Ucl Business Plc

K M Naga Srinivas Nadella

Paul Anthony Kirkby

Robin Angus Silver

R Angus Silver

Methods and apparatus for optimising, improving or maximising the efficiency of an acousto-optic lens (AOL) system are disclosed. Data relating to efficiency is used to select drive frequencies of the acousto-optic devices (AODs) forming the AOL, thereby both increasing the usable field of view and reducing a prior art patternation problem. Preferably according to the invention, drive frequencies are selected that maximise efficiency of transmission through the AOL. When scanning, the centre of each scan is optimised to be of maximum efficiency.

Methods and apparatus for controling drive frequencies of acousto-optic  deflectors

Methods, systems and apparatus for manipulating electromagnetic radiation such as laser beams. A method and apparatus for correcting magnification chromatic aberration utilizes one or more dispersive lenses such that long wavelength components are magnified less than short wavelength components. A telecentric relay is preferred to achieve this aim. Further, the use of polarizers to block the undesired zeroth order components of diffraction emanating from acousto-optic deflectors (AODs) is disclosed. Furthermore, specific designs of AOD including narrow transducer AODs which produce a diverging acoustic wave and AODs having two transducers and a selection switch are disclosed. Further, the invention provides methods, systems and apparatus for allowing the wavelength of radiation to be changed, for providing a user selectable degree of compensation, for providing a scanning and/or a pointing system and for providing a compact system that does not require telecentric relays between adjacent acousto-optic deflectors.

Imaging apparatus and methods

The invention is directed to an acousto-optic lens (AOL) and corresponding method. The AOL of the invention comprises a first and second acousto-optic deflector, each being arranged to support a respective acoustic wave. The AOL includes a driver for synthesizing first and second drive signals for the respective first and second acousto-optic deflectors. The driver is arranged to synthesize the drive signals so as to be phase-modulated by functions that can be expressed as a Taylor series having one or more coefficients greater than second order. The functions are preferably non-sinusoidal and have sufficient magnitude at the higher orders to effect one or more of fixed aberration correction, dynamic aberration correction and Z-scanning.

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London, United Kingdom

K M Naga Srinivas Nadella