Patent US3734591A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3734591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Scanning system with uniform scan rate and rapid return
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1970-12-14
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1990-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A mirror useful for signal processing and display apparatus is caused to oscillate in a cyclic manner with a uniform scan during 66 percent of a cycle and a quick return during 34 percent of the oscillating cycle. Such uniform scan and quick return is effected by oscillating the mirror on an oscillating frame, the axes of oscillation of both elements being parallel to each other. The mirror is substantially free to pivot with respect to the frame and is provided with springs for periodic contact with the frame at the end of each oscillatory arc for storage of spring energy to drive the mirror. The frame is oscillated in a substantially sinusoidal manner so that energy stored therein during the slower, active portion of the cycle is retransferred by impact to the mirror for the fast retrace thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 S Howe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:22
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18856; Y10T74/18864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
447 words
A scanning device comprising: a mirror assembly oscillable through a first arc of oscillation bounded by a first pair of arc terminal points about a first axis of oscillation, said mirror assembly having mounting means on the first axis of oscillation; a frame oscillable through a second arc of oscillation bounded by a second pair of arc terminal points about a second axis of oscillation parallel to the first axis of oscillation, said frame having first journal means pivotally supporting said mirror assembly on said mounting means, a first pair of abutments positioned orthogonally to and on opposite sides of the first and second axes of oscillation, and spring contact means coupled to a source of electrical power; spring means having a pair of cantilever arms of spring material secured to said mirror assembly and positioned orthogonally to and on opposite sides of the first and second axes of oscillation, said arms having portions thereon contactable in sliding engagement with said frame abutments at the mirror arc terminal points and capable of storing energy when stressed; a support having second journal means pivotally supporting said frame and a second pair of abutments positioned on opposite sides of said frame spring contact means for contact therewith upon oscillation of said frame; and magnetic driver means secured between said support and said frame on opposite sides of the second axis of oscillation for imparting substantially sinusoidal motion of said frame, said driver means comprising a first electromagnet positioned on one of said support and said frame and a magnetically attractable portion positioned on the other of said support and said frame at one of the opposite sides, said first electromagnet coupled between the source of electrical power and one of said second pair of abutments and a second electromagnet positioned on one of of said support and said frame and a magnetically attractable portion positioned on the other oF said support and said frame at the other of the opposite sides, said second electromagnet coupled between the source of electrical power and the other of said second pair of abutments, said electromagnets being alternatively energizable upon the alternate contact between said frame spring contact means and said second pair of abutments to impart and continue the substantially sinusoidal motion of said frame whereby the motion thereof causes oscillation of said mirror to rebound between said first pair of abutments upon contact therewith of said spring cantilever arms, the combination of the oscillations of said frame and said mirror providing an approximate 66 percent scan of said mirror in one direction of mirror oscillation and an approximate 34 percent return of said mirror in the opposite direction of mirror oscillation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
447 words
A scanning device comprising: a mirror assembly oscillable through a first arc of oscillation bounded by a first pair of arc terminal points about a first axis of oscillation, said mirror assembly having mounting means on the first axis of oscillation; a frame oscillable through a second arc of oscillation bounded by a second pair of arc terminal points about a second axis of oscillation parallel to the first axis of oscillation, said frame having first journal means pivotally supporting said mirror assembly on said mounting means, a first pair of abutments positioned orthogonally to and on opposite sides of the first and second axes of oscillation, and spring contact means coupled to a source of electrical power; spring means having a pair of cantilever arms of spring material secured to said mirror assembly and positioned orthogonally to and on opposite sides of the first and second axes of oscillation, said arms having portions thereon contactable in sliding engagement with said frame abutments at the mirror arc terminal points and capable of storing energy when stressed; a support having second journal means pivotally supporting said frame and a second pair of abutments positioned on opposite sides of said frame spring contact means for contact therewith upon oscillation of said frame; and magnetic driver means secured between said support and said frame on opposite sides of the second axis of oscillation for imparting substantially sinusoidal motion of said frame, said driver means comprising a first electromagnet positioned on one of said support and said frame and a magnetically attractable portion positioned on the other of said support and said frame at one of the opposite sides, said first electromagnet coupled between the source of electrical power and one of said second pair of abutments and a second electromagnet positioned on one of of said support and said frame and a magnetically attractable portion positioned on the other oF said support and said frame at the other of the opposite sides, said second electromagnet coupled between the source of electrical power and the other of said second pair of abutments, said electromagnets being alternatively energizable upon the alternate contact between said frame spring contact means and said second pair of abutments to impart and continue the substantially sinusoidal motion of said frame whereby the motion thereof causes oscillation of said mirror to rebound between said first pair of abutments upon contact therewith of said spring cantilever arms, the combination of the oscillations of said frame and said mirror providing an approximate 66 percent scan of said mirror in one direction of mirror oscillation and an approximate 34 percent return of said mirror in the opposite direction of mirror oscillation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
190 words
An oscillating device comprising: a frame journalled to a support on first journal means having a first axis for movement of said frame in a first arc of oscillation; an element having a journalled coupling to said frame on second journal means having a second axis spaced from and parallel to the first axis for limit-cycle oscillation of said element in a second arc of oscillation bounded by the arc terminal points; energy storage and release means coupled to one of said frame and said element and positioned therebetween and having a contact between said frame and said element at the arc terminal points to store and release energy for the limit-cycle oscillation of said element relative to said frame upon the contact therewith between the arc terminal points through a first cycle of oscillation having a first rate of motion during a period of time; and force producing means coupled between said frame and said support and operable on said frame to induce the frame movement through a second cycle of oscillation having a second rate of motion different from the first rate during the same period of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
190 words
An oscillating device comprising: a frame journalled to a support on first journal means having a first axis for movement of said frame in a first arc of oscillation; an element having a journalled coupling to said frame on second journal means having a second axis spaced from and parallel to the first axis for limit-cycle oscillation of said element in a second arc of oscillation bounded by the arc terminal points; energy storage and release means coupled to one of said frame and said element and positioned therebetween and having a contact between said frame and said element at the arc terminal points to store and release energy for the limit-cycle oscillation of said element relative to said frame upon the contact therewith between the arc terminal points through a first cycle of oscillation having a first rate of motion during a period of time; and force producing means coupled between said frame and said support and operable on said frame to induce the frame movement through a second cycle of oscillation having a second rate of motion different from the first rate during the same period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein said journalled coupling between said element and said frame comprises spring means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein said flexure pivot comprises a cross-axis flexure pivot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein said energy storage release means includes a pair of cantilevered arms of spring material positioned on one of said frame and said element and a pair of abutments positioned on the other of said frame and said element and alternately contactable by said arms during the movement of said element with respect to said frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein said force producing means comprises an electromagnetic mechanism having a first part secured to said frame and a second part secured to said support, said first and second parts being positioned at a distance from the first axis and energizable during a portion of the movement of said frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein said energy storage and release means includes damping means to ensure stable oscillation of said element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
An oscillating device comprising a support, a first member journalled to said support for oscillation with respect thereto and having abutment means, a second member journalled to said first member for oscillation with respect thereto and having means contactable with said abutment means upon oscillation of said first member, and a driver coupled only between said first member and said support for oscillating said first member, wherein oscillation of said first member causes said abutment means to contact said second member means to oscillate said second member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
An oscillating device comprising a support, a first member journalled to said support for oscillation with respect thereto and having abutment means, a second member journalled to said first member for oscillation with respect thereto and having means contactable with said abutment means upon oscillation of said first member, and a driver coupled only between said first member and said support for oscillating said first member, wherein oscillation of said first member causes said abutment means to contact said second member means to oscillate said second member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
An oscillating device as in claim 8 wherein said second member means comprises energy storage and release means coupled between said first and second members wherein the oscillation of said first member first stores energy in said energy storage and release means upon contact between said members at said abutment means and wherein the stored energy is released to said second member to oscillate said second member away frOm said abutment means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
An oscillating device as is claim 9 wherein said energy storage and release means comprises a pair of cantilever arms of spring material secured to said second member and extending outwardly on opposite sides of the axis of oscillation of said second member, the outermost portions of said arms adapted to make the contact with said abutment means on said first member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An oscillating device as in claim 9 wherein said energy storage and release means includes damping means to ensure stable oscillation of said second member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An oscillating device as in claim 10 wherein said energy storage and release means includes damping means to ensure stable oscillation of said second member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An oscillating device as in claim 12 wherein the contact of said outermost portions with said abutments include a frictional contact to provide said damping means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
109 words
An oscillating device as in claim 8 wherein: said support includes a pair of terminals positioned in the path of the oscillation of said first member to define the ends of the arc of the first member oscillation and said driver comprises primary driving means couplable to said first member at said terminals for imparting displacement forces on and momentum to said first member for driving said first member from a first of said terminals toward a second of said terminals and secondary driving means coupled to said first member and acting in conjunction with said primary driving means for overcoming energy losses during oscillation of said first member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
An oscillating device as in claim 8 wherein said first member is oscillable through an arc and is alternately contactable with a pair of terminals positioned on said support at the end portions of the arc, and wherein said driver is couplable to said first member upon contact thereof alternately with said terminals and operative upon the contact to impart momentum to said first member for the oscillation thereof from a first of said terminals toward a second of said terminals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A mechanism as in claim 15 wherein said driver includes primary motive means to impart a portion of the momentum to said first member and secondary motive means to overcome energy losses during oscillation of said first member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mechanism as in claim 16 wherein said primary motive means comprises spring means biasable to store energy therein and to subsequently release energy therefrom to said first member upon the contact thereof alternately with said terminals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A mechanism as in claim 17 wherein said secondary motive means comprises an electromechanical actuator and two pairs of electrical contacts respectively positioned on said first member and on said terminals for alternate energization of said actuator upon the contact of said first member alternatively with said terminals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mechanism as in claim 18 further including motion impairing means coupled to said driver and said terminals for initiating movement of said first member towards one of said terminals when said first member is at rest.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mechanism as in claim 17 wherein said spring means comprises a cantilever arm secured to said first member and alternatively contactable with said terminals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
A mechanism as in claim 16 wherein said secondary motive means comprises a pair of electromechanical actuators respectively energizable upon the contact of said first member alternatively with said terminals, said actuators being positioned respectively on opposite sides of the axis of oscillation of said first member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
A mechanism as in claim 21 wherein said driver includes electronic means having a first coupling through a first of said terminals to a first of said actuators, a second coupling through a second of said terminals to a second of said actuators, and a common coupling to said first member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
A mechanism as in claim 12 wherein said electronic means includes electrical circuit means so coupled to said actuators as to Produce with said primary motive means substantially sinusoidal rate of oscillation of said first member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
101 words
A mechanism as in claim 23 further including energy storage and release means coupled between said first and second members wherein the substantially sinusoidal rate of oscillation of said first member causes contact with said energy storage and release means for storing energy therein and transferral of the energy to said second member to produce substantially a rate of oscillation of said second member of approximately 66 percent cyclic movement from the first of said terminals to the second of said terminals and of approximately 34 percent cyclic movement from the second of said terminals to the first of said terminals.
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) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |