Electromechanically Driven Patents (Class 359/199.4)
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Patent number: 11933968Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) structure includes a fixed frame internally defining a cavity, and a mobile mass suspended in the cavity and movable with a first resonant rotational mode about a first rotation axis and with a second resonant rotational mode about a second rotation axis orthogonal to the first. A pair of supporting elements extends in the cavity, is rigidly coupled to the fixed frame, and is elastically deformable to cause rotation of the mobile mass about the first rotation axis. A pair of elastic-coupling elements is elastically coupled between the mobile mass and the first pair of supporting elements. Each of the elastic-coupling elements includes a first and second elastic portions, the first elastic portion being compliant to torsion about the second rotation axis. The second elastic portion is compliant to bending outside of a horizontal plane of main extension of the MEMS structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Nicolo' Boni, Roberto Carminati, Massimiliano Merli
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Patent number: 11300409Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a surveying instrument including a chassis, an optical system having an optical axis, a stage attached to the chassis and an optical component. The optical system may be adapted to receive and/or transmit light. The optical component is located at, or in proximity to, the optical axis. The received and/or transmitted light passes through the optical component. The stage includes an actuating member arranged to act on the optical component for movement thereof. The actuating member may be responsive to temperature so as to induce a displacement of the optical component relative to the chassis along the optical axis in response to a temperature change.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Trimble ABInventor: Johan von Matern
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Patent number: 11280997Abstract: A beam scanner of a near-eye display includes a pair of tiltable reflectors and a beam-folding pupil relay coupling the tiltable reflectors optically together. The beam-folding pupil relay includes a beamsplitter for receiving the light beam reflected by the first tiltable reflector, and a first curved reflector for receiving the light beam from the beamsplitter, and for reflecting the light beam back towards the beamsplitter. The beam-folded pupil relay is configured to couple the light beam reflected by the first curved reflector to the second tiltable reflector. A second curved reflector may be provided for coupling the light beam scanned by the tiltable reflectors to a pupil-replicating waveguide. A controller may be provided for scanning the light beam in coordination with operating the light source at varying levels of brightness or color.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Weichuan Gao
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Patent number: 11262576Abstract: A reflective optical element includes a reflector configured to reflect light, a first connection part connected with the reflector, first and second transmission parts connected with of the first connection part, first and second vibrator parts connected with respective base ends of the first and second transmission parts, first and second driver parts connected with respective head ends of the first and second vibrator parts, a base, and a second connection part connecting the first and second vibrator parts vibratably with the base.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2018Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Takami Ishida, Kazuki Komaki
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Patent number: 11231783Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating a vibrotactile sensation. The apparatus for generating a vibrotactile sensation includes a light source generating light, a vibration layer generating a vibration by receiving the light, a vibration detection unit disposed adjacent to the vibration layer to detect a vibration signal of the vibration layer, and a control unit connected to the vibration detection unit to determine the vibration of the vibration layer by using the vibration signal. Here, the vibration layer includes a thermo-elastic layer that has a first thermal expansion coefficient and a photo-thermal conversion layer that is disposed on the thermo-elastic layer and has a second thermal expansion coefficient less than the first thermal expansion coefficient.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventor: Inwook Hwang
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Patent number: 10948711Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a mirror support including a first surface and a second surface, a mirror for reflecting a laser beam being formed on the first surface; a driving beam that includes a beam extending in a direction orthogonal to a predetermined axis and is connected to the mirror support; a driving source that is formed on a surface of the beam and causes the mirror support to rotate around the predetermined axis; and a rib formed on the second surface of the mirror support at a position corresponding to the mirror. The first surface of the mirror support includes an area where the mirror is formed and an exposed area where the first surface is exposed.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Kensuke Yamada
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Patent number: 10871645Abstract: A resonance system is disclosed, which includes a first resonance device configured to receive a drive signal and generate an output signal, a second resonance device configured to receive a control signal and generate the drive signal based on the received control signal, and a controller configured to generate the control signal based on the output signal such that a phase difference between the control signal applied to the second resonance device and the output signal of the first resonance device corresponds to a predetermined phase shift value.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2018Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Chuan Pu, Wenjun Liao
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Patent number: 10793418Abstract: A rotating apparatus includes a folded back elastically deformable portion including a first piezoelectric element for deforming a first elastically deformable portion and a second piezoelectric element for deforming a second elastically deformable portion, and the rotating apparatus rotates a movable portion around a predetermined rotation axis, by respectively applying first and second driving voltage signals to the first and second piezoelectric elements, to deform the first and second elastically deformable portions. First and second connection positions have a relationship of being relatively the same or symmetrical across all folded back structures. The first connection position is where a signal line of the first driving voltage signal and the first piezoelectric element are connected, and the second connection position is where a signal line of the second driving voltage signal and the second piezoelectric element are connected.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mizuki Shinkawa, Tsuyoshi Hashiguchi
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Patent number: 10770643Abstract: A MEMS actuator device of a piezoelectric type formed on a substrate, with a base unit including a base beam element having a main extension in a extension plane and a thickness in a thickness direction perpendicular to the extension plane, smaller than the main extension. A piezoelectric region extends over the beam element. An anchor region is rigid to the base beam element and to the substrate. A base constraint structure is connected to one end of the base beam element and is configured to allow a deformation of the base beam element in the extension plane and substantially reduce a deformation of the base beam element in the thickness direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Anna Alessandri
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Patent number: 10421099Abstract: A control circuit includes: an angular velocity calculator calculating an angular velocity of a mirror based on an angle of the mirror; a target angular velocity calculator calculating a target value of the angular velocity; a resonance frequency detector detecting a frequency of vibration of the mirror using the angular velocity and target value; a drive waveform generator generating a drive signal having sawtooth waveform; and an unnecessary vibration controller optimizing the drive signal to reduce an unnecessary vibration of the mirror based on the frequency of vibration of the mirror and providing piezoelectric elements with voltage according to the optimized drive signal. The resonance frequency detector detects the frequency of vibration of the mirror using a waveform and the target value of the angular velocity of the mirror during a duration in which the drive signal is transmitted to the unnecessary vibration controller from the drive waveform generator.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Shohei Morikawa, Hikaru Sasaki
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Patent number: 10394018Abstract: An optical scanning device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a mirror that has an optical reflection surface; a movable frame that supports the mirror; a pair of drive beams that support the movable frame from both sides; drive sources that are disposed on the drive beams and cause the movable frame to be swung around a predetermined axis that passes through the center of the optical reflection surface; and a fixed frame that supports the drive beams. A movable frame connection part, via which the movable frame and one of the drive beams are connected, is substantially arranged on a side opposite to a side on which a fixed frame connection part, via which the fixed frame and the one of the drive beams are connected, is arranged, with respect to the predetermined axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Tsukasa Yamada
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Patent number: 10371940Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator part which generates a driving force to rotate a mirror part about a rotation axis includes a first actuator part and a second actuator part having a both-end supported beam structure in which base end parts on both sides in an axial direction of the rotation axis are fixed. Upper electrodes and lower electrodes of the first actuator part and the second actuator part are divided to correspond to a stress distribution of principal stresses in a piezoelectric body during resonance mode vibration, a piezoelectric portion corresponding to positions of a first piezoelectric conversion part and third piezoelectric conversion parts and a piezoelectric portion corresponding to positions of second piezoelectric conversion parts and a fourth piezoelectric conversion part generate stresses in opposite directions.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Takayuki Naono
