Two axis independent driven single hinged gimbaled mirror beam steerer

摘要

A beam steerer is provided. In particular, the beam steerer may comprise a mirror, a joint, and two linear actuators. The joint may be attached to a periphery of the mirror. The joint may additionally have two degrees of freedom which permit rotation of the joint about two axes. The two axes may be perpendicular to each other. The linear actuators may be attached to a back surface of the mirror. In sum, the linear actuators control rotational movement of the mirror about the two axes of the joint by extending or shortening the linear actuators. In this regard, a laser beam or other signal may be reflected off of the mirror and redirected as desired. In this process of reflection and redirection, the reflected or redirected beam may define a field of regard which is the total angular range where the beam may be reflected or redirected. This field of regard further defines a focal point in front of the mirror. Accordingly, the beam steerer may be mounted behind a window of an object such that a plane of the window and the focal point coincides. In this regard, a foot print of the field of regard of the beam through the window is smaller compared to a corresponding foot print when the beam directed onto the mirror is aligned with the joint (i.e., fulcrum) and the alignment is maintained throughout the rotation of the mirror about the joint.