Patent ID: 7430347
Filing Date: 2008-09-30
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for optically steering a light beam, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of actuator elements forming a first two-dimensional array of actuator elements; a plurality of actuator elements forming a second two-dimensional array of actuator elements; and at least one optical element, wherein the first two-dimensional array of actuator elements, the second two-dimensional array of actuator elements and the at least one optical element are configured such that the light beam illuminates a plurality of the actuator elements in the first two-dimensional array of actuator elements and travels a light path between the first two-dimensional array of actuator elements, the at least one optical element and the second two-dimensional array of actuator elements, wherein a height of each actuator element in at least one of the first and second two-dimensional arrays of actuator elements is variable within a predetermined range, with the predetermined range defining a stroke size S of the actuator element, such that a direction of the light beam is operable to be changed simultaneously in two orthogonal planes, and wherein the first two-dimensional array is imaged onto the second two-dimensional array.