A micromechanical light deflection device. The device includes a movable beam-deflecting element that is designed to deflect an input light beam into an output light beam, and a static beam-deflecting device having a plurality of differently oriented surfaces that are situated in the beam path of light for the movable beam-deflecting element in such a way that an input light beam for the movable beam-deflecting element and/or an output light beam from the movable beam-deflecting element passes through two of the differently oriented surfaces of the static beam-deflecting device.

Systems and techniques associated light detection and ranging (LIDAR) applications are described. In one representative aspect, techniques can be used to implement a sensor device. The sensor device includes an electromagnetic energy emitter module positioned to emit an electromagnetic energy beam directed to one or more objects, a beam steering module positioned to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy beam that is reflected from the one or more objects, and an array of receiver units positioned to convert the portion of the electromagnetic energy beam into multiple electrical signals. The beam steering module is further positioned to direct the portion of the electromagnetic energy beam to the array of receiver units, with individual receiver units positioned to detect multiple optical signals from the portion of the electromagnetic energy beam and convert the multiple optical signals into electrical signals.

A laser scanner determines the direction and distance of one or more targets by emitting two substantially parallel beams and receiving respective return beams. Components for handling the received beams are affixed to a monolithic block to ensure fixed relative placement. The direction of the target is determined using an optical encoder to reduce the timing window for interpolation to a fraction of the time it takes for the scanner to make a full revolution. A PLL trained by recent segment timing further improves accuracy and precision. A detection algorithm adapts detection thresholds for the different signatures of return signals depending on the distance to the target. Distance calculations are also adjusted for thermal expansion of the scanner components by including a temperature-variant thermometer output signal in the distance calculation algorithm.

Systems and methods are disclosed for generating an elastic stiffness map for a volume of an ophthalmic tissue of an eye of a patient. Exemplary systems and methods involve a laser assembly, an optical scanning assembly, an objective lens assembly, a beam control assembly, an eye camera assembly, and a Brillouin spectrometer assembly. Systems and methods can operate to transmit x,y coordinate scan control signals to the optical scanning assembly, transmit z coordinate scan control signals to the objective lens assembly, and generate the elastic stiffness map for the volume of the ophthalmic tissue of the eye based on Brillouin signals generated by a Brillouin spectrometer of the Brillouin spectrometer assembly.

An optical steering mechanism includes first and second Risley prisms that each comprise spatially variant photonic crystals. A support structure positions the first and second Risley prisms in parallel alignment with at least a selected one of the first and second axially rotatable to the other one to steer a light path through the optical steering mechanism.

The light scanning apparatus forms a plurality of primary scanning lines at different positions in a secondary scanning direction by a light beam, adjusts scanning range of the primary scanning lines so that first primary scanning lines scan a larger range in a primary scanning direction than the remaining primary scanning lines, by making the beam forming the first primary scanning lines pass through an optical member with refractive power. The optical member preferably includes a first optical element to refract a beam passing through a first primary scanning range more strongly to a direction of a first end of the primary scanning lines at closer positions to the first end, and a second optical element to refract a beam passing through a second primary scanning range more strongly to a direction of a second end of the primary scanning lines at closer positions to the second end.

A scanning module may include a main body holder having an accommodation cavity; a first optical assembly within the accommodation cavity and rotatably attached to the main body holder; a first drive assembly connected to the first optical assembly and the main body holder, respectively, and being configured to drive the first optical assembly to rotate relative to the main body holder; a second optical assembly rotatably disposed at one end of the main body holder; and a second drive assembly on a side of the second optical assembly facing the main body holder and connected to the second optical assembly and the main body holder, respectively, and configured to drive the second optical assembly to rotate relative to the main body holder.

The invention provides a prism module and a folded lens. The prism module includes a housing having an accommodation cavity, a prism assembly, a rotation shaft for rotationally connecting the prism assembly and the housing, a driving assembly for driving the prism assembly to rotate around the rotation shaft and a restoring assembly for resetting the prism assembly. The restoring assembly includes a first magnet and a second magnet. The first magnet is fixed on the prism assembly, and the second magnet is fixed on the housing and is set opposite to the first magnet with distance. The prism module of the invention can realize the resetting of the prism assembly, with small space occupation and convenient for assembly.

An electromagnetic radiation steering mechanism An electromagnetic radiation steering mechanism configured to steer electromagnetic radiation to address a specific location within a two-dimensional field of view comprising a first optical element having an associated first actuator configured to rotate the first optical element about a first rotational axis to change a first coordinate of a first steering axis in the two-dimensional field of view, a second optical element having an associated second actuator configured to rotate the second optical element about a second rotational axis to change a second coordinate of a second steering axis in the two-dimensional field of view, and an electromagnetic radiation manipulator optically disposed between the first and second optical elements. A first angle is defined between the first and second rotational axes and a second angle is defined between the first and second steering axes. The electromagnetic radiation manipulator is configured to introduce a difference between the first angle and the second angle.

An optical module including a base and a rotating structure is provided. The rotating structure includes a frame and an optical element. The frame has at least one shaft portion. The frame is connected to the base through the shaft portion, and is configured to oscillate relative to the base along a rotation axis by taking the shaft portion as a rotating shaft. The optical element is disposed within the frame. The rotation axis passes through a center of gravity of the rotating structure. In addition, a projector having the optical module is also provided. The invention can prevent the rotating structure of the optical module from having an excessive rotational inertia.