Beam shifting devices

High native resolution can be costly, in particular when pixels need to be large. This holds true for DMD and micro-LED displays or thermal and high-sensitivity CCD or CMOS sensors. ​

Optotune’s pixel shifters are an affordable and reliable way to quadruple the resolution. Only a few millimeters thin, they can be placed between the display/sensor and the projection/imaging optics.

  • Compact, lightweight ​
  • Fast transition times ​
  • Low acoustic noise ​
  • Fully pre-calibrated up to 75°C

By accurately tilting a glass window, light that passes through it is shifted laterally. The tilt is achieved by using a system of voice coil actuators that require control by two current sources, either DAC- or PWM-based. To achieve optimal performance, each beam shifter is tested and calibrated with waveform and temperature compensation data in its EEPROM.

Optotune’s beam shifters (XPR & BSW) provide a convenient and cost-effective way to achieve up to four times higher effective resolution from a sensor or display without increasing its physical size or requiring smaller pixels. The advantage extends beyond the sensor or display itself: because the same imaging or projection optics can be used, there is no need for larger or higher-quality lenses, which are typically required for higher native resolutions. Owing to their ultra-thin design, Optotune’s beam shifters can be easily integrated between the sensor or display and the lens.

Eliminate the screen-door effect with 4x resolution

The screen-door effect refers to the visible dark grid between pixels that can reduce the smoothness and perceived quality of a projected image. Optotune’s XPR (eXpanded Pixel Resolution) technology addresses this by rapidly shifting the image in four half-pixel steps. By optically filling the gaps between pixels, XPR increases the apparent resolution by 4×, resulting in a smoother image, sharper details, and enhanced overall visual quality.

Beam shifting devices

Common Applications:

Compact and precise pixel shifting with ultra-reliable bearingless design. XPRs are placed between sensor and imaging lens in camera systems, or DMD/LCD and projection lens in projection systems.

Beam shifting made easy. Convenient to mount and control, the BSW Series in combination with its ICC-4C controller and software allows for simple integration of precise beam shifting.

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