Project Title:

Surface Acoustic Wave Device for Wide Angle Laser Scanning

09.09-4995
Surface Acoustic Wave Device for Wide Angle Laser Scanning
APA Optics Inc.
2950 - 84th Lane, NE
Blaine
MN
55432
Steven M.
Arnold
(612-784-4995)
JSC

Abstract:

An advanced, integrated, acousto-optic laser scanner to support terminal rendezvous,
station-keeping, and docking in space is being developed in order to overcome the
limitations of acousto-optic Bragg cells. The new scanner introduces several innovations:
use of GHz surface acoustic waves (SAWs) on piezoelectric thin-film waveguides with
broadband Bragg phase matching to increase the field-of-view and improve the overlap
between acoustic- and optical-guided waves; cascading of SAW gratings to increase
further the field of view; and a phase-locked, diode laser array to provide watts
of power without a prism coupler or waveguide collimating lens. The use of high-spatial-frequency
SAW gratings may permit deflecting light out of the plane and result in true two-dimensional
scanning. Phase I consists of analysis of the scanner concept and tests to determine
acoustic power requirements for efficient deflection of a laser beam.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Applications:  Examples are: non-impact printing, color imaging
and digitizing, range finding, laser radar, bar code reading, character recognition,
robotic vision, and optical inspection.