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Patent number: 10324283Abstract: A device disclosed herein includes a feedback measuring circuit to measure a signal flowing through a movable MEMS mirror. Processing circuitry determines a time at which the signal indicates that a capacitance of the movable MEMS mirror is substantially at a maximum capacitance. The processing circuitry also determines, over a window of time extending from the time at which the signal indicates that the capacitance of the movable MEMS mirror is substantially at the maximum to a given time, a total change in capacitance of the movable MEMS mirror compared to the maximum capacitance. The processor further determines the capacitance at the given time as a function of the total change in capacitance, and determines an opening angle of the movable MEMS mirror as a function of the capacitance at the given time.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2017Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: STMicroelectronics LtdInventor: Offir Duvdevany
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Patent number: 9291815Abstract: An optical reflection element includes a fixed portion having a pair of sides opposite to each other, a pair of first vibration portions having one ends each connected to respective one of the sides of the fixed portion, a pair of connection portions each connected to respective one of another ends of the first vibration portions, a movable frame rotatably supported by another ends of the first vibration portions via the connection portions, a pair of second vibration portions having one ends each connected to respective one of a pair of sides of the movable frame, and a mirror rotatably connected to another ends of the second vibration portions. The second vibration portions are configured to transmit a rotational vibration about a rotation axis to the mirror. The connection portions are connected to the movable frame in a direction of the rotation axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Horie, Soichiro Hiraoka, Shinsuke Nakazono, Kazuki Komaki
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Patent number: 9287488Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator device includes a vibrator and a driver to vibrate the vibrator. The vibrator includes a lower vibration layer configured to vibrate and an upper vibration layer coupled to an upper surface of the lower vibration layer and configured to vibrate together with the lower vibration layer. The driver includes an upper electrode layer on a lower surface of the lower vibration layer, a piezoelectric layer on a lower surface of the upper electrode layer, and a lower electrode layer on a lower surface of the piezoelectric layer. The lower vibration layer of the vibrator is made of organic material. The upper vibration layer is mainly made of inorganic material. The lower vibration layer has a smaller longitudinal elastic modulus than the upper vibration layer. The piezoelectric actuator device has a large resistance to disturbance vibrations and a large warping amount of the vibrator without increasing power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Soichiro Hiraoka, Kazuki Komaki, Shinsuke Nakazono, Akira Kurozuka, Toshiaki Horie
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Patent number: 9261669Abstract: A vibrating element having a meandering shape includes a vibrating beam and a piezoelectric actuator provided on the vibrating beam. The vibrating beam has a meandering-shape substantially formed into the plurality of continuous turned-down shapes. The vibrating beam includes the plurality of turned-down units and the plurality of coupling units coupled to the turned-down units, and the coupling units and the turned-down units are alternately disposed. The piezoelectric actuator includes a lower electrode provided on the vibrating beam, a piezoelectric film provided on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode provided on the piezoelectric film. A non-existence region where the piezoelectric film does not exist is provided in at least one of a neighborhood of a midpoint of an inner circumference of each of the turned-down units and a neighborhood of a curvature changing point in which a curvature of the inner circumference of each of the turned-down shapes changes.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Horie, Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Yuta Yamamoto, Kazuki Komaki
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Patent number: 9042689Abstract: An optical switch includes: a semiconductor substrate, including a first rotation part and a first torsion beam disposed at two ends of the first rotation part, where the first torsion beam is configured to drive the first rotation part to rotate; a microreflector, disposed on a surface of the first rotation part of the semiconductor substrate; a first latching structure, disposed on a surface of the first torsion beam, the first latching structure including a form self remolding (FSR) material layer and a thermal field source, where the thermal field source is configured to provide a thermal field for the FSR material layer and the FSR material layer is configured to undergo form remolding under the thermal field, so as to latch the first rotation part and the microreflector in a position after rotation.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.Inventors: Qinghua Chen, Haixia Zhang, Wengang Wu, Jun Zhao, Yunsheng Wen
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Patent number: 9025228Abstract: An optical reflecting device includes a fixed frame, a pair of first oscillation parts, a movable frame, a pair of second oscillation parts, and a mirror part. One-side ends of the first oscillation parts are connected to the inside of the fixed frame. The movable frame is connected to and held by the other-side ends of the pair of first oscillation parts to be pivotable. One-side ends of the pair of second oscillation parts are connected to the inside of the movable frame and the pair of second oscillation parts are disposed to be substantially perpendicular to the pair of first oscillation parts. The mirror part is connected to and held by the other-side ends of the pair of second oscillation parts to be pivotable. The first oscillation parts have a meandering shape in which a plurality of straight portions and a plurality of folded portions are formed, and a stepped structure portion is provided in part of the folded portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2015Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Horie, Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Shigeo Furukawa, Yuta Yamamoto, Kazuki Komaki, Masaki Tada
