High-Resolution Wide-Dynamic-Range MEMS-Based Closed-Loop Adaptive Optics System

Block MEMS, LLC (Block) and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) are proposing a unique approach to wave front processing and correction using an adaptive optics deformable mirror (DM) technology. The key technical challenges involve a DM that has one million pixels, each moving vertically up to 40 microns at a frame rate of 100 kHz. Not only does this present a challenge for the microelectromechanical system (MEMS), but it presents an even greater challenge for the wavefront/image-processing system. We propose a Fourier optics approach to wavefront monitoring and sharpness correction and a state-of the-art MEMS mechanism based on the Sandia Labs SUMMiT-VT MEMS fabrication process. The Fourier optics approach eliminates the need to process one million pixels in the traditional matrix multiply fashion, as this traditional approach could not process the correction at the100 kHz rate. In contrast our approach needs only to maximize a single image-sharpness metric using an iterative algorithmic approach that we contend is achievable at the 100 kHz rate.