US3700911A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical scanner with straight scanning line
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-02
•
Granted: 1972-10-24
•
Expires: 1991-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A rotor contains a plurality of lenses spaced about its axis at a constant distance therefrom. As it turns each lens successively forms an image of a narrow area moving along a straight scanning line. The image is formed adjacent a point eccentric of the rotor axis, the eccentricity being computed so that this point remains stationary as the rotor turns. A stationary plane mirror placed inside the lens circle displaces the image to a convenient location. Photocells are placed there. Preferably illumination of said narrow area of the record is through a lens of the rotor from a line-like area of light.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest Wildhaber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:58
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/02; H04N3/06; G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/002; G11B7/003; G11B7/0031; G11B7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
Optical scanner operating with a scanning line that is straight at least approximately, comprising a rotor containing at least one lens at a distance from its axis, the axis of said lens including an angle with the direction of the rotor axis, means for supporting a record, means for effective relative displacement between said record and said rotor in a direction approximately parallel to the rotor axis, said record bearing characters arranged in a line and being supported to match said scanning line, means for illuminating said record, means for forming an image through said lens of a narrow linelike record area adjacent a point eccentric of and at a larger distance from said lens than the rotor axis whereby said linelike area sweeps said line of characters on rotation of the rotor, the eccentricity of said point being such that said image stays adjacent said point as the rotor turns and being larger than half the distance of said lens from the rotor axis in a direction away from said lens, a stationary mirror placed inside the circular path of said lens to displace said image to a difFerent position lengthwise of the rotor axis, and means for converting the variations of light intensity at said displaced image into electric impulses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
Optical scanner operating with a scanning line that is straight at least approximately, comprising a rotor containing at least one lens at a distance from its axis, the axis of said lens including an angle with the direction of the rotor axis, means for supporting a record, means for effective relative displacement between said record and said rotor in a direction approximately parallel to the rotor axis, said record bearing characters arranged in a line and being supported to match said scanning line, means for illuminating said record, means for forming an image through said lens of a narrow linelike record area adjacent a point eccentric of and at a larger distance from said lens than the rotor axis whereby said linelike area sweeps said line of characters on rotation of the rotor, the eccentricity of said point being such that said image stays adjacent said point as the rotor turns and being larger than half the distance of said lens from the rotor axis in a direction away from said lens, a stationary mirror placed inside the circular path of said lens to displace said image to a difFerent position lengthwise of the rotor axis, and means for converting the variations of light intensity at said displaced image into electric impulses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
Optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein said rotor contains a plurality of lenses spaced about its axis at a constant distance therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
Optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein the eccentricity of said image from the rotor axis is larger than half the product of the lens distance therefrom multiplied by the scale ratio of the image to the corresponding record portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein said eccentricity and the distance of said lens from the rotor axis are approximately at the scale ratio of said image to the corresponding portion of the record.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
Optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein a support is provided for the record, said support is straight in the direction of the scanning line for most of its length and minutely curved adjacent the ends of the scanning line, being convex towards the rotor axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
179 words
Optical scanner operating with a scanning line that is straight at least approximately, comprising a rotor containing at least one lens at a distance from its axis, the axis of said lens including an angle with the rotor axis, means for receiving a record bearing characters arranged in a line, means for emitting light from a narrow line-like area and for directing said light so that it appears to come from a region eccentric of the rotor axis and at a larger distance from said lens than the rotor axis, and to pass through said lens onto the record, said region being a distance from the rotor axis more than half the distance of said lens therefrom, said light-emitting means illuminating a straight line-like strip of said record, so that said lighted strip moves along said line of characters upon rotation of said rotor, means for forming an image of said moving strip adjacent a point that remains stationary as the rotor turns, and means for converting the fluctuations of light intensity received at said image into electric impulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
179 words
Optical scanner operating with a scanning line that is straight at least approximately, comprising a rotor containing at least one lens at a distance from its axis, the axis of said lens including an angle with the rotor axis, means for receiving a record bearing characters arranged in a line, means for emitting light from a narrow line-like area and for directing said light so that it appears to come from a region eccentric of the rotor axis and at a larger distance from said lens than the rotor axis, and to pass through said lens onto the record, said region being a distance from the rotor axis more than half the distance of said lens therefrom, said light-emitting means illuminating a straight line-like strip of said record, so that said lighted strip moves along said line of characters upon rotation of said rotor, means for forming an image of said moving strip adjacent a point that remains stationary as the rotor turns, and means for converting the fluctuations of light intensity received at said image into electric impulses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
Optical scanner according to claim 6, wherein said rotor contains a plurality of lenses spaced about its axis at a constant distance therefrom and the axes of said lenses are at approximately right angles to the rotor axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Optical scanner according to claim 6, wherein the means for emitting light is an incandescent lamp having a filament that extends along a single straight line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Optical scanner according to claim 6, wherein the means for emitting light from a narrow line-like area is a stationary laser combined with stationary optical fibers leading from the laser outlet to said area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
Optical scanner according to claim 6, wherein optical fiber means are provided to split up the image of the lighted strip into a plurality of point-like elements, whose varying light intensity is transmitted to separate photocells.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |