US3602572A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two-dimensional optical beam scanner
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1968-12-03
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1988-12-03
Abstract
Abstract Described is an optical beam scanner capable of transmitting large beam diameters over wide fields of view in two dimensions (i.e., full-frame scanning) at high scan rates. A wide field of view in one dimension of the scan is achieved by focusing an incident beam on a rotating optical assembly in such a manner that the beam is collimated and deflected through an angle that is the sum of the angle subtended by an individual optical element of the assembly and the angle that develops due to the varying off-axis position of the beam with respect to the optical element.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor J Norris Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/02; H04N3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
In a two-dimensional optical scanning system, a rotating disc, a plurality of lenses carried on said disc and spaced around its periphery in side-by-side relationship, pyramid means at the center of said disc and operatively connected thereto so as to rotate therewith, the sides of said pyramid means defining a number of plane reflecting facets equal to the number of lenses, each facet being located at the focal plane of an associated lens, and means for producing a light beam and for focusing said beam into a spot which intersects the focal planes of said lenses on said reflecting facets such that the beam of light will be reflected in one dimension from each facet to its associated lens so that the principal axis of said lens is initially on one side of the beam, then coincident with it, and finally on the other side of the beam, whereby the angle scanned by the beam in said one dimension will comprise the angle through which the beam is deflected as the lens rotates through the angle it subtends plus the refractive angles produced by virtue of the initial and final off-axis positions of the beam with respect to the principal axis of the lens, and means in the path of said beam for causing said beam to scan in a second dimension at right angles to said first dimension.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a two-dimensional optical scanning system, a rotating disc, a plurality of lenses carried on said disc and spaced around its periphery in side-by-side relationship, pyramid means at the center of said disc and operatively connected thereto so as to rotate therewith, the sides of said pyramid means defining a number of plane reflecting facets equal to the number of lenses, each facet being located at the focal plane of an associated lens, and means for producing a light beam and for focusing said beam into a spot which intersects the focal planes of said lenses on said reflecting facets such that the beam of light will be reflected in one dimension from each facet to its associated lens so that the principal axis of said lens is initially on one side of the beam, then coincident with it, and finally on the other side of the beam, whereby the angle scanned by the beam in said one dimension will comprise the angle through which the beam is deflected as the lens rotates through the angle it subtends plus the refractive angles produced by virtue of the initial and final off-axis positions of the beam with respect to the principal axis of the lens, and means in the path of said beam for causing said beam to scan in a second dimension at right angles to said first dimension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the means for causing said beam to scan in said second direction comprises a rotating polygon having a plurality of reflective facets interposed between said means for producing a light beam and the rotational path of travel of said facets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said polygon rotates at a higher speed than said rotating disc.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for causing the beam to scan in a dimension at right angles to the first-mentioned dimension comprises a plurality of electrooptical beam deflectors arranged in cascade.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the beam at the output of said lenses is directed to a first beam deflector capable of deflecting the beam to either a second or a third beam deflector, the second and third beam deflectors each being capable of deflecting the beam to either a first or a second position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 4 wherein each lens is disposed at an angle with respect to a line normal to the plane of rotation of said rotating disc, said angles being different for each lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said lenses is disposed at an angle with respect to a line extending normal to the plane of rotation of said rotating disc with each of said angles for the respective lenses being different from the angles for the other lenses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 7 including an analog electrooptical deflector for deflecting an incident beam from one position to another on the facets of said rotating truncated pyramid each time said rotating disc rotates through a complete revolution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 including means for continually increasing or decreasing the field of view of said lenses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the means for directing said light beam into the rotational path of travel of said facets includes an input lens, translating refractive elements on either side of said input lens, translating refractive elements on either side of the rotational path of travel of said lenses carried on the disc and in the path of said light beam, and means for moving said input lens and said translating refractive elements in unison.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |