Device for deflecting optical beams

Details Device for deflecting optical beams Device for deflecting optical beams

2003-04-08

2004-09-21

Dougherty, Thomas M. (Department: 2834)

Electrical generator or motor structure

Non-dynamoelectric

Piezoelectric elements and devices

C310S332000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06794797

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a device for deflecting optical beams, comprising a piezo plate having piezoelectric regions and comprising piezo electrodes, disposed on surfaces, to drive said piezo plate.
A device of this kind is known from the article “Piezoelectric bimorph optical beam scanners: analysis and construction,” by J. Kelly Lee, published in Applied Optics, Vol. 18. No. 4, pp. 454-459. In this prior device, a mirror is mounted on a piezo plate. When the device is driven by piezo electrodes with a control voltage in the medium voltage range, the mirror moves as a result of the flexure induced in the piezo plate. A disadvantage of this device is the comparatively high mass that must be moved, which is an obstacle to rapid drive.
The object of the invention is to provide a device of the first-cited type that is distinguished by rapid drivability and distortion-free deflection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved according to the invention in a device of the first-cited type by the fact that the piezo plate is free of piezo electrodes in at least an end portion.
Because there are no piezo electrodes in an end portion of the piezo plate, no flexure is induced in that end portion, which instead remains substantially planar. If the electrode-free end portion is dimensioned to be relatively large compared to the dimensions of the beams incident thereon, reflection or transmission by the end portion will result in little or no distortion of the wave fronts and thus of the beam characteristic, especially the divergence.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3422570 (1969-01-01), Borst Gijsbertus et al.
patent: 4385798 (1983-05-01), Yevick
patent: 4491761 (1985-01-01), Gradkowski et al.
patent: 4533849 (1985-08-01), Schnell
patent: 4736132 (1988-04-01), Culp
patent: 4812698 (1989-03-01), Chida et al.
patent: 5001681 (1991-03-01), Bertoldi et al.
patent: 5052777 (1991-10-01), Ninnis et al.
patent: 5170089 (1992-12-01), Fulton
patent: 5225731 (1993-07-01), Owen
patent: 5589084 (1996-12-01), Ji et al.
patent: 5613022 (1997-03-01), Odhner et al.
patent: 5661611 (1997-08-01), Kim et al.
patent: 5715337 (1998-02-01), Spitzer et al.
patent: 5735026 (1998-04-01), Min
patent: 5994821 (1999-11-01), Imada et al.
patent: 0 661 874 (1995-07-01), None
patent: 2-249903 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 3-208007 (1991-09-01), None
patent: 05-231815 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 7-64019 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 2000-19446 (2000-01-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Device for deflecting optical beams does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Device for deflecting optical beams, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for deflecting optical beams will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3231038