Technology - Mirada

Our Technology

A New Approach to New Markets

Mirada was launched by industry veterans who have created a new approach to precision optics. The need for a new approach is driven by the emerging automotive LiDAR and industrial LiDAR markets. This approach enables low cost manufacturing of precision optical components, as well as a new method of enabling rotating optical systems survive the shock and vibration on the road.

A Scalable Approach to Optics

High performance polygon optics, and similar complex optical elements are often manufactured by single point diamond turning or diamond machining. This style of polishing can produce high quality products, but with incredibly high prices and low turnaround time. This process lacks scalability, unable to meet the cost and production demands of the growing markets that rely on quality lidar.

Mirada has revolutionized polygon optics manufacturing. We invert the process, and form optical surfaces with ultra high flatness and low roughness. These surfaces are then assembled and aligned in a novel, patent pending process to create complex, yet low cost polygon optics, in a method that scales to high volume at low costs.

Polygon Scanners

Mirada produces polygon scanners for many applications, ranging from four to ten sides with a broad assortment of specifications that can be customized to your company’s needs.

Field of View (FOV) - Regular Polygons

Regular polygons contain reflective surfaces that are set at the same angle with respect to the polygon’s rotational axis. A single incident beam on the polygon will sweep a single line N times per rotation, where N is the number of sides of the polygon.

Field of View (FOV) - Irregular Polygons

Mirada’s technology is well suited to deliver high performance irregular polygons, still scaling to high volume deployments at cheap costs.

Irregular polygons reflective surfaces are set at different angles with respect to the rotational axis. A single beam incident on the polygon will then scan N different lines per rotation. For example, a single channel LiDAR system that illuminates a 10-sided irregular polygon scanner can image 10 individual horizontal lines per rotation, using only the polygon as the beam steering mechanism.

Using a Mirada Polygon with a MEMS device or Galvanometer

Polygon scanners can be coupled with a second scanner, including MEMS devices and galvanometers. Coupling these scanners can generate different, more complex scan patterns. These varied scan patterns and update rates can be specialized regarding whether the light beam hits the polygon scanner first or last, as well as manipulation of the relative speeds of each scanner.

Multi-Polygon Systems

Two or more polygon scanners can be used to generate novel scan patterns when used together to direct beams of light.

Monogon Scanners

Mirada also produces monogon scanners. These scanners use a single rotating optical reflecting surface, inclined at an angle relative to its rotational axis to produce a highly accurate spot placement and gather high resolution information.

Scanning with a Monogon

A range of Field of View (FOV) scan patterns can be realized using a monogon, or a monogon scanner coupled with a second scanner. Monogons retain a special ability to scan a full 360 degree field of view when the incident beam is properly co-aligned with the rotational axis.

Drivers

Mirada’s scanners are driven by state of the art, high stability drivers. Typically these drivers are integrated into our polygon scanners, however we can also provide external drivers for location elsewhere in your platform and customized to your company’s needs.

Constant Speed Drivers

Our constant speed drivers deliver high speed stability and low jitter for the most demanding applications out there. These drivers are typically powered by an input square wave where the duty cycle is proportional to the scanner speed.

Phase Lock Drivers

Mirada also provides phase lock drivers. These drivers allow for control of the driver speed as well as control over the phase of the rotating scanner. By providing an input square wave clock, rotational speed is set based on the frequency of the input signal. The relative phase of the rotation is then governed by the phase of the input square wave.

Encoders

Incremental Encoders

Our scanners can provide positional information for your application using incremental encoders. Our incremental encoders provide three output signals: I, A, and B.

The index pulse, I, provides a signal with each rotation of the scanner. The A/B signals are square waves 180 degrees apart from each other that occur many times per rotation. The rise and fall of I, A, and B provide high resolution position information, and the relative phase of A and B signals tell you the rotation direction.

Absolute Encoders

We also provide absolute encoders for your company’s needs. These encoders can be queried, and output the absolute angle position over several communication protocols.

Optical Start of Scan

We can work with you to find the right method to enable your application.

One method to understand the position of a scanner during operation is an external start of scan sensor. This sensor optical tracks the facet positions.

Simulation Capability

We work with our customers to perform optical and mechanical simulation, enabling new levels of performance and empowering discovery of new possibilities for your product vision. We can be a partner in developing your systems with our simulation of optical systems. Please visit our Contact page to get in touch and learn more.