Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for controlling a deformable mirror

US7203552B2 · kind B2 · utility

17Cited by
6References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 26, 2005
Grant dateApr 10, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 26, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B26/0825
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method, or corresponding apparatus, for controlling deformation of a structure, in part, includes applying a command signal at a first signal level to at least one actuator mechanically coupled to a structure, the first signal level known to produce an energy level in the actuator(s) substantially the same as an energy level currently stored by the actuator(s). The method enables the actuator(s) to respond to the command signal by applying an electrical reference to the actuator(s). The method drives the command signal from the first signal level to a second signal level, changing the actuator(s) in at least one dimension as a function of the command signal, which results in a corresponding deformation of the structure. The method electrically disables the actuator(s) by removing the electrical reference, which results in maintaining deformation of the structure defined by energy stored by the actuator(s).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.