Patent US3729248A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3729248A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical scanning assembly with helical-shaped rotating reflector
Assignee: Alcatel CIT SA
•
Filing: 1971-06-24
•
Granted: 1973-04-24
•
Expires: 1991-06-24
Abstract
Abstract An optical scanning assembly employs a reflector constructed in the form of a cylindrical helix which is rotatable about the axis of the helix. A light source is arranged to direct a collimated beam of light parallel to the helix axis, so that the light beam strikes a first reflective surface of the reflector. Depending upon the angle of the reflective surface of the reflector with respect to a radial line of the cylinder, the beam of light from the light source will be deflected away from the axis of the cylinder in a predetermined direction. The light then strikes a desired surface and may be reflected therefrom into the photosensitive element for further processing. Because of the rotation of the helix-shaped reflector, the light beam from the light source is scanned back and forth along the line parallel to the helix axis.
Inventors
- 👤 M Beduchaud
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:37
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/024; H04N1/028; H04N1/02815; H04N1/0282; H04N1/0283; G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; H04N1/04; H04N1/12; H04N1/16; H04N1/203; H04N1/2036; H04N1/2038; H04N1/207
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
An optical scanning assembly comprising a first reflector constructed as a cylindrical helix rotatable about the helix axis, and a light source arranged to direct a collimated light beam parallel to said helix axis to strike a first reflective surface of said reflector, so that said beam is deflected away from said axis and, upon rotation of said reflector, is scanned back and forth along a line parallel to said helix axis, wherein said reflector comprises a reflective strip wound in helix fashion around the circumference of a cylindrical core, and wherein the first reflective surface of said strip is concave, whereby said deflected beam is convergent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
An optical scanning assembly comprising a first reflector constructed as a cylindrical helix rotatable about the helix axis, and a light source arranged to direct a collimated light beam parallel to said helix axis to strike a first reflective surface of said reflector, so that said beam is deflected away from said axis and, upon rotation of said reflector, is scanned back and forth along a line parallel to said helix axis, wherein said reflector comprises a reflective strip wound in helix fashion around the circumference of a cylindrical core, and wherein the first reflective surface of said strip is concave, whereby said deflected beam is convergent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said light source is a laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly according to claim 1 further including a light modulator through which said beam passes so as to modulate the output of said light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly according to claim 1, further including a lens and a photo-sensitive element optically coupled thereto, said lens being arranged to concentrate any reflected light from said deflected beam onto said photo-sensitive element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly according to claim 1, further including a convex cylindrical lens arranged parallel to said helix axis, so that said deflected beam passes through said lens at all points on its scanning path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
138 words
An optical scanning assembly comprising a first reflector constructed as a cylindrical helix rotatable about the helix axis, and a light source arranged to direct a collimated light beam parallel to said helix axis to strike a first reflective surface of said reflector, so that said beam is deflected away from said axis and, upon rotation of said reflector, is scanned back and forth along a line parallel to said helix axis, in which said reflector has a second reflective surface directed in a direction opposite to said first reflective surface and further including means, coupled to said light source, for providing an additional collimated light beam parallel to said helix axis and directing said additional beam to said second reflective surface, whereby a pair of light beams are scanned back and forth, upon rotation of said reflector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
An optical scanning assembly comprising a first reflector constructed as a cylindrical helix rotatable about the helix axis, and a light source arranged to direct a collimated light beam parallel to said helix axis to strike a first reflective surface of said reflector, so that said beam is deflected away from said axis and, upon rotation of said reflector, is scanned back and forth along a line parallel to said helix axis, in which said reflector has a second reflective surface directed in a direction opposite to said first reflective surface and further including means, coupled to said light source, for providing an additional collimated light beam parallel to said helix axis and directing said additional beam to said second reflective surface, whereby a pair of light beams are scanned back and forth, upon rotation of said reflector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
An assembly according to claim 6, wherein said additional beam providing means comprises a beam splitter for separating said collimated beam from said light source into first and second portions, the first of which is directed to said first reflective surface and the second of which is directed to said second reflective surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
An assembly aCcording to claim 7, further including a photo-sensitive element and optical system associated therewith for receiving the deflected light of said first beam portion and further including a light modulator for receiving said additional beam of light, and including means, connected between said photo-sensitive element and said modulator, for controlling the output of said modulator in response to the light impinging upon said photo-sensitive element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the reflecting surfaces of said strip is concave.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An assembly according to claim 6, wherein both of the reflecting surfaces of said strip are concave.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3523160A
Cited
US3618487A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |