Apple Inc.

Other

Scaneva Ltd.

Maradin Technologies Ltd.

Elop Electrooptical Industries Ltd.

Raviv Erlich

Alexander Shpunt

Yuval Gerson

Alexander Sromin

Noel Axelrod

Mordekhai Velger

Yizhar Weiss

Sivan Natan-Knaz

Zafrir Mor

Naftali Chayat

Raviv Weber

Ronen Akerman

Ran Halutz

Matan Naftali

Adi Baram

Rashed Mahameed

Yoram Lubianiker

Nadav Osiroff

Mechanical apparatus includes a rotational assembly, including a frame and a gimbal, which is attached to the frame by first hinges disposed along a first axis and is configured to rotate on the first hinges about the first axis relative to the frame. A rotating element is attached to the gimbal by second hinges disposed along a second axis, perpendicular to the first axis, and is configured to rotate on the second hinges about the second axis relative to the gimbal. One or more strain sensors are disposed on at least one of the first hinges and configured to provide a signal indicative of a rotation of the rotating element about the second axis relative to the gimbal. Control circuitry is configured to monitor the rotation of the rotating element about the second axis responsively to the signal.

Strain-based sensing of dual-axis mirror rotation

A beam generating device includes a semiconductor substrate, having an optical passband. A first array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is formed on a first face of the semiconductor substrate and are configured to emit respective laser beams through the substrate at a wavelength within the passband. A second array of microlenses is formed on a second face of the semiconductor substrate in respective alignment with the VCSELs so as to transmit the laser beams generated by the VCSELs. The VCSELs are configured to be driven to emit the laser beams in predefined groups in order to change a characteristic of the laser beams.

Integrated optoelectronic module

A scanning device includes a planar scanning mirror disposed within a frame and having a reflective upper surface. A pair of flexures have respective first ends connected to the frame and respective second ends connected to the mirror at opposing ends of a rotational axis of the mirror. A rotor including a permanent magnet is disposed on the lower surface of the mirror. A stator includes first and second cores disposed in proximity to the rotor on opposing first and second sides of the rotational axis and first and second coils of wire wound respectively on the cores. A drive circuit drives the first and second coils with respective electrical currents including a first component selected so as to control a transverse displacement of the mirror and a second component selected so as to control a rotation of the mirror about the rotational axis.

Force-balanced micromirror with electromagnetic actuation

A scanning device includes a base containing one or more rotational bearings disposed along a gimbal axis. A gimbal includes a shaft that fits into the rotational bearings so that the gimbal rotates about the gimbal axis relative to the base. A mirror assembly includes a semiconductor substrate, which has been etched and coated to define a support, which is fixed to the gimbal, at least one mirror, contained within the support, and a connecting member connecting the at least one mirror to the support and defining at least one mirror axis, about which the at least one mirror rotates relative to the support.

Hybrid MEMS scanning module

Scanning apparatus includes a rotor, including a permanent magnet, which is configured to rotate about an axis. A stator includes a magnetic core, which is configured to generate a static magnetic field in a vicinity of the rotor and defines an equilibrium angle of rotation of the rotor, at which the permanent magnet is aligned with the static component of the magnetic field. At least one coil is wound on the magnetic core so that when the coil driven with an AC electrical current at a selected frequency, the stator generate a time-alternating magnetic field, which causes the rotor to oscillate on the axis at the selected frequency about the equilibrium angle.

Scanning motor with built-in magnetic stiffness

Mapping apparatus includes a transmitter, which is configured to emit at least one beam including a sequence of pulses of light toward a plurality of points in a scene. A receiver is configured to receive the light reflected from the scene and to generate an output indicative of a time of flight of the pulses to and from the points in the scene. A processor is coupled to process the output of the receiver so as to generate a 3D map of the scene, while controlling a power level of the pulses emitted by the transmitter responsively to a level of the output from the receiver in response to one or more previous pulses.

Scanning depth engine

Optical apparatus () includes a stator assembly (), which includes a core () containing an air gap and one or more coils () including conductive wire wound on the core so as to cause the core to form a magnetic circuit through the air gap in response to an electrical current flowing in the conductive wire. A scanning mirror assembly () includes a support structure (), a base (), which is mounted to rotate about a first axis relative to the support structure, and a mirror (), which is mounted to rotate about a second axis relative to the base. At least one rotor () includes one or more permanent magnets, which are fixed to the scanning mirror assembly and which are positioned in the air gap so as to move in response to the magnetic circuit. A driver () is coupled to generate the electrical current in the one or more coils.

Dual-axis scanning mirror

Mapping apparatus includes a transmitter, which emits a beam comprising pulses of light, and a scanner, which is configured to scan the beam, within a predefined scan range, over a scene. A receiver receives the light reflected from the scene and to generate an output indicative of a time of flight of the pulses to and from points in the scene. A processor is coupled to control the scanner so as to cause the beam to scan over a selected window within the scan range and to process the output of the receiver so as to generate a 3D map of a part of the scene that is within the selected window.

A scanning device includes a base and a gimbal, mounted within the base so as to rotate relative to the base about a first axis. A first mirror, which has a first area, is mounted within the gimbal so as to rotate about a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis. A second mirror, which has a second area that is at least twice the first area, is also mounted within the gimbal so as to rotate about a third axis, which is parallel to the second axis, in synchronization with the first mirror.

MEMS scanner with mirrors of different sizes

A mechanical device includes a long, narrow element made of a rigid, elastic material. A rigid frame is configured to anchor at least one end of the element, which is attached to the frame, and to define a gap running longitudinally along the element between the beam and the frame, so that the element is free to move within the gap. A solid filler material, different from the rigid, elastic material, fills at least a part of the gap between the element and the frame so as to permit a first mode of movement of the element within the gap while inhibiting a different, second mode of movement.

MEMS hinges with enhanced rotatability

A scanning device includes a scanner, which includes a base and a gimbal, mounted within the base so as to rotate relative to the base about a first axis. A receive mirror is mounted within the gimbal so as to rotate about a second axis, perpendicular to the first axis. A detector is mounted on the gimbal so as to rotate with the gimbal about the first axis and receive light reflected from the receive mirror while the receive mirror rotates about the second axis. A collection lens is mounted on the gimbal so as to rotate with the gimbal about the first axis while collecting the light so as to focus the light onto the detector by reflection from the receive mirror while the receive mirror rotates about the second axis.

Compact scanner with gimbaled optics

Mechanical apparatus includes a base and a moving element, which is mounted to rotate about an axis relative to the base. A capacitive rotation sensor includes at least one first electrode disposed on the moving element in a location adjacent to the base and at least one second electrode disposed on the base in proximity to the at least one first electrode. A sensing circuit is coupled to sense a variable capacitance between the first and second electrodes.

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Rehovot, Israel

Raviv Erlich