US 11,899,136 B2
Increasing VCSEL projector spatial resolution
Arnaud Laflaquière, Paris (FR)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/877,955.
Application 17/877,955 is a continuation of application No. 16/537,582, filed on Aug. 11, 2019, granted, now 11,435,449.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/733,656, filed on Sep. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0373656 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G02B 26/00 (2006.01); G02B 26/08 (2006.01); G01S 17/08 (2006.01); G02B 26/10 (2006.01); H01S 5/42 (2006.01); H01S 5/042 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/4817 (2013.01) [G01S 17/08 (2013.01); G02B 26/004 (2013.01); G02B 26/0875 (2013.01); G02B 26/10 (2013.01); H01S 5/042 (2013.01); H01S 5/423 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical device, comprising:
a radiation source, which is configured to emit a beam of light; and
a scanning cell positioned to receive the beam of light and comprising:
transparent entrance and exit faces, at least one of the faces comprising a flexible membrane;
a transparent fluid contained between the entrance and exit faces, so that the beam enters the transparent fluid through the entrance face and exits the transparent fluid through the exit face; and
at least one actuator coupled to the flexible membrane, and configured, responsively to an applied electrical signal, to apply an asymmetrical deformation to the flexible membrane, thereby deflecting the beam by refraction in the transparent fluid.