Analog Mirror FAQs

1. What is the ordering process and lead time for TI Analog Mirrors? Where can I get samples?
2. Do you have other analog mirror devices besides the TALP1000B?
3. Do you have engineering evaluation kits or reference designs for TI Analog Mirrors?
4. Is there a “window” or coating on the TI Analog Mirrors for protection?
5. How reliable are TI Analog Mirrors? What information is available regarding reliability?

TALP1000B FAQs

1. How do I drive the TALP1000B?
2. What kind of feedback control is available for the TALP1000B?
3. Within what wavelength range does the TALP1000B work?
4. What is the switching time of the TALP1000B? How long does it ring?
5. What is the impact of temperature on the accuracy of the TALP1000B mirror position?
6. What laser power can the TALP1000B handle?
7. Can you create a high density, closely packed array of devices? Can the devices be shielded to allow closer placement of individual devices?

Answers to Analog Mirror FAQs

1. What is the ordering process and lead time for TI Analog Mirrors? Where can I get samples?

Answer: Quantities of 10 can be purchased through TI distributors. You can view a list of TI distributors to inquire about inventory availability and pricing. Search by TI part number once you select a distributor in your area.

2. Do you have other TI Analog Mirrors available besides the TALP1000B?

Answer: Yes, please contact your TI representative to share your application needs further.

3. Do you have engineering evaluation kits or reference designs for TI Analog Mirrors?

Answer: We do not offer evaluation kits at this time. Most customers find TI Analog Mirrors to be straight-forward devices to operate given their simple drive requirements. The Getting Started application notes describe how to get up and running quickly with bench top equipment, and other application notes within the Technical Documents section detail example drive circuits suitable for the devices.

4. Is there a “window” or coating on the TI Analog Mirrors for protection?

Answer: The mirrors are open to the environment. Because the mirror actuators are electromagnetic or piezoelectric based motors, the devices are not overly sensitive to small particles. Handling practices and design enclosures consistent with optical components such as lenses and other mirror surfaces are adequate to maintain motor efficiency, mirror reflectivity, and prevent optical surface damage. It is more cost effective to have a single set of windows at the system level which protects all optical components within the system.

5. How reliable are TI Analog Mirrors? What information is available regarding reliability?

Answer: TI has over a decade of experience in designing and manufacturing custom analog mirror products for various applications and has shipped devices in high volume over the past several years. Reliability is considered carefully as a part of design process, and TI performs industry standard and technology or customer specific qualification and reliability tests on each mirror product. TI implements reliability monitoring tests after product release where appropriate. Contact a TI representative to request more information regarding the reliability of an analog mirror for your application.

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Answers to TALP1000B FAQs

1. How do I drive the TALP1000B?

Answer: The application note entitled “Getting Started Instructions for the TALP1000B” describes how to operate the TALP1000B quickly using benchtop equipment and is a suitable guide for proof-of-concept testing. For an example drive circuit design compatible with the TALP1000B, refer to the available Technical Documents.

2. What kind of feedback control is available for the TALP1000B?

Answer: The TALP1000B has an integrated position feedback sensor with 13-bit resolution per axis. Refer to the product datasheet for more information on the sensitivity and performance of the position feedback sensor. The application note titled TALP1000B Analog Mirror Driver and Estimating Feedback Position Controller also contains details about the feedback sensor.

3. Within what wavelength range does the TALP1000B work?

Answer: The gold (Au) coating on the TALP1000B’s optical surface provides greater than 95% reflectivity in the 700 nm - 10 µm wavelength range.

4. What is the switching time of the TALP1000B? How long does it ring?

Answer: Using an optical feedback loop and an appropriate dampening algorithm, the TALP1000B has demonstrated point A to point B switching at extremes of mirror motion in 5 ms (ringing reduced by 90%). Mirror ringing may persist up to 2-3 seconds without dampening.

5. What is the impact of temperature on the accuracy of the TALP1000B mirror position?

Answer: The mirror has approximately 5% drift over temperature. In applications where maintaining minimal thermal drift is critical, some customers characterize the mirror over temperature and use a look up table to compensate as needed.

6. What laser power levels can the TALP1000B handle?

Answer: While we have not performed extensive characterization of the TALP1000B at high powers, the high reflectivity of the mirrors has allowed customers to use them successfully with up to 1 W in near-infrared (NIR) to far-infrared (FIR) applications as well as up to hundreds of mW in continuous operation.

7. Can you create a high density, closely packed array of devices? Can the devices be shielded to allow closer placement of individual devices?

Answer: Since the mirrors are actuated with a magnetic drive we recommend maintaining 2-3 centimeters between individual mirrors. Yes, shielding can help increase the mirror packing density depending on the desired cross-talk specification.

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