Optical probe system with increased scanning speed

摘要

An optical probe system having a probe with an optical guide (G) having a distal end. The optical guide (G) is mounted inside a housing (H) so that the distal end is displaceable with respect to the housing (H). A set of actuators (A), e.g. electromagnetic drive coils, can displace the distal end by application of a drive signal (Vx, Vy). A control unit (CU) generates the drive signal (Vx, Vy) so as to provide a scanning frequency which varies according to an amplitude of the drive signal (Vx, Vy). With such probe system it is possible to scan a field of view with a scanning frequency that varies with the scanning radius. Taking into account the maximum allowable drive current, it is possible to increase scanning speed compared to scanning at the mechanical resonance frequency of the optical system, since small radii can be scanned at a high scanning frequency.

主权项

1. An optical probe system comprising:
a probe comprising an optical guide (G) having a distal end, a housing (H), the optical guide (G) being mounted inside the housing (H) so that the distal end is displaceable with respect to the housing (H), and an actuation system (A) comprising a set of actuators capable of displacing the distal end by a displacement force induced by applying a drive signal (Vx, Vy) to the set of actuators, and a control unit (CU) operationally connected to the probe, the control unit (CU) being arranged to generate the drive signal (Vx, Vy) to the set of actuators so as to displace the distal end according to a scanning form over a field of view, wherein the control unit (CU) generates the drive signal (Vx, Vy) so as to provide a scanning frequency which varies according to an amplitude of the drive signal (Vx, Vy).