QSM‑1D — Quasi‑Static Beam Steering (General Purpose)
What QSM‑1D is
The clip above shows four synchronized mirrors, each driven by eight synchronized comb actuators.
In the first segment of the clip, each mirror tilts smoothly through its travel, demonstrating quasi‑static analog control without visible discontinuities; In the second segment, the mirrors execute rapid point‑to‑point stepping moves.
Because multiple smaller mirrors are used (rather than a single large mirror), rotational inertia is lower; combined with the ganged actuators, this supports low‑voltage drive with fast response and robust holds.
QSM‑1D is a single‑axis, quasi‑static synchronized MEMS mirror array driven by a synchronized actuator array. The two arrays are distinct: mirrors form one array; comb actuators form another. Drive groups are synchronized so each commanded angle is held with low drift and low drive voltage, enabling precise beam placement and step‑and‑settle scanning.
Unlike IFM/ISM, which synchronize mirror‑actuator units, QSM‑1D allows the actuator array size and mirror array size to differ. For example, several actuator units can be ganged to drive a single mirror element. In the extreme, a single monolithic mirror can be driven by an actuator array; in practice, multiple mirrors are often preferred because smaller mirrors reduce rotational inertia, shorten settling time, reduce driving voltage, and improve robustness.
It complements resonant fast‑axis devices when you need deterministic positioning or non‑periodic motion.
Where people use it
Deterministic angle control enables step‑and‑repeat, region‑of‑interest scans, and slow ramps. QSM-1D can be used in the following areas:
Bio/medical imaging and instrumentation:
confocal and multiphoton slow axes, OCT beam placement, light‑sheet positioning, fiber coupling, laser therapy alignment.
Sensing and LiDAR:
region‑of‑interest scanning, beam pointing, boresight alignment, on‑the‑fly calibration.
R&D and manufacturing:
optical metrology, spectrometer coupling, probe alignment, stabilization loops.
In this clip, a red laser is directed onto the same QSM-1D mirror. The reflected beam is projected onto a paper screen placed behind the device, so you can see the steering response directly as the bright spot moves on the paper. The reflected laser spots trace clean paths, indicating tight synchronization across the eight‑to‑one actuator‑to‑mirror mapping.
What makes QSM stand out
Fast step‑and‑settle behavior comes from smaller mirror elements with lower rotational inertia. Low drift over time and temperature supports long holds without mechanical stages. Low drive voltage targets are achieved by synchronizing multiple actuator units per mirror to deliver high force efficiently. Aperture options and coatings support both visible and infrared bands; array sizing lets you trade aperture, torque, and voltage. Optional angle sensing provides closed‑loop control when required by the application.
Typical configurations and next steps
QSM‑1D is intended as a general‑purpose building block. It can drop into existing optical benches for positioning and raster‑like scans without mechanical stages. The configuration can be versatile:
One‑to‑many actuation: several actuator units synchronized to drive a single mirror element when higher torque or lower voltage is desired.
One‑to‑one tiles: matched actuator and mirror elements for modular scaling across an optical line.
Hybrid pairing: use QSM‑1D as the slow or positioning axis with a resonant fast axis to form a 2‑D scanner.
If you have a specific scan pattern, travel range, or thermal envelope, we can size the mirror and tune the actuation for that case. Request a brief or share your constraints under NDA to scope the right configuration.