To the laser show software companies

[JeroenVDV]

However, there is one positive side effect to this technology. If it becomes widely used we will see lots of cheap laser diodes in all the colors we want.

They'll all be quite low power...

[JohnS]

I really don't think this technology can or will replace the traditional laser shows. (...) Because the lasers' power is divided by the entire picture area regardless of what the projector is showing they would require extremely powerful lasers to make beam effects.

...if you use the system as a "raster scanner", this is true.
But it uses an x/y micro galvo in it! So you only have to change the way it is driven to get traditional lasershow style from it. Doing raster scan or doing vector scan is only a question of software...

John

[tocket]

Are you sure about that? I would like to see an article explaining how they work then, as the mirrors would have to do at least 20 million points per second. That must be a really small mirror then.

[JohnS]

Take a look at

http://www.microvision.com/technology/mems.html



;-)

John

[tocket]

Ok, that is a pretty small mirror. The link was not very informative though. It probably operates in an oscillating fashion normally, so using it for beam effects with good efficiency might be trickier than you think. It is hard to tell how well it will work in a non-oscillating mode (especially with so little information).

Raster scanning has inherent disadvantages for beam effects and there's little to do about it. It is obviously better for complex graphics, but I would rather see that as an evolution of the video projector than laser(show) projectors. It certainly won't kill the lasershow industry.

I'm not saying that the MEMS technology will not find any use in lasershows, because it probably will. It could for example enable very high performance closed loop galvos to be produced.

Some other concerns about MEMS is if the mirror can handle a powerful laser (you will probably have to be very careful to mask out any light that doesn't hit the mirror at least). It also looks very fragile. I wonder if that will be a problem with the PicoP projectors.

Anyone know how fast you can modulate DPSS lasers by the way? Is it anywhere near 20MHz?

[godfrey]

The entire assembly (including the pencil) is around the beam diameter of a 635nm diode laser.

But that thing is so cool nonetheless.

[werner1619]

CARMAN GARY,

I think I might have an idea that will make your dream of a Common/ Free Laser show format very easy and possible. It would not matter what Laser show software you have today or tommorow or in a few years, it will be the ultimate answer to all your dreams...

Interested...?

[carmangary]

Sure. Lay it on me.

[Banthai]

well for me ( working in the servo industry for the last 20 years ) the Positional control required for laser systems ( or any motion control ) is all about the accuracy of the feedback and to maintain the projected linierarity over the angles ( sorry but ive had a couple of wines tonight so my spelling not to good .... thats glasses not bottles before anyone comments )

these new devices are basicaly doing a repetitive scan ( frequency dependent ) and its unlikey that they will be able to compete with a set of CT6800s ..... but hey im sure they will prove me wrong at some point in the future

all the best ... Karl

[carmangary]

Maybe... it depends on the repeatability of the devices. It could be that feedback is not so much an issue with these. But, I'm just playing devil's advocate because I really don't know. There is quite a bit of a difference between rotating an entire galvo assembly with magnet, rotor, position sensor, and mirror as opposed to just a little mirror. So, I am not sure the rules apply equally.