OPTICAL SCANNERS

V.-F. Duma∗

Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Romania;

www.3omgroup.appspot.com

∗ duma.virgil@osamember.org ______________
1
March 3, 2010, Rochester
 PART 1

Introduction

2
 Overview of Applications
Remote sensing:
v
Scientific applications: earth resources; weather; astronomy;

Government: forest fires; police; smuggling; search and

rescue;
H
X
Military: gun sights; night vision; tactical; navigation; missiles;
strategic; aircraft; surveillance;
γ

Industrial applications:
Energy management; thermal fault detection; electronic circuit
detection; non-destructive testing (NDT);

Medical applications
L. Beiser and B. Johnson, „Scanners,” in Handbook of Optics, M. Bass, ed. (Mc. Graw-Hill 1995), pp. 19.1-19.57.
3
 Overview of Applications

Classification: with regard to the scope of the system.

Input/output scanners:

Input (Passive scanners): Output (Active scanners):

Image scanning/digitizing; Image recording/printing;

Barcode reading; Color image reproduction;
Optical inspection; Medical outputs;
Optical character recognition; Data marking and engraving;
Graphic arts; Micro-image recording;
Scanning confocal microscopy; Reconnaissance recording;
Optical coherence tomography (OCT); Optical data storage;
Color separation; Rapid prototyping/photolithography;
Robot vision; Graphic arts (plate making);
Laser radar; Earth resources imaging;
Data/Image display.

L. Beiser and B. Johnson, „Scanners,” in Handbook of optics, M. Bass, ed. (Mc. Graw-Hill 1995), pp. 19.1-19.57. 4
Scanners - Fundamentals

5
 Architecture of Scanners
„Objective
scan region”

(1) ACTIVE/ Objective

„Pre-objective „Post-objective
OUTPUT lens
scan region” scan region”
SCANNING

Fig. Reference point (O.A.) Moving focal

P point

(2) PASSIVE/ „Image space scan „Object space scan

INPUT region” region”
SCANNING

Their architecture is similar, with the ray directions reversed:

(1) has a moving point of light (flying-spot scanning)
(2) has a moving remote-sensing aperture which samples (captures) radiation
from different portions of an object field, to be directed by the scanner and
objective lens on typically un-moving detector(s).

Beiser, L.: Fundamental architecture of optical scanning systems. Applied Optics, 34, 7307-7317 (1995) 6
 Architecture of Scanners
Active scanning
(Examples)

a)

b)
c)

Fig. Architecture of active scanners: a) objective scanner;

b) post-objective monogon scanner (curved scan surface)
7
c) pre-objective scanner with polygon;
 Types of 1-D Scanners

Scanners

Oscillatory Rotating Holographic Refractive Acousto-

Electro-optical
Monogon Pyramidal Prismatic Other Risley Prisms
(plane mirror) polygon (cylindrical,
spherical, etc) bi- multiple-
prism

regular irregular normal inverted

Fig. 1-D scanners

(the most used) 8
 PART 2

1-D Scanners

9
 Applications: 2) Commercial
Barcode scanners

Cube Reflected polarized

splitter light Photodetector

Barcode Objective
Polarizing filter
He-Ne (eliminates the
Laser background
with reflection
Fig. Handheld polarized component)
light
barcode scanner
Fig. Barcode scanner with polarizing light
for eliminating the background reflecting component
(especially for glossy paper)

Tsufura, L.: “Barcode Scanning. Ongoing Evolution & Development”, Lasers & Optronics, July 1995, pp. 25-27 10
 Applications: 2) Commercial
Laser printer

Components:
(1) Laser diode;
3
4 (2) Expandor;
(3) scanning head with rotating polygon;
5
(4) Cylindrical lenses;
(5) Mirror;
6
(6) Photoconducting cylinder;
(7) Electrostatic charger;
2
7 (8) Toner.
8

Fig. Laser printer with a 4 facets polygon Fig. HP laserjet printer 2300 11
 Applications: 3) Industrial

As the polygonal mirror (PM)
Shape and distance measurements
rotates, it transforms the fix beam
into a rotating one that scans
ω PM probe space with the speed v.

