Micro-optic laser beam scanner

Laser beam scanners are used to modulate the direction of laser light, and are critical components of airborne and space-based LIDAR and optical communications systems. We report here a laser beam steering device design based on dithering two complementary (positive and negative) binary optic microlens arrays. When the two microlenses are translated relative to one another in the plane parallel to their surfaces, a light beam can be scanned and controlled in two directions. The first demonstration of this device concept was reported by Lincoln Laboratory. We have demonstrated a miniaturized version of this concept consisting of a pair of 6-mm-aperture binary optic microlens arrays designed for HeNe laser wavelength.