An optical sensor includes a radiation part that irradiates an object to be measured with line shaped light; and an imaging part that receives line shaped light reflected by the object to be measured and captures an image of the object to be measured in a predetermined exposure time. The radiation part includes a light generation part that generates the line shaped light, and a light vibration part that irradiates the object to be measured with the line shaped light generated by the light generation part while vibrating the line shaped light in a length direction during the exposure time.

Rotatable mirror assemblies and light detection and ranging systems containing rotatable mirror assemblies are described herein. An example rotatable mirror assembly may include (1) a housing having a top end, a bottom end, and a longitudinal axis intersecting the top and bottom ends, and (2) a set of reflective surfaces, where each reflective surface in the set is coupled to the top end of the housing and the bottom end of the housing such that each reflective surface possesses limited freedom of movement with respect to the housing.

Rotatable mirror assemblies and light detection and ranging systems containing rotatable mirror assemblies are described herein. An example rotatable mirror assembly may include (1) a housing having a top end, a bottom end, and a longitudinal axis intersecting the top and bottom ends, and (2) a set of reflective surfaces, where each reflective surface in the set is coupled to the top end of the housing and the bottom end of the housing such that each reflective surface possesses limited freedom of movement with respect to the housing.

A laser scanning sensor includes a laser light-emitting element to emit a pulse laser beam, a light-receiving element to receive a returned reflected beam, a rotary polygon mirror having a plurality of reflecting surfaces to change the travelling direction of the pulse laser beam, and a drive motor to rotate the rotary polygon mirror in a predetermined direction. The sensor also includes an encoder to detect the rotation status of the rotary polygon mirror and to generate a reference signal and trigger signals for the respective reflecting surfaces, and a control/calculation unit to produce a projection pulse train in a specific pulse cycle after a delay time from the generation of a trigger signal for each of the reflecting surfaces, and to acquire distance information per pulse, based on the time after the start of emission of the pulse laser beam before the return of the reflected beam.

A laser scanning sensor includes a laser light-emitting element to emit a pulse laser beam, a light-receiving element to receive a returned reflected beam, a rotary polygon mirror having a plurality of reflecting surfaces to change the travelling direction of the pulse laser beam, and a drive motor to rotate the rotary polygon mirror in a predetermined direction. The sensor also includes an encoder to detect the rotation status of the rotary polygon mirror and to generate a reference signal and trigger signals for the respective reflecting surfaces, and a control/calculation unit to produce a projection pulse train in a specific pulse cycle after a delay time from the generation of a trigger signal for each of the reflecting surfaces, and to acquire distance information per pulse, based on the time after the start of emission of the pulse laser beam before the return of the reflected beam.

According to one embodiment, a light source includes a plurality of light-emitting elements each including one or more surface-emitting lasers; and a plurality of detecting elements located on a same substrate as the light-emitting elements. The detecting elements individually detect quantities of output light of the light-emitting elements.

A display system includes a display screen, a light source to generate a light beam to be modulated in accordance with image data, and a beam scanning module to receive the light beams and to direct the light beam onto an associated display region of the display screen. The beam scanning module includes a resonant scanning mirror configured to scan the light beam along a first scanning direction across the associated display region, and a polygon scanning mirror to scan the light beam along a second scanning direction across the associated display region.

A re-scan microscope for forming an image of a sample is disclosed. The system comprises an illumination optical system for directing, and optionally focusing, illumination light at the sample herewith providing an illumination light spot at the sample. The illumination light spot causes emission light from the sample. The microscope system further comprises a detection optical system for focusing at least part of the emission light onto an imaging plane of an imaging system herewith causing an emission light spot on the imaging plane. The microscope system also comprises a rotatable element for, when rotating, moving the illumination light spot over and/or through the sample and simultaneously moving the emission light spot over said imaging plane of the imaging system. The rotatable element comprises at least two reflective surfaces.

A re-scan microscope for forming an image of a sample is disclosed. The system comprises an illumination optical system for directing, and optionally focusing, illumination light at the sample herewith providing an illumination light spot at the sample. The illumination light spot causes emission light from the sample. The microscope system further comprises a detection optical system for focusing at least part of the emission light onto an imaging plane of an imaging system herewith causing an emission light spot on the imaging plane. The microscope system also comprises a rotatable element for, when rotating, moving the illumination light spot over and/or through the sample and simultaneously moving the emission light spot over said imaging plane of the imaging system. The rotatable element comprises at least two reflective surfaces.

A light deflection system for a LIDAR system on an aerial vehicle and method of use are herein disclosed. The light deflection system includes a light deflection element having a first end and a second end. The light deflection element is rotatable and balanced about an axis extending from the first end to the second end. The light deflection element has a first side with a first reflective surface at a first angle in relation to the axis and deflects light in a nadir direction relative to the aerial vehicle. The light deflection element also has a second side having a second reflective surface at a second angle in relation to the axis. The first angle is different from the second angle and configured to deflective light at an oblique angle relative to the aerial vehicle.