G02B26/121

Laser scanner, for example for a LIDAR system of a driver assistance system

A laser scanner that includes a transmission path and a reception path that is spatially separate from the transmission path, at least in areas. In the laser scanner, the transmission path and the reception path meet on opposite sides of an angularly movable deflection mirror of the laser scanner. An angular position of the deflection mirror in the transmission path defines a scan angle of a laser light of the laser scanner, and the angular position in the reception path compensates for an incidence angle of a reflection of the laser light.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20180003955 · 2018-01-04 ·

A first supporting unit configured to movably support, in a direction intersecting with A length direction of A first reflecting mirror, an end of the first reflecting mirror in the length direction of the first reflecting mirror; a second supporting unit configured to movably support, in a direction intersecting with the length direction of a second reflecting mirror, an end of the second reflecting mirror in the length direction of the second reflecting mirror; a first drive source; a first transmission unit configured to transmit, when the first drive source provides a drive source in a first direction, the movement of the first drive source to a first supporting unit; and a second transmission unit configured to transmit, when the first drive source provides a drive source in a second direction, a movement of a second drive source to the second supporting unit.

OPTICAL SCANNER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME
20230236388 · 2023-07-27 ·

An optical scanner is provided with a light source, a deflector, an optical element, an imaging lens, a fixing structure, and a housing. The optical element has a reflecting surface. The fixing structure has a first support wall, a second support wall and a biasing member. The first support wall has a support projection with a tip part protruding along a thickness direction toward a rear surface and abutting on the rear surface, and an inclined surface extending from a tip part to a side opposite to the second support wall. A first angle between a first straight line extending in the perpendicular direction orthogonal to a bottom surface of the housing and a surface of the optical element is smaller than a second angle between the first straight line and the inclined surface. The second angle is less than 90 degrees.

Light deflector, light scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus

A light deflector includes a rotary polygon mirror and a motor to rotate the rotary polygon mirror. The rotary polygon mirror includes reflecting surfaces to reflect light emitted from a light source and a hole portion provided in a rotational axis direction. The motor includes a shaft portion in the hole portion and a support member supporting the rotary polygon mirror. The support member is fixed to, and coaxial with, the shaft portion, and includes an insertion portion in the hole portion. The rotary polygon mirror includes a protruded portion near the hole portion and protruding from at least one reflecting surface orthogonal to the rotational axis direction. The protruded portion includes a fitting portion fitted to the shaft portion or the support member and in which a portion continued from a hole portion surface is protruded toward the rotation center more than the surface forming the hole portion.

ROTARY RECIPROCATING DRIVING ACTUATOR

A rotary reciprocating driving actuator includes: a movable member including a shaft part and a magnet; and a fixing body including a core assembly including a magnetic pole core with an integral structure including a plurality of magnetic poles, a plurality of coils disposed next to the plurality of magnetic poles, and a magnetic path core to which the magnetic pole core is assembled, wherein the core assembly is disposed such that the plurality of magnetic poles faces an outer periphery of the magnet, wherein a magnetic flux that passes through a magnetic path configured of the magnetic path core and the magnetic pole core of the integral structure is generated through energization of the plurality of coils, and the movable member is rotated back and forth around an axis of the shaft part through electromagnetic interaction of the magnetic flux and the magnet.

LIDAR WITH PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT
20230003846 · 2023-01-05 ·

A light detection and ranging system can have a photonic integrated circuit coupled to a grating coupler and a scanning array. The scanning array may consist of a mechanical actuator configured to move at least one detector in response to a calibration operation. As a result, coherent downrange detection can be achieved with light modulation, optical mixing, and balanced detection.

Optical scanning device and imaging apparatus

An optical scanning device and an imaging apparatus are provided. The optical scanning device includes a light source for emitting a light beam, a first optical unit for collimating the light beam emitted by the light source in a main scanning direction and focus the light beam in an auxiliary scanning direction, an optical deflector for deflecting the light beam, and an imaging optical system for guiding the light beam to a scanned surface for imaging. When the optical deflector deflects the light beam at a maximum deflection angle, the light beam in the main scanning direction forms a maximum incident angle Φ.sub.max with a normal line of the scanned surface. A spot tilt rate e/a of a light spot on the scanned surface satisfies e a 10 % ,
where a is a size of the light spot in the main scanning direction and e is a spot tilt.

MAGNETIC SENSING FOR A POLYGON MIRROR USING A HALL SENSOR FOR LIDAR SYSTEM

Embodiments of the disclosure provide magnetic sensing systems and methods for a polygon scanner. An exemplary magnetic sensing system includes a disc permanent magnet configured to provide a magnetic field. The magnetic sensing system further includes a Hall sensor configured to generate a voltage proportional to the strength of the magnetic field as the Hall sensor and the disc permanent magnet move relatively to each other when the polygon mirror rotates. One of the disc permanent magnet and the Hall sensor locates on and rotates with the polygon mirror and the other locates off the polygon mirror. The magnetic sensing system also includes at least one controller configured to determine a rotation angle of the polygon mirror based on the generated voltage by the Hall Sensor.

Prime polygon reflectors and methods of use
11630298 · 2023-04-18 ·

Disclosed herein are various forms of prime polygon reflectors. In its various forms it is a device of predetermined geometric shape with aspects and scalable dimensions derived from a prime number and its mathematical square root. Geometric shapes based on the prime polygon have reflective surfaces that cause multiple internal reflections of incident waveform energy. In some forms the reflectors are truncated comprising arrayed truncated prime polygon reflectors. When used in conjunction with or absent absorptive media, coatings, or linings, they reject passage of electromagnetic energy within a band that varies with reflector size and can be used with or without a ground. Applications include but are not limited to acoustic, solar, and radar energy absorption, as well as passive barriers for reduction of electromagnetic radiation exposure, and bandwidth-tunable panels for architectural electromagnetic shielding.

LIDAR with tilted and offset optical cavity
11662465 · 2023-05-30 · ·

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that facilitate a scanning light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device configured to provide an asymmetric illumination pattern. An example system includes a rotatable base configured to rotate about a first axis and a mirror assembly. The mirror assembly is configured to rotate about a second axis, which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The system also includes an optical cavity coupled to the rotatable base. The optical cavity includes a photodetector and a photodetector lens arranged so as to define a light-receiving axis. The optical cavity also includes a light-emitter device and a light-emitter lens arranged so as to define a light-emission axis. At least one of the light-receiving axis or the light-emission axis forms a tilt angle with respect to the first axis.