An optical module includes a mirror unit having a movable mirror portion, a magnet portion configured to generate a magnetic field acting on the movable mirror portion, and a package accommodating the magnet portion. The magnet portion has a Halbach structure including a first magnet applied with a force in a first direction, and a second magnet applied with a force in a second direction. The package has a bottom walls portion, a side wall portion, and a restriction portion configured to restrict movement of the second magnet in the second direction. The movable mirror portion is disposed in a space formed by the restriction portion.

A LIDAR system or a vehicle may include at least one processor configured to perform a method to detect objects in a field of view. The method may include controlling at least one LIDAR light source in a manner enabling light flux of the at least one LIDAR light source to vary over a plurality of scans of a field of view; receiving, from a group of detectors, a plurality of input signals indicative of reflections of light projected from the field of view; detecting a possible existence of an object in the background area based on first input signals associated with a first scanning cycle; detecting a possible existence of the object based on second input signals associated with a second scanning cycle; and aggregating the first and second input signals to detect an existence of the object at an object-existence-certainty level higher than a threshold.

MEMS devices include a suspended element connected to a fixed part of a substrate by one or more flexures, wherein the one or more flexures are configured to permit movement of the suspended element relative to a fixed part of the substrate. An actuator coupled to the suspended element and a damping structure coupled to the suspended element extends into a gap between the suspended element and the fixed part of the substrate. One or more fluid confinement structures are configured to permit movement of the damping structure within a limited portion of the gap and to confine a viscoelastic fluid to the limited portion of the gap.

In some embodiments, a LIDAR system may include at least one processor configured to control at least one light source for projecting light toward a field of view and receive from at least one first sensor first signals associated with light projected by the at least one light source and reflected from an object in the field of view, wherein the light impinging on the at least one first sensor is in a form of a light spot having an outer boundary. The processor may further be configured to receive from at least one second sensor second signals associated with light noise, wherein the at least one second sensor is located outside the outer boundary; determine, based on the second signals received from the at least one second sensor, an indicator of a magnitude of the light noise; and determine, based on the indicator the first signals received from the at least one first sensor and, a distance to the object.

A layered hinge design providing an improved shock and vibration performance for a two-axis MEMS Micromirror featuring combs drive actuation with independent drive and control for rotating the Micromirror along two-axis of rotation. The two-axis MEMS Micromirror is fabricated using Double SOI wafer as the primary starting material. In addition, a plurality of actuation voltages are driven via conductive layers forming one or more hinges allowing the Micromirror to rotate along the two-axis of rotation. The layered hinge design achieves set angles that are highly stable over time and provides a robust and reliable micromirror that is easy to drive with multiple DC voltages, and moderately insensitive to temperature, shock and vibration.

An optical module includes a mirror unit having a movable mirror portion, a magnet portion configured to generate a magnetic field acting on the movable mirror portion, and a package accommodating the magnet portion. The magnet portion has a Halbach structure including a first magnet applied with a force in a first direction, and a second magnet applied with a force in a second direction. The package has a bottom walls portion, a side wall portion, and a restriction portion configured to restrict movement of the second magnet in the second direction. The movable mirror portion is disposed in a space formed by the restriction portion.

An optical module includes a mirror unit having a movable mirror portion, a magnet portion configured to generate a magnetic field acting on the movable mirror portion, and a package accommodating the magnet portion. The magnet portion has a Halbach structure including a first magnet applied with a force in a first direction, and a second magnet applied with a force in a second direction. The package has a bottom walls portion, a side wall portion, and a restriction portion configured to restrict movement of the second magnet in the second direction. The movable mirror portion is disposed in a space formed by the restriction portion.

Systems and methods for measuring a fundamental mode vibrational spectrum of materials and substances in the Mid-IR spectral range of 2.5 μm to 14 μm wavelength. are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a Mid-infrared absorption spectrometer (MIRAS) system includes an infrared Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) single element emitter light source. The light source is electrically pulsed and emits electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range from 2.5 μm to 14 μm and has an integral energy concentrating optic to provide energy for a spectral absorption process. The system includes a scanning high-efficiency infrared spectral grating with self-calibrating feature, configured so that incident energy having absorption information for the spectral absorption process of a sample is within a predefined threshold of a grating blaze angle. The system also includes a single-element thermal detector to receive output energy having the absorption information from the infrared spectral grating.

A displacement enlarging mechanism includes a substrate, a fixing portion provided at the substrate, an actuator coupled to the fixing portion, a beam extending in a direction substantially parallel to an upper surface of the substrate and having a base end side has been coupled to the actuator and coupled to the fixing portion and having folded back in a direction crossing the upper surface of the substrate, and a coupling portion and a mirror coupled to a folded-back portion formed by folding back of the beam. The actuator drives the beam to push or pull the beam from the base end side in the direction of the folded-back portion.

The present invention relates to a scanner provided with a vibratory beam on or in which is formed a phased array intended to extract according to either one of two parallel faces of the beam a light radiation that could be emitted by a light source.