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Publication number: 20150116806Abstract: An optical scanner includes: a movable plate which includes a light reflection unit; a first torsion bar which oscillatably supports the movable plate around a first axis; a first displacement member which is connected to the first torsion bar; a second torsion bar which oscillatably supports the first displacement member around a second axis; a second displacement member which is connected to the second torsion bar; and an actuator which is installed on the second displacement member and applies a displacement to the second displacement member so as to apply torsional deformation and bending deformation to the second torsion bar, in which the first displacement member includes a frame member surrounding the movable plate, and a damper which has a smaller thickness than that of the frame member and extends in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the second torsion bar extends from the frame member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Yasushi MIZOGUCHI, Hisako KOJIMA
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Publication number: 20150062677Abstract: A micromechanical component and a method for producing a micromechanical component are described. The component has: a frame; a plate spring that is connected to the frame and that has a front side and a rear side facing away from the front side; a mirror element that is situated on the front side of the plate spring and is connected to the front side of the plate spring in such a way that the mirror element is suspended on the frame so as to be capable of displacement; and at least one piezoelectric strip that is connected to the rear side of the plate spring; the plate spring being elastically deformable through the application of an electrical voltage to the at least one piezoelectric strip in order to displace the mirror element.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Simon ARMBRUSTER, Helmut GRUTZECK, Frank SCHATZ, Joerg MUCHOW, Frederic Njikam NJIMONZIE, Johannes BAADER, Kerrin DOESSEL, Rainer STRAUB
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Publication number: 20150036202Abstract: Provided is an optical scanning device that can be downsized and improve the reading rate of a laser-type image reading system. This is an optical scanning device that includes a torsion beam, and a variable focus mirror that is supported by the torsion beam. Furthermore, the variable focus mirror is supported at two symmetrical positions with respect to the axis of rotation of the torsion beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventors: Naruki Suzuki, Takayuki Wakabayashi, Katsumi Arai
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Patent number: 8941905Abstract: An optical deflector is provided which can effectively suppress occurrence of a ringing phenomenon when a piezoelectric actuator is driven with a voltage signal of a sawtooth waveform. An optical deflector A1 includes a control circuit 20 that detects a mechanical natural frequency relevant to swinging about a second axis X2 of a movable part 9. The control circuit 20 applies a voltage signal of a sawtooth waveform from which the natural frequency and a harmonic component thereof are removed to outside piezoelectric actuators 10a and 10b. The control circuit 20 removes a frequency component, which is equal to or greater than a second threshold value G2 within a predetermined frequency range out of frequency components of a voltage signal output from a detecting piezoelectric body 62, from a drive voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takanori Aimono, Yoshiaki Yasuda
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Publication number: 20150021483Abstract: A vibrating mirror element includes a drive control portion configured to control the driving of a correction drive portion to keep the turning angle velocity of a mirror portion substantially constant by oscillating the mirror portion about an axis at a non-resonance frequency in a direction opposite to a direction in which a resonant drive portion oscillates the mirror portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventor: Manabu MURAYAMA
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Patent number: 8937757Abstract: In an optical deflector apparatus, an optical deflector chip includes a mirror, an actuator adapted to rock the mirror, and first pads on a front surface of the optical deflector chip and connected to the actuator. A first substrate includes second pads on a back surface of the first substrate, and an opening is formed in the first substrate. The front surface of the optical deflector chip is adhered to the back surface of the first substrate in such a way that the first pads of the optical deflector chip are in contact with respective ones of the second pads of the first substrate and the mirror opposes the opening. A back surface of said optical deflector chip is adhered to a front surface of a second substrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2012Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshiaki Yasuda
