An Electromechanical Coupled Model of the Probe of a Scanning Fiber Imaging System

A higher fidelity electromechanical model of the piezoelectric actuator coupled to the optical fiber in a scanning fiber imaging system is developed and solved using finite element software and validated to predict certain system characteristics with good accuracy. Experimental data collected is also used to study the effect of some design and control choices in the transition between linear to non-linear operating regimes for these scanning systems. Alternative reduced order non-linear models are developed to handle predicting system characteristics for such non-linear scanners. A model based design approach is also presented for an iterative design-build-test approach to development of this technology. The capabilities of the models in evaluating effectiveness of unconventional fiber scanner designs is also explored.