US3781464A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light scanning apparatus and method for converting display information into storable video data
Assignee: Ampex Corp
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Filing: 1972-01-17
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1992-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A display scanner system and method selectively scans a reflective display surface, and provides conversion of the display information to storable video signals. The system is responsive only to the diffuse reflection of the reflected light from the display surface, but not to the specular reflection therefrom. A motor driven, optical scan device converges one or more beams to respective focused spot or spots, while directing same through a selected arc to define a scan line, and also converts the input angular scan to a flat field scan. Selectively movable support means is provided to support and move the display surface in a direction normal to the scan line direction, and also to index to new positions along the line scan direction as required when scanning a wide display with a plurality of adjacent or overlapping rows of scan lines. In the color embodiment a group, or groups, of three light sensors are employed, with appropriate color separation filters to provide color video data signals. The multiple beam embodiment employs temporal and/or spacial separation of beams, to provide a reduction in deadtime between scans, and/or to obtain interlace information.
Inventors
- 👤 S Bousky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:10
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/002; H04N7/005; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00281; H04N1/00283; H04N1/024; H04N1/028; H04N1/0281; H04N1/04; H04N1/113; H04N1/1135; H04N1/19; H04N1/191; H04N1/1911; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/04; H04N2201/0402; H04N2201/0426
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A light beam scanner for generating a video signal representative of a selected display and including a light source and rotatable mirror polygon, comprising the combination of; optical means including said rotatable polygon for forming and directing at least one scan spot from a corresponding light scan beam through a selected scan angle relative to the display to define a series of predetermined scan lines across the display via transverse movement of the scan spot in response to rotation of the polygon; means including light sensing means operatively coupled to the optical means for providing the video signal in response to the diffuse light of the scan beam reflected from the display; and means for translatably supporting the display relative to the scan spot, and for moving the display in a direction transverse to the spot scan direction, to define at least one row of scan lines extending across the display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A light beam scanner for generating a video signal representative of a selected display and including a light source and rotatable mirror polygon, comprising the combination of; optical means including said rotatable polygon for forming and directing at least one scan spot from a corresponding light scan beam through a selected scan angle relative to the display to define a series of predetermined scan lines across the display via transverse movement of the scan spot in response to rotation of the polygon; means including light sensing means operatively coupled to the optical means for providing the video signal in response to the diffuse light of the scan beam reflected from the display; and means for translatably supporting the display relative to the scan spot, and for moving the display in a direction transverse to the spot scan direction, to define at least one row of scan lines extending across the display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The scanner of claim 1 wherein said means for translatably supporting includes, means for selectively incrementing the display parallel to the direction of the spot scan to define a plurality of rows extending across the display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The scanner of claim 2 wherein the optical means includes means for generating a plurality of scan beams within a common plane and having a temporal separation therebetween of selected delay proportional to the number of scan beams, said rows being overlapped an amount proportional to the number of scan beams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The scanner of claim 1 wherein the display is flat along the scan line direction, and the optical means includes corrector optics for diRecting the scan spot along the flat display to define a flat field of scan.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The scanner of claim 1 wherein the means for providing includes, a selected enclosed portion of a sphere having slots formed therein and disposed adjacent the display, the slots conforming to the spot scan line; wherein the light sensing means is integral with the sphere to detect the diffused light reflected from the display to define said video signal indicative thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The scanner of claim 5 wherein the light sensing means includes a plurality of photodetectors having selected filters to provide a corresponding plurality of color signals indicative of the diffused light reflected from the display.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The scanner of claim 5 wherein the optical means includes, beam generating means for generating a pair of scan beams having a temporal separation therebetween, and optical scan and spot forming means for forming the scan beams into respective light scan spots which are scanned across the display.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The scanner of claim 7 wherein the beam generating means includes first beam splitter means and mirror means for forming a first pair of light input beams from the light source and for directing the first pair of input beams against the rotatable mirror polygon with a selected angle therebetween commensurate with the number of polygon surfaces to define a temporal separation between the first pair of beams.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
The scanner of claim 8 wherein the beam generating means further includes; second beam splitter means and mirror means disposed to receive the first pair of light input beams from the first beam splitter means, and to form a second pair of input beams having a selected slight angle with the first pair of beams to define a spacial separation between the first and second pair of beams; and modulator means disposed in at least one of the first pair of input beams to selectively modulate same to allow identification of simultaneously occurring video signals via said sphere and light sensing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
The scanner of claim 8 wherein the beam generating means further includes; second beam splitter means and mirror means disposed to receive the first pair of light input beams from the first beam splitter means, and to form a second pair of input beams within the same plane of the first pair of beams to define a selected temporal separation between each of the second pair of beams and the first pair of beams; and modulator means disposed in at least one of the first pair of beams to selectively modulate same to allow identification of simultaneously occurring video signals via said sphere and light sensing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The scanner of claim 5 wherein the optical means includes beam generating means for generating a pair of scan beams having a spacial separation therebetween, and optical scan and spot forming means for forming the scan beams into respective light scan spots which are scanned across the display.
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) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |