Fine Steering Mirrors Provide High Speed and Precision Control for Free Space Optical Laser Communications

(Nanowerk News) PI is extending its offering of fast steering mirrors. The new V-931 two-axis fast steering mirror platform (FSM) is based on a frictionless, precision flexure guiding mechanism, with differential voice-coil drives and optical feedback for accurate closed-loop angular position control.
The compact, durable design produces a beam deflection angle to 8° in theta-X and theta-Y, with symmetrical motion characteristics delivered by its parallel kinematics design. The angular resolution of the standard model is 1 µrad (higher resolution models are available). The two orthogonal tip/tilt axes share a common center of rotation, providing significantly better performance, free of polarization rotation issues, while reducing package size, compared to older designs based on stacking two individual scanning axes.
Compact high-dynamics tip/tilt Fast Steering Mirror provides highly accurate laser beam positioning
Compact high-dynamics tip/tilt Fast Steering Mirror provides highly accurate laser beam positioning. (Image: PI)

Laser and Imaging Applications in Industry and Space Applications

PI has a long track record of designing fast precision mechanisms for laser scanning, optical communications, and image stabilization for industrial, astronomy, and aerospace projects. A PI piezo steering mirror is currently on board the NASA/ESA Solar Orbiter Satellite, orbiting the sun. PI precision motion equipment is also embedded in the Curiosity Mars rover and the new Perseverance rover.
V-931 Fast Steering Mirror Application Story
Specifications, Datasheet, More Information

Working with You

PI’s in-house engineered solutions have enabled customers around the world to increase their productivity and technological advantage for 5 decades. With a large basis of proven motion technologies and methodologies, PI is in the position to quickly modify existing designs or provide a fully customized OEM solution to fit the exact requirements of your application from sensors and piezo transducers to microscope nano-focus units, fast photonics alignment systems to multi-axis automation sub-systems.

About PI

PI is a privately held company that designs and manufactures world-class precision motion and automation systems including air bearings, hexapods and piezo drives at locations in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company was founded 5 decades ago and today employs more than 1300 people worldwide. PI’s customers are leaders in high-tech industries and research institutes in fields such as photonics, life-sciences, semiconductors, and aerospace.
Source: PI (press release)
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