PI’s fast tip/tilt platform, S-331.
PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P., a manufacturer in the field of precision motion systems and solutions, recently released the S-331 fast tip/tip platform, the newest piezo steering mirrors in PI’s portfolio. With milli-second response and settling time and high dynamic linearity, these fast tip/tilt platforms are ideal for precision optics applications in ambient and vacuum environments.
2-Axis, Frictionless Guiding, No Polarization Rotation
S-331 steering mirror platforms provide precise angular tip/tilt motion of the top platform around two orthogonal axes. These flexure-guided, electro-ceramic driven systems can provide higher accelerations than other actuators, enabling step response times in the sub-millisecond range, with frictionless backlash-free motion.
The single pivot-point design also prevents the drawback of polarization rotation, which is common with conventional 2-axis stacked systems, e.g. galvo scanners. With a tip/tilt angle up to 5 mrad and optical deflection angle up to 10 mrad, these platforms are ideal for compact mirrors up to ½ inch in diameter.
Parallel-Kinematics: Smaller with Improved Stability, Linearity & Dynamics
PI piezo steering mirrors are based on a parallel-kinematics design with coplanar rotational axes and a single moving platform driven by two pairs of differential actuators. The advantage is jitter-free, multi-axis motion with excellent temperature stability. Compared to stacked (two-stage) mirror scanners, the parallel-kinematics design provides symmetrical dynamic performance in both axes with faster response and better linearity in a smaller package.
Temperature Stability, Out of This World Reliability
The steering mirrors high performance drives are powered by 100% ceramic insultated actuators that have a long lifetime, and are not sensitive to humidity or high operating temperatures. In fact, the proprietary design of the actuators was lifetime tested by NASA/JPL for space use, qualified by delivering 100 billion cycles of failure-free motion, and were part of the Mars Curiosity Rover. Excellent temperature stability is managed in the closed-loop version by metal foil strain gauge sensors that allow fast, exact linear motion with very small linearity deviations of 0.1%.
Watch Video Animation
https://www.youtube.com/embed/FVneEQZVjm8?rel=0
Read About Steering Mirrors
http://www.pi-usa.us/blog/advances-in-piezo-mechanics-aid-eye-surgery/?onl_prweb_1511
Specifications, Datasheet, More Information
http://www.pi-usa.us/products/Active_Optics_Steering_Mirrors/index.php?onl_prweb_1511#MATT
Applications of Steering Mirror Technology
Applications include image processing, image stabilization, laser beam steering, microscopy, materials processing, lithography, optical filters, optical switches.
Features & Advantages
- Fast Step and Settle: Full Travel Move in 1.8 msec (1% accuracy); 0.8 msec (Rise Time)
- High Dynamics: Up to 10 kHz Resonant Frequency
- Vacuum Compatible Versions
- Tip/Tilt Angle up to 5 mrad, Optical Deflection Angle up to 10 mrad (0.57°)
- Parallel Kinematic Design: Single Pivot Point
- Closed-Loop for High Linearity
I had no idea what fast steering mirrors were before reading this article. It was interesting to learn that these type of mirrors can help you to have a quick reaction when driving. I hope this article can help us to know what to do the next time we are making upgrades to our car.