L1 L2 The amount of time

the photo-detector PD receives
no light signal is a measure
R
α PD of the dimension ‘d’
D
d (O.A.) of the object in the scan direction.
h
PM

L1

F-theta lens
a
θ,ω
for a linear scan
R
e L=f
α
D with constant speed.
h(θ)

Laser
e f

Laser

Fig. The “Optical Micrometer”

- Polygon mirror (PM) scanning system for dimensional measurements
12
V. F. Duma, „Novel approaches in the designing of polygon scanners,” Proc. SPIE 6785, 6785-1Q (2007).
 Applications: 3) Industrial
Shape and distance measurements

13
V. F. Duma, „Novel approaches in the designing of polygon scanners,” Proc. SPIE 6785, 6785-1Q (2007).
 Applications: 3) Industrial
Applications:

- For defining the entire profile of a piece, with rotating system

- For band widths, with a reference plane - For ring-shaped pieces,

simultaneous measurements of all dimensions

- For large pieces, enhancing the measuring field - For measuring a piece in two different planes

B. Richter, “Laser scan devices for industrial application,” WIRE 42(6), 529, Bamberg (1992). 14
 [High-end] Applications: 4) Medical imaging
Time domain (TD) Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
balance detection sample
DC1 Applications:
DC2 source (1) Scanning delay line OCT, using
galvoscanner or PM scanner (Fig.);
M1 0
1,2 (2) Probe scan with 2-D devices – similar
to confocal microscopes;
2
PM
w0 ∆θ
1
(3) Generating the sampling function
w ω
θi
DG
2
(simultaneous to the probe scan),
R with galvoscanners [3];
M2 1
α
TS L (4) Scanning filters for broadband laser
delay line
sources scanned in frequency (see
Fig. Transmissive scanning delay line OCT system next slide);
using a PM scanner [1,2].

The collimated beam, ray 0, is dispersed by the grating (DG) and collected by an achromat lens
(L) at a distance f away. The resulting fan of different wavelengths is focused on the mirror (PM) at
distance f. The tilt of the mirror determines a linear ramp phase in frequency space.
[1] C. C. Rosa, J. Rogers, and A. Gh. Podoleanu, “Fast scanning transmissive delay line for optical coherence tomography,”
Optics Letters, 30(24), 3263-3265 (2005).
[2] Oldenburg, A. L., Reynolds, J. J., Marks, D. L. and Boppart, S. A., „Fast-Fourier-Domain delay line for in vivo Optical
Coherence Tomography with a polygonal scanner,” Appl. Opt. 42, 4606-4611 (2003). 15
[3] Podoleanu, A. Gh., Dobre, G. M. and Jackson, D. A., “En-face coherence imaging using galvanometer scanner
modulation,” Opt. Letters 23, 147-149 (1998).
 [High-end] Applications: 4) Medical imaging
Swept Source (SS) Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Example: Collimator
PM Principle:
ω L2 L1 -The broadband laser beam
λN
comes through the collimator;
R - It is diffracted on the grating;
α (O.A.) -The rotating polygon selects
h
λ1 only a certain beam
e Grating (of a certain wavelength λ)
L=f v to be redirected through
M the collimator:
Polygon mirror (PM) based scanning The one that is perpendicular
filters for swept broadband laser on the end mirror M.
sources (off-axis setup for OCT) - The finesse of the system
(in selecting the band around
• high swept rate; the selected wavelength λ)
• uni-directional; depends upon the diaphragm D
• on-axis or off-axis PM setups. at the end mirror M.
S. H. Yun, C. Boudoux, G. J. Tearney, and B. E. Bouma, “High-speed wavelength-swept semiconductor laser with
polygon-scanner-based wavelength filter,” Opt. Lett. 28, 1981-1983 (2003). 16
W. Y. Oh, S. H. Yun, G. J. Tearney, and B. E. Bouma, "115 kHz tuning repetition rate ultrahigh-speed wavelength-swept
semiconductor laser," Opt. Lett. 30, 3159-3161 (2005).
 PM Collimator

ω L2 L1
Polygon Scanners R
λN
α (O.A.)
h λ1
Scan frequency fs e
n=2π·fs/ω – number of facets L=f v Grating
(required) M
=> n=5-32 (‘90s)
Shaft speed ω
n=20-128 (OCT)
(technologically limited) ↓ ← Designer
2α=2π/n – angle of a facet issues

Diameter δ of the beam (n↑ => α↓)