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Publication number: 20140355088Abstract: In an optical deflector including a mirror, a frame, torsion bars, first and second piezoelectric actuators coupled to both of the torsion bars, and first and second coupling bars, each of the first and second piezoelectric actuators is divided into first, second and third areas in accordance with a polarization polarity distribution obtained by performing a simulation upon the optical deflector where piezoelectric portions with no slits are hypothetically provided in the first and second piezoelectric actuators while a predetermined rocking operation is performed upon the mirror. First piezoelectric portions are formed in the first and third areas of the first piezoelectric actuator, and second piezoelectric portions are formed in the first and third areas of said second piezoelectric actuator. A first drive voltage applied to the first piezoelectric portions is opposite in phase to a second drive voltage applied to the second piezoelectric portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshiaki YASUDA, Masanao TANI
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Publication number: 20140355089Abstract: In a MEMS device (1), a first drive portion (40) is divided into a first drive section (41) and a second drive section (42). A second drive portion (50) is divided into a third drive section (51) and a fourth drive section (52). The first drive section, the second drive section, the third drive section, and the fourth drive section are controlled for driving independently of each other to incline an optical component (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventors: Manabu Murayama, Kouichi Kugo, Naoki Inoue, Hitoshi Fujii
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Patent number: 8873121Abstract: Disclosed are an optical probe using a sensor and a method for controlling the same. The optical probe includes: an optical converter to change a light path of light generated from a light source; a vibrator to convert an electrical signal into a mechanical motion; a transmission member to transmit the motion of the vibrator to the optical converter; a position sensor to sense the position of the optical converter; and a controller to adjust the position of the optical converter by controlling the vibrator based on the position sensed by the position sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2012Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: In Hee Shin, Hyun Seo Kang, Young Sun Kim, Hyoung Jun Park, Kwon Seob Lim, Jong Jin Lee
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Publication number: 20140293246Abstract: A vibrating mirror element includes a mirror portion including a reflection surface reflecting light, a supporting portion connected to the mirror portion, supporting the mirror portion to be capable of vibrating about an axis line, and a drive portion connected with the supporting portion, drivingly vibrating the mirror portion through the supporting portion. The mirror portion is formed such that at least the reflection surface is in a curved shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Seiji TAKEMOTO
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Patent number: 8847113Abstract: A laser processing system includes a first positioning system for imparting first relative movement of a beam path along a beam trajectory with respect to a workpiece, a processor for determining a second relative movement of the beam path along a plurality of dither rows, a second positioning system for imparting the second relative movement, and a laser source for emitting laser beam pulses. The system may compensate for changes in processing velocity to maintain dither rows at a predetermined angle. For example, the dither rows may remain perpendicular to the beam trajectory regardless of processing velocity. The processing velocity may be adjusted to process for an integral number of dither rows to complete a trench. A number of dither points in each row may be selected based on a width of the trench. Fluence may be normalized by adjusting for changes to processing velocity and trench width.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2011Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Unrath, Andrew Berwick, Alexander A. Myachin
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Publication number: 20140253993Abstract: A light field display device comprising an array of light field display elements, each display element comprising: a beam generator for generating an output beam of light; a radiance modulator for modulating the radiance of the beam over time; a focus modulator for modulating the focus of the beam over time; and a scanner for scanning the beam across a two-dimensional angular field, the scanner comprising a biaxial electromechanical scanning mirror comprising: a mirror, a platform, an inner frame, and an outer frame; the mirror attached to the platform via a post, the platform attached to the inner frame via a first pair of hinges, and the inner frame attached to the outer frame via a second pair of hinges; the first pair of hinges arranged substantially orthogonally to the second pair of hinges, thereby to allow biaxial movement of the mirror; the extent of the mirror larger than the extent of the inner frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Inventor: Paul Lapstun
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Patent number: 8792151Abstract: An optical reflection element includes a frame, a meandrous vibrating part having an outer end connected with an inside of the frame, and a mirror part supported by an inner end of the meandrous vibrating part. The meandrous vibrating part has a meandrous shape that includes curved portions and vibrating beams alternately connected with the curved portions. A curvature of respective one of the curved portions is smaller than a curvature of at least one of the curved portions which is located closer to the inner end than the respective one of the curved portions. This optical reflection element has a large deflection angle of the mirror part.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Shinsuke Nakazono, Toshiaki Horie, Soichiro Hiraoka, Yuta Yamamoto, Masaki Tada, Kazuki Komaki, Kiyomi Furukawa
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Patent number: 8790936Abstract: A wafer-level optical deflector assembly is formed on a front surface side of a wafer. Then, the front surface side of the wafer is etched by using elements of the wafer-level optical deflector assembly, to form a front-side dicing street. Then, a transparent substrate with an inside cavity is adhered to the front surface side of the wafer. Then, a second etching mask is formed on a back surface side of the wafer. Then, the back surface side of the wafer is etched to create a back-side dicing street. Then, an adhesive sheet with a ring-shaped rim is adhered to the back surface side of the wafer. Then, the transparent substrate is removed. Finally, the ring-shaped rim is expanded to widen the front-side dicing street and the back-side dicing street to pick up optical deflectors one by one from the wafer.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshiaki Yasuda
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Patent number: 8786926Abstract: An optical deflector includes a mirror, a movable frame for supporting the mirror, a support body surrounding the movable frame, and a first group of piezoelectric actuators and a second group of piezoelectric actuators alternating with the first group of piezoelectric actuators. A driver applies a first drive voltage having first saw-tooth waves to the first group of piezoelectric actuators, and applies a second drive voltage having second saw-tooth waves opposite in phase with the first saw-tooth waves to the second group of piezoelectric actuators. A difference in phase between the first and second saw-tooth waves is a predetermined value to suppress resonation of harmonic frequency components of the first and second drive voltages with a natural frequency of a mechanically-vibrating system of the mirror with respect to the axis thereof depending upon the piezoelectric actuators.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2012Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takanori Aimono
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Publication number: 20140198259Abstract: A vibrating mirror device includes a mirror portion, a driving portion including a detecting electrode that detects an amount of deformation of a piezoelectric element when driving the mirror portion by applying a voltage to cause the piezoelectric element to deform, an insulating layer formed on a top face of the piezoelectric element, and a first lead interconnection that is formed on the top face of the insulating layer, that contacts the detecting electrode, and that extends to a region outside of the driving portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Manabu Murayama, Kouichi Kugo, Naoki Inoue
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Patent number: 8746898Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a shutter mechanism to prevent light from reaching an image plane during calibration of light sources. The shutter mechanism may include liquid crystal material that exhibits an effective index of refraction that varies with applied voltage. During calibration, a light beam is shuttered, light sources are driven by calibration data, and optical power is measured.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2012Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Microvision, Inc.Inventors: Joshua O. Miller, Scott Woltman
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Patent number: 8717638Abstract: An optical scanner includes: a light reflecting section having light reflectivity; a movable section which includes the light reflecting section and can be displaced; two link sections connected to positions of ends of the movable section, the positions facing each other; a supporting section supporting the link sections; and a displacement providing section turning the two link sections, wherein each link section includes a turnable drive section, and a shaft section connecting the movable section and the drive section and bending in a thickness direction of the movable section by turning of the drive section.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yasushi Mizoguchi
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Patent number: 8693074Abstract: An apparatus is formed from a double active layer silicon on insulator (DSOI) substrate that includes first and second active layers separated by an insulating layer. An electrostatic comb drive is formed from the substrate to include a first comb formed from the first active layer and a second comb formed from the second active layer. The comb drive may be used to impart a tilting motion to a micro-mirror. The method of manufacturing provides comb teeth exhibiting an aspect ratio greater than 1:20, with an offset distance between comb teeth of the first and second combs that is less than about 6 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.Inventors: Moshe Medina, Pinchas Chaviv, Yaron Fein
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Publication number: 20140085694Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric layers, a plurality of electrodes between which each of the piezoelectric layers is placed so that the electrodes and the piezoelectric layers alternate with each other, and a substrate on which the plurality of piezoelectric layers and the plurality of electrodes are formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Hisanori AGA, Ayu Sugiyama
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Patent number: 8681404Abstract: An actuator includes: a pair of supporting beams to support an object from both sides thereof in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation; a pair of movable beams to sandwich the object and the pair of supporting beams from both sides in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation; a plurality of beams to sandwich the pair of movable frames from both sides thereof in the direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation and support the object; a resonant drive source to apply bending vibration to the pair of movable frames and drive the object around the axis of rotation when a resonant drive operation is performed; and a non-resonant drive source to apply bending vibration to the plurality of beams and tilt and drive the object around a second axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of rotation when a non-resonant drive operation is performed.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2013Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsukasa Yamada, Masato Ehara
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Publication number: 20140071507Abstract: In an optical deflector including a mirror, a support frame surrounding the mirror, at least one torsion bar arranged along an axis of the mirror having an end coupled to an outer circumference of the mirror, a pair of piezoelectric actuators arranged between the support frame and the torsion bar, and a piezoelectric sensor inserted between the torsion bar and one of the piezoelectric actuators, the piezoelectric sensor includes at least one piezoelectric sensor element having a width being smaller than two-fifths of a width of the one of the piezoelectric actuators and being arranged at a wide portion within two-fifths of the width from an inner end of the one of the piezoelectric actuators.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Takanori AIMONO
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Patent number: 8665507Abstract: The present invention is directed to a two-dimensional scanning arrangement for a laser vein-illumination device that includes a base and a frame connected to the base using at least one flexible hinge. The hinge allows the frame to move angularly with respect to the base in a first direction. The invention further includes a means for exciting angular oscillations of the frame at or near said frame's resonant frequency. An elastic torsional element having a proximal end rigidly attached to said frame and a distal end rigidly attached to a mirror is also included. The torsional element allows the mirror to move angularly with respect to the frame in a second direction, generally perpendicular to the first direction. There may also be a means for exciting the angular oscillations of the mirror. The invention also includes a device for optically inspecting confined spaces having one or more small access orifices.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Inventors: Vincent Luciano, Ron Goldman, Fred Wood
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Patent number: 8649078Abstract: A driver for driving an optical deflector includes a mirror, a movable frame for supporting the mirror, a support body surrounding the movable frame, and a first group of piezoelectric actuators and a second group of piezoelectric actuators alternating with the first group of piezoelectric actuators. A first drive voltage for the first group of piezoelectric actuators has first repeated waves each with a first rising period. A second drive voltage for the second group of piezoelectric actuators has second repeated waves each with a second falling period corresponding to the first rising period of the first drive voltage and a second rising period corresponding to the first falling period of the first drive voltage. Frequencies of the first and second repeated waves exclude natural frequencies of a mechanically-vibrating system of the mirror with respect to the axis thereof depending upon the piezoelectric actuators.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takanori Aimono, Yoshiaki Yasuda
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Patent number: 8649080Abstract: In a two-dimensional optical deflector having a mirror and a support body surrounding the mirror, first and second piezoelectric actuators of a meander-type are provided opposite to each other with respect to a first axis of the mirror. Each of the first second piezoelectric actuators includes a plurality of piezoelectric cantilevers folded at every piezoelectric and connected from the support body to the mirror. Each of the piezoelectric cantilevers are in parallel with the first axis. Each of the piezoelectric cantilevers includes first and second piezoelectric cantilever elements in parallel with each other combined by a substrate. The second piezoelectric cantilever elements are divided into a first group of piezoelectric cantilever elements and a second group of piezoelectric cantilever elements alternating with the first group of piezoelectric cantilever elements.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masanao Tani
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Patent number: 8649079Abstract: A mirror driving device of an aspect can include: a mirror part; a pair of inner actuator parts; a pair of outer actuator parts; fixing and supporting parts; an inner actuator driving voltage supply part; and an outer actuator driving voltage supply part. A driving voltage with a frequency inducing oscillation of the mirror part in a rotating direction of the mirror part associated with resonance drive of the corresponding actuator parts can be supplied from one driving voltage supply part of the inner actuator driving voltage supply part and the outer actuator driving voltage supply part to the inner actuator parts or the outer actuator parts corresponding to the one driving voltage supply part. Simultaneously with the resonance drive, a driving voltage for inclining the mirror part without exciting resonance drive can be supplied from the other driving voltage supply part to corresponding actuator parts.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Takayuki Naono
