Fast Dispersive Laser Scanner by Using Digital Micro Mirror Arrays

Abstract

We demonstrate a fast dispersive laser scanning system by using MEMS digital micromirror arrays technology. The proposed technique utilizes realtime dispersive imaging system, which captures spectrally encoded images with a single photodetector at pulse repetition rate via spacetotime mapping technology. Wide area scanning capability is introduced by using individually addressable micromirror arrays as a beam deflector. Experimentally, we scanned ∼20 mm2 at scan rate of 5 kHz with ∼150 خ¼m lateral and ∼160 خ¼m vertical resolution that can be controlled by using 1024 أ— 768 mirror arrays. With the current state of art MEMS technology, fast scanning with <30 خ¼s and resolution down to single mirror pitch size of 10.8 خ¼m is also achievable.