Actuators for rotating an optical-path-folding-element with two, first and second, degrees of freedom in an extended rotation range around two respective rotation axes, folded cameras including such actuators and dual-cameras including a folded camera as above together with an upright camera.

A light path adjustment mechanism includes a carrier, an optical plate member, a support, a base, a first pair of transmission mechanical pieces, and a second pair of transmission mechanical pieces. One side of the support is provided with a first actuator, and one side of the base is provided with a second actuator. The first pair of transmission mechanical pieces are connected between the base and the support, and the second pair of transmission mechanical pieces are connected between the carrier and the support. The first pair of transmission mechanical pieces are entirely disposed on only one side of the carrier.

A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include creating, by a 3D printer contained within an enclosure, a part having a weight greater than or equal to 2,000 kilograms. A gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure atmospheric level. In some embodiments, a wheeled vehicle may transport the part from inside the enclosure, through an airlock, as the airlock operates to buffer between a gaseous environment within the enclosure and a gaseous environment outside the enclosure, and to a location exterior to both the enclosure and the airlock.

A method of additive manufacture suitable for large and high resolution structures is disclosed. The method may include sequentially advancing each portion of a continuous part in the longitudinal direction from a first zone to a second zone. In the first zone, selected granules of a granular material may be amalgamated. In the second zone, unamalgamated granules of the granular material may be removed. The method may further include advancing a first portion of the continuous part from the second zone to a third zone while (1) a last portion of the continuous part is formed within the first zone and (2) the first portion is maintained in the same position in the lateral and transverse directions that the first portion occupied within the first zone and the second zone.

An apparatus and a method for powder bed fusion additive manufacturing involve a multiple-chamber design achieving a high efficiency and throughput. The multiple-chamber design features concurrent printing of one or more print jobs inside one or more build chambers, side removals of printed objects from build chambers allowing quick exchanges of powdered materials, and capabilities of elevated process temperature controls of build chambers and post processing heat treatments of printed objects. The multiple-chamber design also includes a height-adjustable optical assembly in combination with a fixed build platform method suitable for large and heavy printed objects.

A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include restricting, by an enclosure, an exchange of gaseous matter between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure. The method may further include running multiple machines within the enclosure. Each of the machines may execute its own process of additive manufacture. While the machines are running, a gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure at or below a limiting oxygen concentration for the interior.

Systems and methods are provided for acquiring images of objects using an imaging device and a controllable mirror. The controllable mirror can be controlled to change a field of view for the imaging device, including so as to acquire images of different locations, of different parts of an object, or with different degrees of zoom.

A method includes fabricating a mirror system that includes a dual axis gimbal, a mirror, and a mirror substrate that are formed together as an integral component using an additive manufacturing process. The method also includes forming multiple first gaps in the mirror system using a subtractive manufacturing process, where the first gaps extend through the mirror system in a first direction. The method further includes forming multiple second gaps in the mirror system using the subtractive manufacturing process, where the second gaps extend through the mirror system in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first gaps and the second gaps separate the gimbal into a top portion and a bottom portion.

The disclosure provides a system for transmitting and receiving optical signals. The system includes a first mirror of a communication device, a first mirror actuator configured to control a pointing direction of the first mirror, a second mirror of the communication device, a second mirror actuator configured to control a pointing direction of the second mirror, and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to direct the second mirror actuator to move the second mirror to track a signal within a zone in an area of coverage of the communication device and meanwhile keep the first mirror stationary at a first angle. The one or more processors are also configured to direct the first mirror actuator to move the first mirror to a second angle in a direction of motion of the signal when the signal reaches an edge of the zone and meanwhile move the second mirror to a default angle.

A method and an apparatus of a powder bed fusion additive manufacturing system that enables a quick change in the optical beam delivery size and intensity across locations of a print surface for different powdered materials while ensuring high availability of the system. A dynamic optical assembly containing a set of lens assemblies of different magnification ratios and a mechanical assembly may change the magnification ratios as needed. The dynamic optical assembly may include a transitional and rotational position control of the optics to minimize variations of the optical beam sizes across the print surface.