Behind the Headlights: What’s a MEMS Scanner?

The University of Tokyo released a study in Feb. 2021 about something called the MEMS scanner design. This design showcases the evolution of headlight technology, and just how rapidly innovation is flying to help reduce the high rate of deaths from roadways.

What is a MEMS scanner?

A MEMS optical scanner is a two-dimensional product that works to produce numerous patterns of illumination. The material is phosphor luminescent, and patterns go through this material to produce images. Specifically, it works via a slender lead-zirconate-titanate oxide (PZT) film that’s attached to a silicon-on-insulator wafer.

Ultimately, it’s designed to be highly controllable. The product “piezoelectrically excites” the movement of the mirror.

Image Source: Optics

The 3.5-watt blue laser diode spans just 450 nanometers. Different illumination patterns come to life. The phosphor material can be thanked for the white light that we see with the MEMS scanner lenses.

According to MEMS scanner experts from the University of Tokyo, the heightened accuracy makes this design desirable for vehicle safety.

Why some think MEMS scanners are more effective than adaptive driving beams

Adaptive driving beams (ADB headlights) are interesting, even if they’re not yet available in the American market. However, researchers suggest that ADB headlights are not as reliable or accurate as MEMS scanner technology. The stability is one of the factors that give the headlights their safety, which means MEMS might have the upper hand.

Additionally, researchers say the MEMS scanner technology can go above and beyond. The report says, “While this technology certainly advances drive-assist technology, it also has other potential applications in light detection and range finding, as well as inter-vehicle optical communication links. […] The system could find use in self-driving technology of intelligent traffic systems in the future, taking us another step toward risk-free driving.”

Why not stick with what we’ve got?

Nighttime is widely considered the most dangerous time to drive because of accident fatalities that occur when the sun goes down. Of course, there are various reasons for this (including fatigue, drive impairment, and traffic) but visibility is definitely one of them. 

The National Safety Council says that high-beam headlights are limited to 500 feet of visibility, with normal lights reaching just half of that. By optimizing headlight technology, designers feel like they can cut down on unnecessary fatalities on roadways across the world.

If adaptive beams and MEMS scanners alike become the norm, we may just see a reduction in accidents and, subsequently, accident-caused deaths.