Low power high resolution electronic driver for deformable mirror systems

Abstract

This thesis presents an integrated driver for deformable mirror array based on the architecture proposed in Horenstein, et al's "Ultra-low power multiplexed electronic driver for high resolution deformable mirror systems." The integrated driver consists of numerous high voltage (HV) analog switches connecting the deformable mirror cells, on demand by low-voltage digital control signals, to the HV analog signal line, and a HV power amplifier used to drive the HV analog signal line. The reduction of power consumption is essential in both HV power amplifier and analog switch designs for utilization of deformable mirror systems in space-based applications.

In addition to low power design, this work also focuses on the analysis and design of multi-stage amplifier capable to drive large load capacitor, and HV analog switch robust to analog signal noise during OFF state.

The specific research contributions of this work include

(1) A feed-forward stage in combination with a class B output stage is proposed in the HV multi-stage power amplifier structure to improve the large-signal performance when driving large capacitive load.

(2) A low voltage level-shifter and a voltage clamp are added in conventional HV analog switch to reduce the interference from the noisy analog signal line.