US3790246A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
X-y optical scanning system
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1971-10-26
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1991-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A system for X-Y scanning and recording on a light responsive storage medium. The system comprises a suitably modulated light source, a first rotating deflecting element, for example, a flat faceted mirror wheel, and a second rotating deflecting element, for example, a flat or concave mirror. The axes of rotation of the two rotating deflecting elements are substantially mutually perpendicular. Alternatively the axes of rotation can be at another chosen angle to one another. Operatively disposed along the optical axis between the first and second rotating deflecting elements is a first field mirror which is preferably of the concave spherical type. Operatively disposed between the second rotating deflecting element and the recording medium is a second field mirror which is also preferably concave spherical. The concave mirrors serve to image both scanning mirrors at the entrance pupil of a final lens. This arrangement allows all of the incident light to pass through the final lens. Small mirror faces can be used and a small stationary beam such as from a laser is easily scanned. An image which is essentially free of distortion and curvature of field can be obtained on a flat storage medium.
Inventors
- 👤 R Pickering
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:06
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; G02B26/12; H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/02; H04N3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An X-Y optical scanning device for recording a low distortion image on a light-responsive medium with a modulated light beam, said device comprising: first means rotatable about a first axis and operatively disposed in the path of said light beam for deflecting the same to produce a first deflection beam scanning in one direction; second means rotatable in synchronism with said first means about a second axis that is angularly disposed relative to the first axis and operatively disposed in the optical path of said first deflection beam for deflecting the same to produce a second deflection beam scanning in an other direction; and means operatively disposed in the optical path of each of said first and second deflection beams for imaging the latter onto said medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
An X-Y optical scanning device for recording a low distortion image on a light-responsive medium with a modulated light beam, said device comprising: first means rotatable about a first axis and operatively disposed in the path of said light beam for deflecting the same to produce a first deflection beam scanning in one direction; second means rotatable in synchronism with said first means about a second axis that is angularly disposed relative to the first axis and operatively disposed in the optical path of said first deflection beam for deflecting the same to produce a second deflection beam scanning in an other direction; and means operatively disposed in the optical path of each of said first and second deflection beams for imaging the latter onto said medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said imaging means comprises two fixed spherical, concave mirrors and an objective lens, one of said mirrors being operatively disposed in the path of said first deflection beam between said first rotatable means and said second rotatable means and said other mirror and said objective lens being operatively disposed in the path of said second deflection beam between said second rotatable means and said medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second rotatable means comprises a reflective element having at least one flat reflective surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said second rotatable means comprises a rotating spherical, concave mirror.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein each of said fixed mirrors have substantially the same radius of curvature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said second rotatable means comprises a spherical, concave mirror having a radius of curvature that is approximately one-half of the radius of curvature common to said fixed mirrors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
303 words
An X-Y optical scanner for recording a low distortion image on a light responsive medium with a modulated light beam, said device comprising: first optical means disposed in the path of said beam for imaging the latter at a predetermined point; first reflective means rotatable about an axis located between said first optical means and said point for reflecting and deflecting said imaging beam to produce a scan in a first direction; second inflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature, operatively disposed in the path of said deflecting beam at a distance from said first reflective means approximately equal to said radius of curvature and located such that said point lies generally in the focal plane thereof, for reflecting and collimating said deflecting beam; third reflective means rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said first reflective means, operatively disposed in the path of said collimating beam and located at a distance from said second reflective means that is substantially equal to the radius of curvature thereof, for reflecting and deflecting said collimating beam to produce a scan in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the scan in said first direction; fourth reflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature approximately equal to that of said second reflective means and operatively disposed in the path of said deflecting beam at a distance from said third reflective means that is substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said second reflective means, for reflecting and focusing said deflecting beam into the focal plane thereof; and second optical located in the path of said focusing beam at a distance approximately equal to the radius of curvature of said fourth reflective means for imaging said focusing beam at a point in the plane of said medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
303 words
An X-Y optical scanner for recording a low distortion image on a light responsive medium with a modulated light beam, said device comprising: first optical means disposed in the path of said beam for imaging the latter at a predetermined point; first reflective means rotatable about an axis located between said first optical means and said point for reflecting and deflecting said imaging beam to produce a scan in a first direction; second inflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature, operatively disposed in the path of said deflecting beam at a distance from said first reflective means approximately equal to said radius of curvature and located such that said point lies generally in the focal plane thereof, for reflecting and collimating said deflecting beam; third reflective means rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said first reflective means, operatively disposed in the path of said collimating beam and located at a distance from said second reflective means that is substantially equal to the radius of curvature thereof, for reflecting and deflecting said collimating beam to produce a scan in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the scan in said first direction; fourth reflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature approximately equal to that of said second reflective means and operatively disposed in the path of said deflecting beam at a distance from said third reflective means that is substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said second reflective means, for reflecting and focusing said deflecting beam into the focal plane thereof; and second optical located in the path of said focusing beam at a distance approximately equal to the radius of curvature of said fourth reflective means for imaging said focusing beam at a point in the plane of said medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
289 words
An X-Y optical scanner for recording a low distortion image on a light responsive medium with a modulated, collimated light beam, said device comprising: first reflective means rotatable about an axis located in the path of said beam for reflecting and deflectinG said collimated beam to produce a scan in a first direction; second reflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature and operatively disposed in the path of said collimated beam at a distance from said first reflective means approximately equal to said radius of curvature for reflecting and focusing said collimated beam generally in the focal plane thereof; third reflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature approximately equal to one-half the radius of curvature of said second reflective means, rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to that of said first reflective means, operatively disposed in the path of said focusing beam at a distance substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said second reflective means away from said second reflective means for reflecting and deflecting said focusing beam to produce a scan in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the scan in said first direction; fourth reflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature approximately equal to that of said second reflective means and operatively disposed in the path of said deflecting beam at a distance that is substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said second reflective means for reflecting and collimating said deflecting beam; and optical means located in the path of said collimating beam at a distance approximately equal to the common radius of curvature of said second and fourth reflective means, for imaging said collimated beam at a point in the plane of said medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
289 words
An X-Y optical scanner for recording a low distortion image on a light responsive medium with a modulated, collimated light beam, said device comprising: first reflective means rotatable about an axis located in the path of said beam for reflecting and deflectinG said collimated beam to produce a scan in a first direction; second reflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature and operatively disposed in the path of said collimated beam at a distance from said first reflective means approximately equal to said radius of curvature for reflecting and focusing said collimated beam generally in the focal plane thereof; third reflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature approximately equal to one-half the radius of curvature of said second reflective means, rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to that of said first reflective means, operatively disposed in the path of said focusing beam at a distance substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said second reflective means away from said second reflective means for reflecting and deflecting said focusing beam to produce a scan in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the scan in said first direction; fourth reflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature approximately equal to that of said second reflective means and operatively disposed in the path of said deflecting beam at a distance that is substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said second reflective means for reflecting and collimating said deflecting beam; and optical means located in the path of said collimating beam at a distance approximately equal to the common radius of curvature of said second and fourth reflective means, for imaging said collimated beam at a point in the plane of said medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
306 words
An X-Y optical scanner for recording a low distortion image on a light responsive medium with a modulated, collimated light beam, said device comprising: first optical means disposed in the path of said beam for imaging the latter at a predetermined point; first reflective means rotatable about an axis located between said first optical means and said point for reflecting and deflecting said imaging beam to produce a scan in a first direction; second reflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature and operatively disposed in the path of said deflecting beam at a distance from said first reflective means approximately equal to the radius of curvature thereof for reflecting and collimating said deflecting beam; third reflective means rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said first reflective means, having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said second reflective means, operatively disposed in the path of said collimating beam and located at a distance from said second reflective means substantially equal to its radius of curvature for reflecting and deflecting said collimating beam to produce a scan in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the scan in said first direction; fourth reflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature approximately equal to that of said second reflective means and operatively disposed in the path of said deflecting beam at a distance from said third reflective means that is substantially equal to the common radius of curvature of said second and third reflective means, for reflecting and collimating said deflecting beam; and second optical means located in the path of said collimating beam at a distance approximately equal to the radius of curvature of said fourth reflective means for imaging said collimating beam at a point in the plane of said medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
306 words
An X-Y optical scanner for recording a low distortion image on a light responsive medium with a modulated, collimated light beam, said device comprising: first optical means disposed in the path of said beam for imaging the latter at a predetermined point; first reflective means rotatable about an axis located between said first optical means and said point for reflecting and deflecting said imaging beam to produce a scan in a first direction; second reflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature and operatively disposed in the path of said deflecting beam at a distance from said first reflective means approximately equal to the radius of curvature thereof for reflecting and collimating said deflecting beam; third reflective means rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said first reflective means, having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said second reflective means, operatively disposed in the path of said collimating beam and located at a distance from said second reflective means substantially equal to its radius of curvature for reflecting and deflecting said collimating beam to produce a scan in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the scan in said first direction; fourth reflective means having a spherical, concave radius of curvature approximately equal to that of said second reflective means and operatively disposed in the path of said deflecting beam at a distance from said third reflective means that is substantially equal to the common radius of curvature of said second and third reflective means, for reflecting and collimating said deflecting beam; and second optical means located in the path of said collimating beam at a distance approximately equal to the radius of curvature of said fourth reflective means for imaging said collimating beam at a point in the plane of said medium.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |