Michael Linde Jakobsen

Optical touch screen based on waveguide sensing

We disclose a simple, optical touch screen technique based on a planar injection molded polymer waveguide, a single laser, and a small linear detector array. The solution significantly reduces the complexity and cost as compared to existing optical touch technologies. Force detection of a touching finger is also demonstrated.

Lenticular array for spatial filtering velocimetry of laser speckles from solid surfaces

We present a low-cost optical design for the detection of speckle translation, which can provide measures of in-plane translation or the rotation of a solid structure. A nonspecular target surface is illuminated with coherent light. The scattered light is propagated through an optical arrangement that has been particularly designed for the type of mechanical measurand for which the sensor is intended. The dynamics of the speckle field that arise from the target surface are projected onto a lenticular array, constituting a narrow spatial bandpass filter for the speckle spectrum. The filter provides access to the full phase information of the temporal quasi-sinusoidal intensity output; thus differential arrangements of photodetectors can provide suppression of low-frequency oscillations and higher harmonics, and the direction of the speckle translation can be determined. The spatial filter of the sensor is characterized, and the precision of the sensor when it is integrated with an electronic zero-crossing-detection processor is investigated. The best measurement accuracy obtained at constant velocity is 1% at 1.6-mm translation; the relative standard deviation decreases with the square root of the distance traveled.

Spatial filtering velocimetry of objective speckles for measuring out-of-plane motion

This paper analyzes the dynamics of objective laser speckles as the distance between the object and the observation plane continuously changes. With the purpose of applying optical spatial filtering velocimetry to the speckle dynamics, in order to measure out-of-plane motion in real time, a rotational symmetric spatial filter is designed. The spatial filter converts the speckle dynamics into a photocurrent with a quasi-sinusoidal response to the out-of-plane motion. The spatial filter is here emulated with a CCD camera, and is tested on speckles arising from a real application. The analysis discusses the selectivity of the spatial filter, the nonlinear response between speckle motion and observation distance, and the influence of the distance-dependent speckle size. Experiments with the emulated filters illustrate performance and potential applications of the technology.

Miniaturized optical speckle-based sensor for cursor control

A miniaturized optical system based on spatial filtering for measuring speckle displacement will be discussed with special emphasis on shaping the speckle spectrum in order to enhance the signal. Applications for measuring linear object velocity - being it in one or two dimensions - and for probing angular velocities will be discussed. A miniaturized system has been developed for implementation in a single chip for measuring speckle displacement in two directions. The system is dedicated for cursor control and is in order to reduce cost based on the use of a single Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL), a dedicated single-chip detector and signal processor and a molded polymer optical element performing the necessary optical processing.

Speckle-based three-dimensional velocity measurement using spatial filtering velocimetry

We present an optical method for measuring the real-time three-dimensional (3D) translational velocity of a diffusely scattering rigid object observed through an imaging system. The method is based on a combination of the motion of random speckle patterns and regular fringe patterns. The speckle pattern is formed in the observation plane of the imaging system due to reflection from an area of the object illuminated by a coherent light source. The speckle pattern translates in response to in-plane translation of the object, and the presence of an angular offset reference wave coinciding with the speckle pattern in the observation plane gives rise to interference, resulting in a fringe pattern that translates in response to the out-of-plane translation of the object. Numerical calculations are performed to evaluate the dynamic properties of the intensity distribution and the response of realistic spatial filters designed to measure the three components of the objects translational velocity. Furthermore, experimental data are presented that demonstrate full 3D velocity measurement.

Speckle dynamics for intensity-modulated illumination

We analyze the dynamics of laser speckle patterns, designed for sensing with a receiver, based on spatial filtering. The speckle translation arises after free-space propagation of light scattered from nonspecular surfaces of a solid object in motion. The speckle pattern is manipulated by modulating the intensity of the coherent light, illuminating the target. The space-time normalized cross covariance of speckle patterns incident on the spatial sensor is calculated for the field distribution of three Gaussian beams having arbitrary directions and separations when incident on the target. The modulation of the intensity distribution at the target introduce a higher spatial frequency component in the speckle pattern. The theoretical analysis provides the statistical parameters for both the speckles and the higher spatial frequency component. The analysis reveals that the speckles and the higher spatial frequency component do not necessarily translate as a rigid structure. The theoretical findings are supported by measurements.

Quasi-achromatic laser Doppler anemometry systems based on a diffractive beam splitter

We propose a new beam-splitter system that makes it possible to use nonstabilized laser diodes for laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) systems by making the system wavelength independent. The beam splitter consists of two linear diffraction gratings that produce two parallel beams with a beam spacing that is wavelength dependent. This ensures passive wavelength compensation for the fringe spacing in the measurement volume. One can choose the distance between the two parallel beams by changing the distance between the two gratings, whereas the distance to the measurement volume can be designed by choice of a condensing lens with the proper focal length. This means that the system can be designed to have a desired fringe spacing in the measurement volume. The gratings are implemented as surface-relief holograms in photoresist, which makes it possible to mass produce the beam-splitter system at low cost through replication of the structure. The method for passive wavelength compensation for the fringe spacing is demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally.

Selectivity and balance of spatial filtering velocimetry of objective speckles for measuring out-of-plane motion

We probe the dynamics of objective laser speckles as the axial distance between the object and the observation plane changes. With the purpose of measuring out-of-plane motion in real time, we apply optical spatial filtering velocimetry to the speckle dynamics. To achieve this, a rotationally symmetric spatial filter is designed. The spatial filter converts the speckle dynamics into a photocurrent with a quasi-sinusoidal response to the out-of-plane motion. Our contribution presents the technology, discusses the selectivity of the spatial filter and proposes two solutions to balance phase-stepped photocurrents. Specifically, we discuss how the selectivity of the spatial filter with regard to radial speckle motion is influenced by a concurrent in-plane speckle motion. The spatial filter is emulated with a CCD camera and is tested on speckle acquisitions obtained from a controlled setup. Experiments with the emulated filters illustrate the performance and potential applications of the technology.

Speckle and fringe dynamics in imaging- speckle-pattern interferometry for spatial-filtering velocimetry

This paper analyzes the dynamics of laser speckles and fringes, formed in an imaging-speckle-pattern interferometer with the purpose of sensing linear three-dimensional motion and out-of-plane components of rotation in real time, using optical spatial-filtering-velocimetry techniques. The ensemble-average definition of the cross-correlation function is applied to the intensity distributions, obtained in the observation plane at two positions of the object. The theoretical analysis provides a description for the dynamics of both the speckles and the fringes. The analysis reveals that both the magnitude and direction of all three linear displacement components of the object movement can be determined. Simultaneously, out-of-plane rotation of the object including the corresponding directions can be determined from the spatial gradient of the in-plane fringe motion throughout the observation plane. The theory is confirmed by experimental measurements.

Cantilever biosensor reader using a common-path, holographic optical interferometer

We demonstrate an optical reader principle aimed at monitoring biologically induced deflections of microcantilevers often used in biosensor systems. The principle is based on a so-called common-path optical interferometer in which the two interfering optical beams are copropagating, which makes the system less sensitive to external disturbances. A detection limit of around 1 nm’s deflection is demonstrated.