↓ ↓ Manufacturer
R - inner radius of the polygon → issues
b – width of a facet => R=0.5b/tan α ↑ => larger polygons
↓
=> material, manufacturing methods, bearings, windage–reducing solutions, etc.
see
↓ the final
Unsolved issues: Cost ↑ Slides.
• position of the [off-axis] polygon; Compactness ↓
• influence on:
- other parameters, e.g. angular domain, duty cycle;
- scanning function and velocity (+ other functions);
• tolerances. ↓
Designer issues → Not to be taken lightly! 17
 Monogon (plane mirror rotating) scanners
Laser triangulation Classical (and most used) application:
Mobile robots and autonomous vehicles
navigation system:
Scanners 1 and 2 determine the directions
to the probe object, while the distance
“d” is fixed => R

Fig. Automated measuring system by triangulation 18

 Galvanometer Scanners (GS)
Magnetic
precise;
circuit
N
light;
S
essential for 2-D scanning.
±Ø/2
Adjustable
N S frequency
Mobile
element

Fig. Galvanometer-based scanner

Fix (resonance)
±Φ/ N S frequency
2

Mirror
Fig. Cambridge Technology scanners
Fig. Resonant scanner
19
J.I. Montague, “Galvanometric and resonant scanners,” in Handbook of Optical and Laser Scanning, G.F. Marshall, ed.
(Marcel Dekker, 2004), pp. 417-476.
 Galvanometer Scanners (GS)
Magnetic
L1 circuit
Essential issues: N S

• Low duty cycle (η) at high frequencies. h

z ±θ/2
• Mechanical inertia => stop-and-turn time . N S

L=f
Mobile
• Heating, especially with asymmetric, i.e. sawtooth scanning functions. element

(=> precision ↓, operating time ↓, life time ↓)

• Necessary: high scan rates, e.g. to obtain video frame capability.

0,7 T τ 0,4 T
x
2

State-of the-art
0 t
scanning functions
1

T 0,33 T
↓
1) Sawtooth profile
η=70% and linear portions, but heating appears.
2) Sinusoidal
η=66% and smooth, but not linear (it requires software solutions)
20
J.I. Montague, “Scanners—Galvanometric and Resonant,” in Encyclopedia of Optical Engineering, 2003.
 Galvanometer Scanners (GS)
We explored [37] a GS with an ideal oscillatory regime of the mirror:
- symmetrical; - linear on its active portions;

We demonstrated that parabolic stop- Angular scanning function

and-turn portions allow for: θmax
• the highest η θa
• the lowest maximum inertia torque. 0 T/2 T 3T/2 2T

h t
H
-θa
ha -θmax
ta
T/2 3T/2 t
0 τ
ta
T
2T => ωmax
0 T/2 T 3T/2 2T
t
-ha -ωmax
-H

Linear + parabolic scanning function 0

T/2 3T/2 2T
T t

Angular
scanning θ (t ) = + 1 arctan x (t ) Command
function: 2 L => i (t ) = J (θ&& + 2ξω0θ& + ω02θ ) / K function
Duma, V. F. and Podoleanu, A. Gh., “Theoretical approach on a galvanometer scanner with an enhanced duty cycle,” 21
Proc. SPIE 7139, 71390D (2008).
 2-D Scanners (Other Solutions)
Other issues:
• Fan distortion produced by the distance between the two 1-D GS,
in study to obtaining not only qualitative, but also quantitative results.
• Sources of errors, e.g. flatness of the mirrors and misalignment of bundles.

Image
Sc.2 Lens Scanned
space
S

PD
Sc.1
Fig. 2-D scanner
Fig. One mirror 2-D scanner with two polygons
Sc.2
With potential;
used in two-photons microscopy.

Scan
• High x-scan rates using the PM
pattern Sc.1
• Position acuracy of the GS
• Compactness depends on the PM. 22
Fig. 2-D scanner with PM and galvoscanner
 2-D Scanners: Risley Prisms

For compactness.
+m -m +m +1,1m
Ø=0 Ø=0 Ø=90 Ø=0

m=1
k=1

a. b. c. d.

a) m=3
k=1

e. f. g. h.

m=5
k=1

i. j. k. l.

m=5
b) c) k=3

m. n. o.

Fig. a) Rotating Risley prisms;
b) Principle of deflection;
c) Spot patterns (functions of m, k, Φ)
Li, A., Liu, L. Sun, J., Zhong, X., Wang, L., Liu, D., and Luan, Z.,
“Research on a scanner for tilting orthogonal double prisms,”
Appl. Opt. 45, 8063-8069 (2003).
m = ratio of the rotation frequencies of the two prisms
(m<0 ⇔ rotation velocities of the prisms are opposite);
k = ratio of the angles of the wedge prisms;
23
Φ = initial rotating angles between the prisms (at t=0).