US3742238A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two axes angularly indexing scanning display
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-14
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1990-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A radiant energy display system incorporating a reflecting surface mounted for rotation about scan and interlace axes, said scan and interlace axes positioned less than 90* from one another. Incoming radiant energy is scanned by the reflecting surface and reflected to a detector which is responsive to that energy. Video processing circuitry interconnecting the detector with a light source array modulates the light source array which thereby emits a modulated visible beam. This beam causes modulation of a visible light source that in turn impinges upon the back portion of the reflecting surface. The back portion of the reflecting surface provides a scan identical to the front portion and by the above process produces a visible display.
Inventors
- 👤 R Hoffman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/02; H04N3/08; H04N3/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for scanning radiant energy comprising: a. a radiant energy reflecting surface; b. a first pivotal means supporting said reflecting surface operatively to produce a scan pattern; c. a second pivotal means supporting said reflecting surface at an angle less than 90* from said first pivotal means operatively to produce an interlace scan; and d. means for moving said radiant energy reflecting surface about said first and second pivotal means for scanning said radiant energy.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for scanning radiant energy comprising: a. a radiant energy reflecting surface; b. a first pivotal means supporting said reflecting surface operatively to produce a scan pattern; c. a second pivotal means supporting said reflecting surface at an angle less than 90* from said first pivotal means operatively to produce an interlace scan; and d. means for moving said radiant energy reflecting surface about said first and second pivotal means for scanning said radiant energy.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for scanning radiant energy comprising: a. a radiant energy reflecting surface; b. first pivotal support means, said first pivotal support means supporting said reflecting surface in a vertical plane for producing a horizontal scan; c. second pivotal support means, said second pivotal support means supporting said reflecting surface at an angle less than 90* from said first pivotal support means to produce an interlace horizontal scan; d. means for rotating said radiant energy reflecting surface about said pivotal support means, and for tilting said radiant energy reflecting surface about said second pivotal support means; and e. detector means for selectively receiving the radiant energy from said reflecting surface and producing an output signal that varies with the radiant energy incident thereon.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for scanning radiant energy comprising: a. a radiant energy reflecting surface; b. first pivotal support means, said first pivotal support means supporting said reflecting surface in a vertical plane for producing a horizontal scan; c. second pivotal support means, said second pivotal support means supporting said reflecting surface at an angle less than 90* from said first pivotal support means to produce an interlace horizontal scan; d. means for rotating said radiant energy reflecting surface about said pivotal support means, and for tilting said radiant energy reflecting surface about said second pivotal support means; and e. detector means for selectively receiving the radiant energy from said reflecting surface and producing an output signal that varies with the radiant energy incident thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A scanning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said reflecting surface is a flat mirror.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A scanning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said detector means is a linear array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A scanning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said detector means is a linear array of spaced mercury cadmium telluride detectors. 6. A scanning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said detector means is a linear array of spaced indium-antimonide detectors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
132 words
A scanning apparatus for reflecting radiant energy comprising: a. a radiant energy reflecting surface; b. first pivotal support means, said first pivotal support means supporting said reflecting surface in a vertical plane for producing a horizontal scan; c. second pivotal support means, said second pivotal support means supporting said reflecting surface at an angle less than 90* from said first pivotal support means to produce an interlace horizontal scan; and d. means for rotating said reflecting surface about said first pivotal support to produce a first scan in one direction from one point to another point, and for tilting about said second pivotal support to a second scan position and counter-rotating said reflecting surface about said first pivotal support to produce a second scan to form substantially a parallelogram interlace scan pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
A scanning apparatus for reflecting radiant energy comprising: a. a radiant energy reflecting surface; b. first pivotal support means, said first pivotal support means supporting said reflecting surface in a vertical plane for producing a horizontal scan; c. second pivotal support means, said second pivotal support means supporting said reflecting surface at an angle less than 90* from said first pivotal support means to produce an interlace horizontal scan; and d. means for rotating said reflecting surface about said first pivotal support to produce a first scan in one direction from one point to another point, and for tilting about said second pivotal support to a second scan position and counter-rotating said reflecting surface about said first pivotal support to produce a second scan to form substantially a parallelogram interlace scan pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
173 words
A radiant energy display system comprising: a. a radiant energy reflecting means having front and back reflecting surfaces; b. first pivotal support means, said first pivotal support means supporting said reflecting surfaces in a vertical plane for producing a horizontal scan; c. second pivotal support means, said second pivotal support means supporting said reflecting surfaces at an angle less than 90* from said first pivotal support means to produce an interlace horizontal scan; d. means for rotating said reflecting means about said first pivotal means, tilting said reflecting means about said second pivotal means and counter-rotating said reflecting means about said first pivotal means to produce an interlaced pattern; e. detector means for receiving the interlace pattern of radiant energy and producing an output signal that varies with the radiant energy incident thereon; and f. light source means responsive to said output signal for producing a visible light beam representative of said radiant energy, said visible light beam being scanned by the back surface of said reflecting means to produce a visible display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
173 words
A radiant energy display system comprising: a. a radiant energy reflecting means having front and back reflecting surfaces; b. first pivotal support means, said first pivotal support means supporting said reflecting surfaces in a vertical plane for producing a horizontal scan; c. second pivotal support means, said second pivotal support means supporting said reflecting surfaces at an angle less than 90* from said first pivotal support means to produce an interlace horizontal scan; d. means for rotating said reflecting means about said first pivotal means, tilting said reflecting means about said second pivotal means and counter-rotating said reflecting means about said first pivotal means to produce an interlaced pattern; e. detector means for receiving the interlace pattern of radiant energy and producing an output signal that varies with the radiant energy incident thereon; and f. light source means responsive to said output signal for producing a visible light beam representative of said radiant energy, said visible light beam being scanned by the back surface of said reflecting means to produce a visible display.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for scanning infrared energy comprising: a. a mirror; b. first pivotal support member, said first pivotal support member supporting said mirror in a vertical plane for producing a horizontal scan; c. second pivotal support member, said second pivotal support member supporting said mirror at an angle less than 90* from said first pivotal support member to produce an interlace horizontal scan; d. means for rotating said mirror about said first pivotal member in first and second directions to produce a reciprocating scan movement; e. means for tilting said mirror about the second pivotal members during dead time of the scanning movement; and f. a linear array of spaced infrared detectors positioned so as to have focused thereon said parallelogram scan of said infrared energy and producing an output signal that varies with said energy.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for scanning infrared energy comprising: a. a mirror; b. first pivotal support member, said first pivotal support member supporting said mirror in a vertical plane for producing a horizontal scan; c. second pivotal support member, said second pivotal support member supporting said mirror at an angle less than 90* from said first pivotal support member to produce an interlace horizontal scan; d. means for rotating said mirror about said first pivotal member in first and second directions to produce a reciprocating scan movement; e. means for tilting said mirror about the second pivotal members during dead time of the scanning movement; and f. a linear array of spaced infrared detectors positioned so as to have focused thereon said parallelogram scan of said infrared energy and producing an output signal that varies with said energy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 further including: light source means responsive to said detector output signal for producing a visible light beam representative of said infrared energy, said light beam being scanned by the back surface of said mirror to produce a visible display.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said means for tilting is a gimbal member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein means for rotating is a torque motor and said gimbal member is tilted by solenoid driver means coupled thereto.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said scan axis is positioned 90* to the optical axis of said system and said mirror is nominally at 45* to said optical axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said mirror is flat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said detectors are spaced mercury cadmium telluride.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
An appAratus according to claim 9 wherein said detector means is a linear array of spaced indium-antimonide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said light source means is a plurality of light emitting diodes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 further including spring means which engage said mirror after rotation thereof in said first and second direction.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for scanning radiant energy comprising: a. a housing; b. a mirror; c. a C-shaped member having first pivots adjacent each end for rotatably supporting said mirror within the C-shaped member, and second pivots spaced less than 90* from the first pivots for tilting said C-shaped member within the housing; d. driver means in line with said first pivots for rotating said mirror in first and second scan directions; and e. means for tilting said C-shaped member and said mirror about said second pivots in first and second directions to produce substantially a parallelogram scan pattern.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for scanning radiant energy comprising: a. a housing; b. a mirror; c. a C-shaped member having first pivots adjacent each end for rotatably supporting said mirror within the C-shaped member, and second pivots spaced less than 90* from the first pivots for tilting said C-shaped member within the housing; d. driver means in line with said first pivots for rotating said mirror in first and second scan directions; and e. means for tilting said C-shaped member and said mirror about said second pivots in first and second directions to produce substantially a parallelogram scan pattern.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 19 further including a linear array of spaced infrared detector elements positioned so as to have focused thereon said parallelogram scan of said infrared energy and producing an output signal therefrom.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said detector elements are spaced one detector element width from the other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 20 further including a linear array of spaced light source elements, each of said light source elements responsive to the output signal from each of the corresponding detector elements, said light source elements producing a visible image of said infrared energy.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said C-shaped member has a first aperture in one arm thereof for accommodating said driver means and a second aperture therein for observing the visible image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said driver means is a torque motor and said means for tilting is at least one solenoid coupled to said C-shaped member.
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) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |