Patents by Inventor Faouzi Khechana

Faouzi Khechana has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150009549
    Abstract: A MEMS micro-mirror assembly (250, 300, 270, 400) comprising, a MEMS device (240) which comprises a MEMS die (241) and a magnet (231); a flexible PCB board (205) to which the MEMS device (240) is mechanically, and electrically, connected; wherein the flexible PCB board (205) further comprises a first extension portion (205b) which comprises a least one electrical contact (259a,b) which is useable to electrically connect the MEMS micro-mirro rassembly (250, 300, 270, 400) to another electrical component). There is further provided a projection system comprising such a MEMS micro-mirror assembly (250, 300, 270, 400).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Faouzi Khechana, Nicolas Abele
  • Publication number: 20140354085
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an actuator comprising, a movable member, the movable member comprising a support frame which is configured such that it can oscillate about a first oscillation axis and a mirror which is fixed to the support frame such that oscillation of the support frame will effect oscillation of the mirror; an coil, which cooperates with the support frame; one or more boundary portions provided between the support frame and the mirror which reduce the influence of warp transmitted from an edge of the support frame to the mirror, as the support frame oscillates about the first oscillation axis; wherein the support frame further comprises one or more cut-out regions, wherein the one or more cut-out regions are configured to be parallel to at least a portion of the coil, to reduce stress on the coil as the support frame oscillates about the first oscillation axis and/or to reduce the temperature dependence of the properties of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Julien Gamet, Faouzi Khechana
  • Patent number: 8864316
    Abstract: Optical MEMS scanning micro-mirror comprising: —a movable scanning micro-mirror (101) pivotally connected to a MEMS body (102) substantially surrounding the lateral sides of the micro-mirror; —an transparent prism (500, 600) substantially covering the reflection side of the micro-mirror; —wherein said prism has its outer face non-parallel to the micro-mirror neutral plane N-N, thereby providing a dual anti-speckle and anti-reflection effect, namely against parasitic light. The invention also provides the corresponding micro-projection system and method for reducing speckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Lemoptix SA
    Inventors: Lucio Kilcher, Nicolas Abele, Faouzi Khechana
  • Publication number: 20140016169
    Abstract: A reflective device comprising, a comprising, a movable element which comprises a reflective surface, wherein the movable element can oscillate about at least one oscillation axis to scan light; one or more holder elements which co-operate with the movable element to hold the movable element in a manner which will allow the movable element to oscillate about the at least one oscillation axis to scan light, wherein the one or more holder elements are configured to define a region which can receive at least a portion of the movable element as the movable element oscillates when the reflective device is mounted on a surface; a magnetic element which is secured to a fixed part of the reflective device; one or more electrically conductive means positioned on the movable element so that one or more electrically conductive means can operatively co-operate with a magnetic field provided by the magnetic element to effect oscillation of the moveable element, wherein the one or more electrically conductive means are com
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Nicolas Abele, Faouzi Khechana, Julien Gamet
  • Publication number: 20130278907
    Abstract: Optical MEMS scanning micro-mirror comprising: —a movable scanning micro-mirror (101), being pivotally connected to a MEMS body (102) substantially surrounding the lateral sides of the micro-mirror, —a transparent window (202) substantially covering the reflection side of the micro-mirror; —wherein a piezo-actuator assembly (500) and a layer of deformable transparent material (501) are provided on the outer portion of said window (202); —the piezo-actuator assembly (500) being arranged at the periphery of the layer of transparent material (501); —said piezo-actuator assembly (500) and transparent material (501) cooperating so that when actuated, the piezo-actuator assembly (500) causes micro-deformation of the transparent material (501), thereby providing an anti-speckle effect. The invention also provides the corresponding micro-projection system and method for reducing speckle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: LEMOPTIX SA
    Inventors: Nicolas Abele, Faouzi Khechana
  • Publication number: 20130242275
    Abstract: Optical MEMS scanning micro-mirror comprising:—a movable scanning micro-mirror (101) pivotally connected to a MEMS body (102) substantially surrounding the lateral sides of the micro-mirror;—an transparent prism (500, 600) substantially covering the reflection side of the micro-mirror;—wherein said prism has its outer face non-parallel to the micro-mirror neutral plane N-N, thereby providing a dual anti-speckle and anti-reflection effect, namely against parasitic light. The invention also provides the corresponding micro-projection system and method for reducing speckle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: LEMOPTIX SA
    Inventors: Lucio Kilcher, Nicolas Abele, Faouzi Khechana
  • Publication number: 20130235354
    Abstract: A micro-projection system for projecting light on a projection surface (104), comprising: at least one coherent light source (101); optical elements (102, 108, 109) in the optical path between said coherent light source and said projection surface; said optical elements including at least one reflective member (102) actuated by a drive signal for deviating light from said light source so as to scan a projected image onto said projecting surface; said optical elements including at least one pixel displacement unit (106) for providing a displacement signal synchronized with the image scanning signal so as to reduce speckle onto said projecting surface. The corresponding method for reducing speckle is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: LEMOPTIX SA
    Inventors: Lucio Kilcher, Faouzi Khechana, Nicolas Abele
  • Patent number: 8450132
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a micromirror in a wafer, including the steps of: depositing and etching layers forming two arms; etching the wafer such that in the back face only a thin portion of the wafer remains in the region of formation of the micromirror and the arms; performing an anisotropic etch, such that the thin portion remains only in the areas of the micromirror and the arms; and performing an isotropic etch to remove the thin portions under the arms, the etching step for forming the arms being performed following their shape and so as to form holes traversing the arms, the holes being positioned at edges of the region separating the micromirror and the wafer on both the side of the micromirror and the side of the portions of the wafer remaining after the anisotropic etching step. The invention also concerns the micromirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Nicolas Abele, Faouzi Khechana, Philippe Renaud
  • Publication number: 20130063706
    Abstract: A micro-projection system for projecting light on a projection surface, comprising: —at least one coherent light source (101); —optical elements (102, 108, 109) in the optical path between said coherent light source and said projection surface; —said optical elements including at least one reflective member (102) actuated by a drive signal for deviating light from said light source so as to scan a projected image onto said projecting surface; —said optical elements including at least one vibrating element (102) actuated by a vibrating signal so as to reduce speckle onto said projecting surface. The corresponding method for reducing speckle is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: LEMOPTIX SA
    Inventors: Lucio Kilcher, Nicolas Abelé, Faouzi Khechana
  • Patent number: 8267532
    Abstract: An optical micro-projection system has at least one light source (401), at least one mirror (200) based on MEMS technology for deviating light from said light source, at least one beam splitter (403), and at least one wave plate (400). Each component has parallelepiped profiles with contact faces (500) on at least one side. Mutual alignment of at least two of the components is provided by mutual direct contact between reference contact faces (500) of the components. The architecture enables avoiding the use of dynamic optical assembly methods and to minimize the light loss within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Lemoptix SA
    Inventors: Faouzi Khechana, Lucio Kilcher
  • Publication number: 20120120375
    Abstract: An optical micro-projection system comprising the following components: at least one laser light source (200, 400, 402, 600); at least one movable mirror (102, 103, 203) for deviating light from said light source to allow generation of images on a projection surface (104, 301, 303, 306, 603); a self mixing module for measurement of the distance (604) between the projection source and a projection surface, said self mixing module comprising:—at least one photodiode (401, 601) for monitoring the light emission power of the laser light source;—an optical power variation counter for counting optical power variations (605); successive displacements of said mirror allowing the self mixing module providing successive projection distance measurements of a plurality of points of said projection surface. A projection method for optical micro-projection system and a distance measurement method are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Lucio Kilcher, Faouzi Khechana
  • Publication number: 20110304828
    Abstract: An optical micro-projection system has at least one light source (401), at least one mirror (200) based on MEMS technology for deviating light from said light source, at least one beam splitter (403), and at least one wave plate (400). Each component has parallelepiped profiles with contact faces (500) on at least one side. Mutual alignment of at least two of the components is provided by mutual direct contact between reference contact faces (500) of the components. The architecture enables avoiding the use of dynamic optical assembly methods and to minimize the light loss within the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: Lemoptix SA
    Inventors: Faouzi Khechana, Lucio Kilcher
  • Publication number: 20110217804
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a micromirror in a wafer, including the steps of: depositing and etching layers forming two arms; etching the wafer such that in the back face only a thin portion of the wafer remains in the region of formation of the micromirror and the arms; performing an anisotropic etch, such that the thin portion remains only in the areas of the micromirror and the arms; and performing an isotropic etch to remove the thin portions under the arms, the etching step for forming the arms being performed following their shape and so as to form holes traversing the arms, the holes being positioned at edges of the region separating the micromirror and the wafer on both the side of the micromirror and the side of the portions of the wafer remaining after the anisotropic etching step. The invention also concerns the micromirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: Nicolas Abele, Faouzi Khechana, Philippe Renaud