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Publication number: 20140016170Abstract: An actuator includes: a pair of supporting beams to support an object from both sides thereof in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation; a pair of movable beams to sandwich the object and the pair of supporting beams from both sides in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation; a plurality of beams to sandwich the pair of movable frames from both sides thereof in the direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation and support the object; a resonant drive source to apply bending vibration to the pair of movable frames and drive the object around the axis of rotation when a resonant drive operation is performed; and a non-resonant drive source to apply bending vibration to the plurality of beams and tilt and drive the object around a second axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of rotation when a non-resonant drive operation is performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Tsukasa YAMADA, Masato Ehara
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Publication number: 20140002877Abstract: An optical device includes a soft polymer film having a first and second surface. A first compliant electrode is connected to the first surface and a second compliant electrode is connected to the second surface. A rigid optical element is connected on the first and/or second surface or integrated into the polymer film.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: OPTOTUNE AGInventor: Manuel Aschwanden
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Patent number: 8610983Abstract: An actuator which tilts and drives an object to be driven around an axis of rotation includes: a pair of supporting beams arranged to support the object to be driven from both sides thereof in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation; a pair of movable beams arranged to sandwich the object to be driven and the pair of supporting beams from both sides in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation; a drive source arranged to apply bending vibration to the movable frames; and a pair of connection parts arranged to connect the movable frames and end portions of the supporting beams by a multiple-beam structure, convert the bending vibration into torsional vibration, and transmit the torsional vibration to the supporting beams.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsukasa Yamada, Masato Ehara
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Patent number: 8579443Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a scanned beam display, comprises a light source to generate a beam to be scanned and a scanning platform to scan the beam into an exit cone. The scanning platform receives the beam at a selected feed angle, and the scanning platform has a surface structure to redirect the exit cone at an exit angle that is less than the feed angle.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Microvision, Inc.Inventors: Joshua M. Hudman, Wyatt O. Davis, Mark O. Freeman, Mark P. Helsel, David Roy Bowman, Kelly D. Linden
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Patent number: 8570637Abstract: A micromechanical element includes a plate-shaped micromechanical functional element, an inner frame and an outer frame. Thereby, a curvature of a main face of the plate-shaped micromechanical functional element is variable. The inner frame encloses the plate-shaped micromechanical functional element along an edge of the main face and is connected to the plate-shaped micromechanical functional element via a plurality of connecting pieces. The outer frame is connected to the inner frame via at least two holding elements. The inner frame is connected to the plate-shaped micromechanical functional element and the outer frame, such that a first angle between the main face of the plate-shaped micromechanical functional element and a main face of the inner frame is smaller than a second angle between a main face of the outer frame and the main face of the inner frame, when the main face of the plate-shaped micromechanical functional element is in a bent state.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.Inventors: Holger Conrad, Denis Jung
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Publication number: 20130271804Abstract: A vibrating element having a meandering shape includes a vibrating beam and a piezoelectric actuator provided on the vibrating beam. The vibrating beam has a meandering-shape substantially formed into the plurality of continuous turned-down shapes. The vibrating beam includes the plurality of turned-down units and the plurality of coupling units coupled to the turned-down units, and the coupling units and the turned-down units are alternately disposed. The piezoelectric actuator includes a lower electrode provided on the vibrating beam, a piezoelectric film provided on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode provided on the piezoelectric film. A non-existence region where the piezoelectric film does not exist is provided in at least one of a neighborhood of a midpoint of an inner circumference of each of the turned-down units and a neighborhood of a curvature changing point in which a curvature of the inner circumference of each of the turned-down shapes changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiaki Horie, Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Yuta Yamamoto, Kazuki Komaki