B81B3/0043

Mems scanner suspension system enabling high frequency and high mechanical tilt angle for large mirrors
11662570 · 2023-05-30 · ·

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device including an oscillator structure configured to oscillate about a rotation axis; a frame that is rotationally fixed, the frame including a frame recess within which the oscillator structure is suspended; and a suspension assembly mechanically coupled to and between the oscillator structure and the frame, the suspension assembly configured to suspend the oscillator structure within the frame recess. The suspension assembly includes a central support beam that extends lengthwise along the rotation axis, the central support beam being mechanically coupled to and between the oscillator structure and the frame; a first outer support beam mechanically coupled to the oscillator structure and laterally displaced from the central support beam in a first direction orthogonal to the rotation axis; and at least one first interior support beam directly coupled to and between the central support beam and the first outer support beam.

Light deflector, optical scanning system, image projection device, image forming apparatus, and lidar device

A light deflector includes a stationary part; a movable unit having a reflecting surface; a connecting part between the movable unit and the stationary part; a drive unit disposed on a first surface of the connecting part, the drive unit configured to deform the connecting part to oscillate the movable unit; and a rib disposed on a second surface of the connecting part, the second surface being an opposite surface of the first surface. The rib includes a portion whose longitudinal direction is orthogonal to a direction at which the connecting part is bent.

Optical element

An optical reflecting device includes a mirror part, a pair of joints, a pair of vibration parts, a plurality of driving parts, and a fixed part. Each of the joints has a first end connected to respective one the facing positions to each other on the mirror part and a second end opposite to the first end, and extends along a first axis. Each of the vibration parts has a central portion connected to the second end of respective one of the joints. A plurality of driving parts is disposed in each of the pair of vibration parts, and rotates the mirror part. Both ends of each of the pair of vibration parts are connected to the fixed part. The beam width defined as the length of each of the joints in a direction orthogonal to the first axis is greater than the beam width of each of the pair of vibration parts.

MOVABLE DEVICE, DISTANCE MEASUREMENT DEVICE, IMAGE PROJECTION APPARATUS, VEHICLE, AND MOUNT

A movable device includes a movable portion including a reflecting surface; a pair of drive beams to support the movable portion rotatably around a predetermined rotation axis with the movable portion disposed between the pair of drive beams; and a support portion configured to support the pair of drive beams. The support portion has a light passing portion on each of both sides of the movable portion in a direction intersecting with the rotation axis in a plane along the reflecting surface in a state in which the movable portion is not rotated, the light passing portion allowing light reflected by the reflecting surface to pass through the light passing portion.

MEMS SCANNER SUSPENSION SYSTEM ENABLING HIGH FREQUENCY AND HIGH MECHANICAL TILT ANGLE FOR LARGE MIRRORS
20210396990 · 2021-12-23 · ·

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device including an oscillator structure configured to oscillate about a rotation axis; a frame that is rotationally fixed, the frame including a frame recess within which the oscillator structure is suspended; and a suspension assembly mechanically coupled to and between the oscillator structure and the frame, the suspension assembly configured to suspend the oscillator structure within the frame recess. The suspension assembly includes a central support beam that extends lengthwise along the rotation axis, the central support beam being mechanically coupled to and between the oscillator structure and the frame; a first outer support beam mechanically coupled to the oscillator structure and laterally displaced from the central support beam in a first direction orthogonal to the rotation axis; and at least one first interior support beam directly coupled to and between the central support beam and the first outer support beam.

MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) SCANNER HAVING ACTUATOR PAIRS CANTILEVERED ADJACENT TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF A SCANNING MIRROR
20210396995 · 2021-12-23 ·

A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) scanner having actuator pairs adjacent to sides of a scanning mirror. Actuator pairs include individual actuators that are physically located adjacent to opposite sides of the scanning mirror and that, upon activation, induce angular rotation into the scanning mirror. Torsional beam flexures suspend the scanning mirror from a frame structure and facilitate rotation of the scanning mirror about a rotational axis. During operation of the MEMS scanner, a drive signal may be applied to the actuator pair to cause each individual actuator, of the actuator pair, to deform in unison, thereby generating some degree of tip deflection. Since the torsional beam flexures are connected to the tips of the actuators via the lever arms, this tip deflection serves as actuator stroke that induces torsional deformation into the torsional beam flexure—thereby causing rotation of the scanning mirror about the rotational axis.

THIN FILM ACTUATOR HAVING TRANSVERSELY ORIENTED STRUCTURAL STIFFENERS TO INCREASE ACTUATOR STROKE

A thin film actuator having transversely oriented structural stiffeners that serve to increase actuation stroke that results from longitudinal curvature. The thin film actuator may be deployed within electromechanical devices such that an actuatable deflection of a tip of the actuator plate produces the actuation stroke. The thin film actuator may include an actuator plate affixed to a substantially rigid frame structure. The actuator plate protrudes along a longitudinal axis away from the frame structure such that the actuator plate is cantilevered from the frame structure by some distance along this longitudinal axis. The thin film actuator includes a piezoelectric film on a surface of the actuator plate. Activation of the piezoelectric film generates tensile stress or compressive stress at the surface, thereby inducing a bending moment that causes the actuator plate to undergo longitudinal curvature and some lesser degree of transverse curvature.

Movable reflective device
11360300 · 2022-06-14 · ·

An actuator includes an arm starting end having a piezoelectric element, a first end of the arm starting end connected to an inner side of a fixed frame, the arm starting end extending in a straight line, along a Y-axis direction through a gap between the fixed frame and a mirror surface, from the first end to beyond a middle point of an outer side of the mirror surface; an arm terminating end including a first end connected to the middle point of the outer side of the mirror surface, the arm terminating end extending parallel to the arm starting end; and an arm relay that connects a second end of the arm starting end to a second end of the arm terminating end, the arm relay being formed in a zigzag.

Display device with compact scanning mirror

A display device includes a light source, a support structure, and a scanning mirror system. The scanning mirror system includes a mirror, a first anchor located at a first lateral side of the scanning mirror system, a second anchor located at a second lateral side of the scanning mirror system, and a flexure. A first portion of the flexure extends from the first anchor toward a first longitudinal end and turns to meet a first end of the mirror. A second portion extends from the second anchor toward a second longitudinal end and turns to meet to a second end of the mirror opposite the first end. An actuator system is configured to actuate the flexure to thereby vary a scan angle of the mirror.

COMB-DRIVEN MEMS RESONANT SCANNER WITH FULL-CIRCUMFERENTIAL RANGE AND LARGE OUT-OF-PLANE TRANSLATIONAL DISPLACEMENT
20220155584 · 2022-05-19 ·

A scanning assembly for an optical instrument includes a reflector and a folded-beam spring assembly coupled to the reflector for deflecting the reflector for beam scanning. A lever suspension assembly is coupled to the folded-beam spring assembly and provides torsional movement of the reflector for beam scanning over a two-dimensional region, allowing for large total scan angles and large vertical displacements.