Frequency selection rule for high definition and high frame rate Lissajous scanning

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Imaging Systems

Background:

• Lissajous microscanners offer advantages in compact laser scanning applications like endomicroscopy and projection displays due to their stability and low voltage requirements.
• Scanning frequency is a crucial parameter influencing the imaging quality of Lissajous scanners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a selection rule for scanning frequencies enabling high definition and high frame-rate (HDHF) full-repeated Lissajous scanning imaging.
• To provide guidelines for optimizing Lissajous scanner performance in compact laser scanning systems.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the relationship between Lissajous curve parameters (total lobe number, scanning frequencies, GCD) and imaging performance metrics (fill factor, frames per second).
• Identification of frequency selection criteria that maximize the greatest common divisor (GCD) for a target fill factor.
• Experimental validation of the proposed selection rule using conventional Lissajous scanners.

Main Results:

• The fill factor (FF) increases with the total lobe number, defined as the sum of scanning frequencies divided by their GCD.
• Frames per second (FPS) increases linearly with the GCD of the bi-axial scanning frequencies.
• HDHF Lissajous scanning is achieved when the GCD is maximized for a given total lobe number, leading to substantial improvements in FF and FPS.

Conclusions:

• A novel selection rule for Lissajous scanner frequencies has been identified to achieve HDHF imaging.
• Optimizing the GCD of scanning frequencies is key to enhancing both fill factor and frame rate.
• This rule offers a new design guideline for developing advanced compact laser scanning systems.