US3764218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Light beam edge detection
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1972-01-12
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1992-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A light beam polarized at 45* to the plane of view is split in a birefringent crystal into two components, o and ao, which are linearly polarized vertically and parallel to the plane of view respectively. An electro-optic element energized by a High Frequency source transforms the components into two oppositely circularly polarized beams so as to alternately change their direction of polarization by 90*. The alternately polarized beams are simultaneously passed through a second birefringent crystal so as to converge one beam to the other beam at a single exit site of the crystal, and in the other configuration of rotated polarization, so as to diverge the other beam so that the two beams exit at two spaced sites of the crystal spaced about the first exit site. This alternately provides a single central beam and two outer beams. When an edge separating a surface having areas of two different optical properties is brought into the range of the alternating light beams, the change in their intensities is employed to precisely locate the edge by the rate of change in intensities.
Inventors
- 👤 F Schedewie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/21; G01N21/47; G01N21/4738; G01N21/59
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
299 words
A light beam deflection system comprising: A. means for producing a beam of plane polarized light; B. means for rotating the plane of polarization of said beam to two intermediate coexisting mutually orthogonal planes of polarization; C. first birefringent means for passing said rotated beam therethrough in a first configuration of two polarized beams having a respective one of two spaced perpendicular polarized planes, along a corresponding one of two different paths; D. electro-optic control means alternately settable between a. a first state maintaining said first configuration of perpendicular planes of polarized beams, and b. a second state for circular polarization thereof in their respective beam paths; E. means for linearly polarizing the circularly polarized beams in two respective mutually orthogonal in phase beam planes; and F. second birefringent means having parallel entrance and exit faces for passage therethrough of said beam paths with said beam paths a. in said first configuration having a first of said beam paths with one plane of polarization of said beam paths passing in an undeflected path and the other of said beam path having a perpendicular plane of polarization deflected into convergence with said first beam path at a first exit site on the exit face of said second birefringent means, and b. in said second rotated configuration having the said second beam path with the rotated plane of polarization passing in an undeflected path to a second exit site on said exit face spaced from said first exit site on one side thereof, and the said first beam path with its rotated and perpendicular plane of polarization deflected in divergence from said first beam path at a third exit site on said exit face spaced from said second exit site and from said first exit site on the opposite side thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
299 words
A light beam deflection system comprising: A. means for producing a beam of plane polarized light; B. means for rotating the plane of polarization of said beam to two intermediate coexisting mutually orthogonal planes of polarization; C. first birefringent means for passing said rotated beam therethrough in a first configuration of two polarized beams having a respective one of two spaced perpendicular polarized planes, along a corresponding one of two different paths; D. electro-optic control means alternately settable between a. a first state maintaining said first configuration of perpendicular planes of polarized beams, and b. a second state for circular polarization thereof in their respective beam paths; E. means for linearly polarizing the circularly polarized beams in two respective mutually orthogonal in phase beam planes; and F. second birefringent means having parallel entrance and exit faces for passage therethrough of said beam paths with said beam paths a. in said first configuration having a first of said beam paths with one plane of polarization of said beam paths passing in an undeflected path and the other of said beam path having a perpendicular plane of polarization deflected into convergence with said first beam path at a first exit site on the exit face of said second birefringent means, and b. in said second rotated configuration having the said second beam path with the rotated plane of polarization passing in an undeflected path to a second exit site on said exit face spaced from said first exit site on one side thereof, and the said first beam path with its rotated and perpendicular plane of polarization deflected in divergence from said first beam path at a third exit site on said exit face spaced from said second exit site and from said first exit site on the opposite side thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said spaced second and third exit sites are symmetrically spaced on opposite sides of said first exit site.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises means for oscillation between said first and second states.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises means for High Frequency oscillation between said first and second states.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the first said rotating means rotates the beam 45* intermediate said two mutually orthogonal planes of polarization.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 1 including A. sensing means in register with said first, second and third exit beams for detecting the intensities thereof, and B. means for passing an edge of different optical properties on a plane parallel to said exit face and intersecting said first, second and third exit beams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said sensing means comprises detection of the maximum change in intensities of said first, second and third exit beams as said edge passes therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said control means comprises means for oscillation between said first and second states.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the first said rotating means rotates the beam 45* intermediate said two mutualy orthogonal planes of polarization.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 9 including A. sensing means in register with said first, second and third exit beams for detecting the intensities thereof, and B. means for passing an edge of different optical properties on a plane parallel to said exit face and intersecting said first, second and third exit beams.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said sensing Means comprises detecting of the maximum change in intensities of said first, second and third exit beams as said edge passes therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 8 including A. sensing means in register with said first, second and third exit beams for detecting the intensities thereof, and B. means for passing an edge of different optical properties on a plane parallel to said exit face and intersecting said first, second and third exit beams.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said sensing means comprises detection of the maximum change in intensities of said first, second and third exit beams as said edge passes therethrough.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the first said rotating means rotates the beam 45* intermediate said two mutually orthogonal planes of polarization.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 14 including A. sensing means in register with said first, second and third exit beams for detecting the intensities thereof, and B. means for passing an edge of different optical properties on a plane parallel to said exit face and intersecting said first, second and third exit beams.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said sensing means comprises detection of the maximum change in intensities of said first, second and third exit beams as said edge passes therethrough.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 2 including A. sensing means in register with said first, second and third exit beams for detecting the intensities thereof, and B. means for passing an edge of different optical properties on a plane parallel to said exit face and intersecting said first, second and third exit beams.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said sensing means comprises detection of the maximum change in intensities of said first, second and third exit beams as said edge passes therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said control means comprises means for High Frequency oscillation between said first and second states.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 19 wherein the first said rotating means rotates the beam 45* intermediate said two mutually orthogonal planes of polarization.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 20 including A. sensing means in register with said first, second and third exit beams for detecting the intensities thereof, and B. means for passing an edge of different optical properties on a plane parallel to said exit face and intersecting said first, second and third exit beams.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said sensing means comprises detection of the maximum change in intensities of said first, second and third exit beams as said edge passes therethrough.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 19 including A. sensing means in register with said first, second and third exit beams for detecting the intensities thereof, and B. means for passing an edge of different optical properties on a plane parallel to said exit face and intersecting said first, second and third exit beams.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 23 wherein said sensing means comprises detection of the maximum change in intensities of said first, second and third exit beams as said edge passes therethrough.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the first said rotating means rotates the beam 45 degrees intermediate said two mutually orthogonal planes of polarization.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 25 including A. sensing means in register with said first, second and third exit beams for detecting the intensities thereof, and B. means for passing an edge of different optical properties on a plane parallel to said exit face and intersecting said first, second and third exit beams.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 26 wherein said sensing means comprises detection of the maximum change in intensities of said first, second and third exit beams as said edge passes therethrough.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 3 including A. sensing means in register with said first, second and third exit beams for detecting the intensities theReof, and B. means for passing an edge of different optical properties on a plane parallel to said exit face and intersecting said first, second and third exit beams.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 28 wherein said sensing means comprises detection of the maximum change in intensities of said first, second and third exit beams as said edge passes therethrough.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the first said rotating means rotates the beam 45* intermediate said two mutually orthogonal planes of polarization.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 30 including A. sensing means in register with said first, second and third exit beams for detecting the intensities thereof, and B. means for passing an edge of different optical properties on a plane parallel to said exit face and intersecting said first, second and third exit beams.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 31 wherein said sensing means comprises detection of the maximum change in intensities of said first, second and third exit beams as said edge passes therethrough.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 4 including A. sensing means in register with said first, second and third exit beams for detecting the intensities thereof, and B. means for passing an edge of different optical properties on a plane parallel to said exit face and intersecting said first, second and third exit beams.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 33 wherein said sensing means comprises detection of the maximum change in intensities of said first, second and third exit beams as said edge passes therethrough.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 5 including A. sensing means in register with said first, second and third exit beams for detecting the intensities thereof, and B. means for passing an edge of different optical properties on a plane parallel to said exit face and intersecting said first, second and third exit beams.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 35 wherein said sensing means comprises detection of the maximum change in intensities of said first, second and third exit beams as said edge passes therethrough.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3391970A
Cited
US3591254A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |