US3758715A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical raster producing system
Assignee: Technical Operations Inc
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Filing: 1969-06-16
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1989-06-16
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure depicts laser beam scanning apparatus capable of producing a two-dimensional raster-type scan. A stationary input laser beam is brought to a focus in the locus of travel of a train of corner mirrors arranged convergent in the direction of the input beam and mounted for high speed rotation upon the periphery of a driven wheel. The effect of moving the corner mirror train through the beam focus is to produce an image of the beam focus which is displaced substantially rectilineraly a distance equal to twice the displacement of the mirror train. A lens system images the beam focus image in the locus of travel of an orthogonally driven second train of corner mirrors to produce raster. A projection lens collects light from the raster producing a real raster image for use in display, interrogation, and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 W Buck
- 👤 T Holland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:01
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/02; H04N3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
325 words
An optical system for causing an input light beam to perform a repetitive two-dimensional spot scan, comprising: a first train of cooperating mirror pairs with each pair of mirrors converging in the direction of said input light beam to a line of intersection therebetween, the respective lines of intersection of said mirror pairs being in spaced parallel relationship; first transport means mounting said first mirror train for moving said train through said input light beam in a path transverse to said direction of said input beam and such that said lines of intersection of said mirror pairs are transverse to the direction of movement of said mirror train; stationary optical image-forming means for focusing said input beam to a spot substantially in the path of said first mirror train, movement of said mirror train through said beam by said transport means causing an image of the spot formed by said mirror pairs as they cross the beam in succession to execute a repetitive one-dimensional scan in the direction of movement of said first mirror train; stationary positive power lens means for imaging said unidirectionally moving spot image to form a scan line; a second train of cooperating mirror pairs with each pair of mirrors converging in the direction of light propagation to a line of intersection therebetween, the respective lines of intersection of said mirror pairs being in spaced parallel relationship; second transport means mounting said second mirror train for moving said second train substantially through said scan line in a direction transverse to the direction of said scan line and to said direction of light propagation and such that said lines of intersection of said mirror pairs are substantially parallel to said scan line to cause an image of said spot formed by said mirror pairs in said second mirror train to execute a repetitive two-dimensional raster scan; and lens means for forming a real image of said raster scan at an output loction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
325 words
An optical system for causing an input light beam to perform a repetitive two-dimensional spot scan, comprising: a first train of cooperating mirror pairs with each pair of mirrors converging in the direction of said input light beam to a line of intersection therebetween, the respective lines of intersection of said mirror pairs being in spaced parallel relationship; first transport means mounting said first mirror train for moving said train through said input light beam in a path transverse to said direction of said input beam and such that said lines of intersection of said mirror pairs are transverse to the direction of movement of said mirror train; stationary optical image-forming means for focusing said input beam to a spot substantially in the path of said first mirror train, movement of said mirror train through said beam by said transport means causing an image of the spot formed by said mirror pairs as they cross the beam in succession to execute a repetitive one-dimensional scan in the direction of movement of said first mirror train; stationary positive power lens means for imaging said unidirectionally moving spot image to form a scan line; a second train of cooperating mirror pairs with each pair of mirrors converging in the direction of light propagation to a line of intersection therebetween, the respective lines of intersection of said mirror pairs being in spaced parallel relationship; second transport means mounting said second mirror train for moving said second train substantially through said scan line in a direction transverse to the direction of said scan line and to said direction of light propagation and such that said lines of intersection of said mirror pairs are substantially parallel to said scan line to cause an image of said spot formed by said mirror pairs in said second mirror train to execute a repetitive two-dimensional raster scan; and lens means for forming a real image of said raster scan at an output loction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as defined by claim 1 wherein said mirrors constituting said mirror pairs in said first and second mirror trains are planar and lie in planes forming a dihedral angle of 90*.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
380 words
An optical system for causing an input light beam to perform a repetitive two-dimensional spot scan, comprising: a first mirror wheel rotatable about a central axis and located in said input beam such that said beam is aligned along a radius of the wheel; a first train of cooperating mirror pairs arranged around the periphery of said first mirror wheel with each pair of mirrors converging inwardly of said wheel to a line of intersection therebetween, the respective lines of intersection of said mirror pairs being in spaced parallel relationship with respect to each other and parallel to said first wheel axis; first positive power lens means for focusing said input beam to a spot substantially in the path of said first mirror train, rotation of said first wheel in said beam causing an image of the spot formed by said mirror pairs as they cross the beam in succession to execute a repetitive one-dimensional scan in the direction of movement of said first mirror train; second positive power lens means for imaging said unidirectionally moving spot image to form a scan line; a second mirror wheel rotatable about a central axis and located in the object space of said second lens means such that the optical axis of said second lens means is aligned along a radius of said second mirror wheel, the axis of said second mirror wheel being oriented effectively orthogonally with respect to said first mirror wheel axis; a second train of cooperating mirror pairs arranged around the periphery of said second mirror wheel with each pair of mirrors converging inwardly of said second wheel to a line of intersection therebetween, the respective lines of intersection of said mirror pairs being in spaced parallel relationship with respect to each other and parallel to said second mirror wheel axis, rotation of said second mirror wheel moving said second mirror train substantially through said scan line in a direction transverse to the direction of said scan line and to the direction of light propagation to said second wheel to cause an image of the spot formed by said mirror pairs in said second mirror train to execute a repetitive two-dimensional raster scan; and lens means for forming a real image of said raster scan at an output location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
380 words
An optical system for causing an input light beam to perform a repetitive two-dimensional spot scan, comprising: a first mirror wheel rotatable about a central axis and located in said input beam such that said beam is aligned along a radius of the wheel; a first train of cooperating mirror pairs arranged around the periphery of said first mirror wheel with each pair of mirrors converging inwardly of said wheel to a line of intersection therebetween, the respective lines of intersection of said mirror pairs being in spaced parallel relationship with respect to each other and parallel to said first wheel axis; first positive power lens means for focusing said input beam to a spot substantially in the path of said first mirror train, rotation of said first wheel in said beam causing an image of the spot formed by said mirror pairs as they cross the beam in succession to execute a repetitive one-dimensional scan in the direction of movement of said first mirror train; second positive power lens means for imaging said unidirectionally moving spot image to form a scan line; a second mirror wheel rotatable about a central axis and located in the object space of said second lens means such that the optical axis of said second lens means is aligned along a radius of said second mirror wheel, the axis of said second mirror wheel being oriented effectively orthogonally with respect to said first mirror wheel axis; a second train of cooperating mirror pairs arranged around the periphery of said second mirror wheel with each pair of mirrors converging inwardly of said second wheel to a line of intersection therebetween, the respective lines of intersection of said mirror pairs being in spaced parallel relationship with respect to each other and parallel to said second mirror wheel axis, rotation of said second mirror wheel moving said second mirror train substantially through said scan line in a direction transverse to the direction of said scan line and to the direction of light propagation to said second wheel to cause an image of the spot formed by said mirror pairs in said second mirror train to execute a repetitive two-dimensional raster scan; and lens means for forming a real image of said raster scan at an output location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said second mirror train is substantially wider than said first mirror train in the dimension along said lines of intersection.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |