors in a MEMS-based optical switching fabric is presented. The control system includes a position sensitive detector positioned to receive a control beam reflected from individual mirrors of a first mirror array. In some embodiments, the control beam can be time-multiplexed with a calibration beam. The position of the control beam corrected in response to the position of the calibration beam can be compared with a position calculated on the port assignment of the individual mirrors in order to provide feedback to a feed-back based control system for the individual mirrors.

Abstract: A control system for a moveable mirror array in an optical cross connect (OXC) compensates for non-linear actuation charge response, actuation leakage, asymmetry in the derivative driving scheme of the electrostatic actuated mirror and its driving circuitry. In addition zero-crossing is resolved with a near-zero algorithm or a off-zero algorithm, which are alternately applied whether or not the mirror's target orientation is within a critical threshold. The threshold is defined as an ambiguous orientation range of the mirror while the actuating electrodes are substantially at zero charge. The control system includes an optical feedback loop that utilizes a PDA detector that provides coordinate information about an impinging laser injected into the optical telecommunication signals switched by the OXC. The laser is filtered from the reflected beam prior to its impinging on the detector. The telecommunication signal remains substantially unaffected by the optical feedback loop.

Abstract: A control system for controlling individual mirrors in a MEMS-based optical switching fabric is presented. The control system includes a position sensitive detector positioned to receive a control beam reflected from individual mirrors of a first mirror array. In some embodiments, the control beam can be time-multiplexed with a calibration beam. The position of the control beam corrected in response to the position of the calibration beam can be compared with a position calculated on the port assignment of the individual mirrors in order to provide feedback to a feed-back based control system for the individual mirrors.

Abstract: In order to facilitate the installation of transducers such as accelerometers in a larger system, each transducer is provided with a memory circuit which is physically attached to the transducer and contains data reflecting the operating characteristics of that particular transducer. The data stored in the memory can be in the form of coefficients for polynomial equations that describe the operation of the transducer as the function of a variable such as temperature. Provision is made for transmitting this data along with the signal output from the transducer to the larger system.