US3715591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical scanning equipment
Assignee: Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Ltd
•
Filing: 1971-12-03
•
Granted: 1973-02-06
•
Expires: 1991-12-03
Abstract
Abstract An aerial infra-red line-scanning system is provided in which rotation of a scanning rotor not only scans the terrain below the aerial vehicle and reflects the scanning beam on to an infra-red detection cell but also traverses a plurality of recording beams widthwise in succession across a film record transported close to the rotor in a direction parallel to the rotor axis. The recording beams are modulated in accordance with the signal output of the IR cell. The film is constrained, in the region where it is scanned by the recording beams, to a widthwise curvature centered on the axis of the rotor.
Inventors
- 👤 F Gull
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/02; H04N3/08; H04N3/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A scanning and recording system to be carried by a vehicle, comprising a scanning rotor mounted to rotate about an axis parallel to the direction of motion of said vehicle and having a plurality of reflecting faces, detection means receiving beams reflected from said plurality of reflecting faces and giving a signal output that varies in accordance with beam strength falling thereon, record medium transport means transporting a record medium band along a path extending parallel to said axis of rotation and close to said rotor, recording beam projection means mounted on said rotor to rotate therewith and projecting at least one recording beam radially with respect to said axis of rotation which recording beam passes repeatedly widthwise across said record medium band transported close to said rotor as said rotor rotates, means modulating said recording beam in accordance with variations in the signal output of said detection means, and means constraining said record medium band, in the region of its travel where it is scanned by said recording beam, to a widthwise curvature centered on said axis of rotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A scanning and recording system to be carried by a vehicle, comprising a scanning rotor mounted to rotate about an axis parallel to the direction of motion of said vehicle and having a plurality of reflecting faces, detection means receiving beams reflected from said plurality of reflecting faces and giving a signal output that varies in accordance with beam strength falling thereon, record medium transport means transporting a record medium band along a path extending parallel to said axis of rotation and close to said rotor, recording beam projection means mounted on said rotor to rotate therewith and projecting at least one recording beam radially with respect to said axis of rotation which recording beam passes repeatedly widthwise across said record medium band transported close to said rotor as said rotor rotates, means modulating said recording beam in accordance with variations in the signal output of said detection means, and means constraining said record medium band, in the region of its travel where it is scanned by said recording beam, to a widthwise curvature centered on said axis of rotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
180 words
A scanning and recording system to be carried by a vehicle, comprising a scanning rotor mounted to rotate about an axis parallel to the direction of motion of said vehicle and having a plurality of reflecting faces, detection means receiving beams reflected from said plurality of reflecting faces and giving a signal output that varies in accordance with beam strength falling thereon, record medium transport means transporting a record medium band along a path extending parallel to said axis of rotation and close to said rotor, recording beam projection means mounted on said rotor to rotate therewith and projecting at least one recording beam radially with respect to said axis of rotation which recording beam passes repeatedly widthwise across said record medium band transported close to said rotor as said rotor rotates, means modulating said recording beam in accordance with variations in the signal output of said detection means, and means constraining said record medium band, in the region of its travel where it is scanned by said recording beam, to a widthwise curvature centered on said axis of rotation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
180 words
A scanning and recording system to be carried by a vehicle, comprising a scanning rotor mounted to rotate about an axis parallel to the direction of motion of said vehicle and having a plurality of reflecting faces, detection means receiving beams reflected from said plurality of reflecting faces and giving a signal output that varies in accordance with beam strength falling thereon, record medium transport means transporting a record medium band along a path extending parallel to said axis of rotation and close to said rotor, recording beam projection means mounted on said rotor to rotate therewith and projecting at least one recording beam radially with respect to said axis of rotation which recording beam passes repeatedly widthwise across said record medium band transported close to said rotor as said rotor rotates, means modulating said recording beam in accordance with variations in the signal output of said detection means, and means constraining said record medium band, in the region of its travel where it is scanned by said recording beam, to a widthwise curvature centered on said axis of rotation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the scanning is optical scanning and said detection means is at least one infra red sensitive cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said rotor is generally of square cross-section with four equiangularly-disposed mirror faces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises a double-sided plane mirror set in a plane at 45* to the axis of rotation, and focusing mirrors disposed at opposite sides of said plane mirror and centered on the rotor axis to collect and focus the beams from said plane mirror on to said detection means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises a four-sided pyramidal mirror which reflects on to said detection means the radiation from a fixed spherical collector mirror.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 1, disposed in an aerial vehicle for scanning the terrestrial scene below and mounted in an open compartment at ambient atmospheric pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said recording beam projection means comprises multiple optical focusing systems projecting said recording beam along a plurality of equiangularly-spaced radial paths, whereby plural radial beams pass in succession across said record medium band so recording successive lines thereon as said record medium band travels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system according to claim 7, wherein a light source modulated in accordance with said detector means signal output is disposed on the axis of said rotor, and said recording beam projection beams further comprises central reflecting optical means within said rotor, the light from said modulated light source passing axially within the rotor and being reflected to said multiple optical systems by said central reflecting optical means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 1, further comprIsing twin fixed focusing reflectors situated one on either side of said rotor, to reflect beams from the faces thereof on to said detection means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein said fixed focusing reflectors are mirrors with their reflecting faces forming parts of a paraboloid and disposed to reflect beams from said rotor faces upward in two mutually converging beams, and a ridge mirror is situated and oriented to reflect on to said detection means beams approaching it on either side from said two fixed paraboloid mirrors.
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) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |