Rotary scanner imaging device with mirrors mounted therein for reflecting radiation energy to photodetector means

Claim 1

A MECHANICAL IMAGING DEVICE OPERATIVE IN ANY SPECTRAL REGION COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: CARSOUSEL SCANNING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR PLATE MEMBER HAVING A CENTER AXIS AND A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUALLY SPACED APERTURES LOCATED PROXIMATE TO THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PLATE MEMBER AND FIRST REFLECTOR MEANS LOCATED ADJACENT EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF APERTURES FOR REFLECTING SPECTRAL ENERGY INWARDLY OF SAID PERIPHERY WHEN EACH SAID FIRST REFLECTOR MEANS INTERSECTS A SPECTRAL PATH; MOTOR MEANS COUPLED TO SAID CIRCULAR PLATE MEMBER FOR PROVIDING ROTATION THEREOF ABOUT SAID CENTER AXIS; AT LEAST ONE PHOTODETECTOR ELEMENT SELECTIVELY LOCATED ADJACENT SAID CIRCULAR PLATE MEMBER FOR RECEIVING SPECTRAL ENERGY REFLECTED FROM SAID FIRST REFLECTOR MEANS FOR PROVIDING A LIGHT MODULATED ELECTRICAL SIGNAL OUTPUT WHEN SAID CAROUSEL SCANNING APPARATUS IS ROTATED ABOUT SAID CENTER AXIS;