Patent US3797908A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3797908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical arrangements and apparatus
Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
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Filing: 1973-02-22
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1993-02-22
Abstract
Abstract Optical arrangements are described in which an optical beam is reflected by means of a mirror on to a working surface, and is caused to be deflected over the working surface but is automatically maintained continuously in focus on the working surface during such deflection. In some embodiments, the mirror is a plane mirror which is movable about two transverse axes to deflect the beam over the surface, and the optical beam is directed on to the plane mirror via a focussing element, such as a convex lens or mirror, which is linearly movable to maintain the focus on the working surface. In other embodiments, the mirror is fixed and concave, and the optical beam passes through an axial aperture in the mirror and strikes a convex mirror which reflects it on to the concave mirror and thence on to the working surface. The convex mirror is angularly movable about two transverse axes to deflect the beam over the working surface and is also linearly movable along the axis of the concave mirror to maintain the focus.
Inventors
- 👤 B Ward
- 👤 D Reynolds
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/08; B23K26/082; B23K26/20; B23K26/21; B23K26/24; B23K26/26; H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/02; H04N3/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
Optical apparatus comprising a base, means defining a working surface of predetermined contour fixedly positioned relative to the base, means defining a first optical beam path whose direction is fixed in three dimensions relative to the base, optical means mounted on the base between the said first path and the working surface to receive an optical beam which also passes along the said first path, the optical means being operative to scan tHe beam across the working surface and including a movably mounted vergence-causing optical focussing element for focussing the scan, and control means operatively connected to the focussing element to adjust the focussing of the scan on the working surface in dependence on its deflection from a predetermined datum whereby to maintain the scan continually in focus on the working surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
Optical apparatus comprising a base, means defining a working surface of predetermined contour fixedly positioned relative to the base, means defining a first optical beam path whose direction is fixed in three dimensions relative to the base, optical means mounted on the base between the said first path and the working surface to receive an optical beam which also passes along the said first path, the optical means being operative to scan tHe beam across the working surface and including a movably mounted vergence-causing optical focussing element for focussing the scan, and control means operatively connected to the focussing element to adjust the focussing of the scan on the working surface in dependence on its deflection from a predetermined datum whereby to maintain the scan continually in focus on the working surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the optical means comprises planar mirror means in addition to the optical focussing element and mounted to define a second optical path between the focussing element and the surface, first mounting means mounting the optical focussing element for linear movement along one said path to focus the scan, and second mounting means mounting the mirror means for continuous angular movement about at least a first axis to deflect the point of scan across the said surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the second mounting means includes means mounting the mirror means for angular movement about a second axis transverse to the first axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the planar mirror means comprises a single plane mirror, the second mounting means comprising means mounting the mirror for angular movement about an axis substantially in the plane of the mirror and constituting the said first transverse axis, and means mounting the mirror for angular movement about an axis perpendicular to the first axis and transversely intersecting the plane of the mirror and constituting the said second transverse axis, whereby the angular position of the mirror about the first axis determines the r coordinate, in a (r, phi ) coordinate system, of the position of the point of scan on the working surface and the angular position of the mirror about the second axis determines the theta coordinate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the planar mirror means comprises a single plane mirror, and in which the second mounting means comprises means mounting the mirror for angular movement about two axes lying substantially in the plane of the single mirror and perpendicular to each other and constituting the said first and second transverse axes, whereby the angular position of the mirror about one of the axes establishes the x coordinate, in a Cartesian coordinate system, of the position of the point of scan on the working surface and the angular position of the mirror about the other of the two transverse axes establishes the y coordinate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the planar mirror means comprises two rigidly interconnected plane mirrors mounted parallel to each other with their reflecting surfaces facing whereby the said second optical path passes by reflection from one mirror to the other, the said first transverse axis being defined between the two mirrors and parallel to the planes thereof whereby the angular position of the mirrors about the first axis establishes the r coordinate, in an (r, theta ) coordinate system, of the position of the point of scan on the working surface, and the said second transverse axis being perpendicular to the first axis whereby the angular position of the mirrors about the second axis establishes the theta coordinate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the planar mirror means comprises first and second plane mirrors mounted with their reflecting surfaces facing whereby the said second optical path passes by reflection from one mirror to the other and in which the said second mounting means comprises means mounting the first mirror for movement about an axis which is substantially in the plane of the first mirror and constitutes the said first transverse axis and about which the first mirror is angularly movable whereby to establish the x coordinate, in a Cartesian coordinate system, of the position of the point of scan on the working surface, and means mounting the second plane mirror for independent anguLar movement about an axis which is perpendicular to the first axis and lies substantially in the plane of the second mirror and about which the second mirror is angularly movable to establish the y coordinate of the position of the point of scan on the working surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the planar mirror means comprises a prism mounted whereby the said optical path passes therethrough by total internal reflection, the first mounting means comprising means defining the said first transverse axis as an axis passing through the prism and about which the prism is angularly movable whereby to establish the r coordinate, in a (r, theta ) coordinate system, of the point of scan on the working surface, and means defining the said second transverse axis as an axis through the prism and perpendicular to the first axis and about which the prism is also angularly movable whereby to establish the theta coordinate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the optical means also includes a fixed mirror, and means mounting the fixed mirror in the said second optical path and between the focussing element and the planar mirror means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, in which: the said focussing element is a convex lens, and the fixed mirror is a concave mirror mounted off-axis with respect to the said second optical path from the convex lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, in which: the said fixed mirror is a concave mirror defining an axial aperture therethrough, and the focussing element is a convex mirror mounted to face the axial aperture and whereby the said linear movement thereof takes place along an axis passing through the said aperture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
Optical apparatus comprising a base, means defining a working surface of predetermined contour fixedly positioned relative to the base, means defining a first optical beam path whose direction is fixed in three dimensions relative to the base, a vergence-causing optical focussing element, means mounting the focussing element on the base between the said first path and the working surface to receive an optical beam which also passes along the said first path, the said mounting means mounting the focussing element for movement about first and second transverse axes whereby to scan the beam across the said working surface, and mounting it also to be movable linearly to adjust the focussing of the scan, and control means operatively connected to the focussing element to adjust the focussing of the scan on the working surface in dependence on the deflection of the scan from a predetermined datum whereby to maintain the scan continuously in focus on the working surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
Optical apparatus comprising a base, means defining a working surface of predetermined contour fixedly positioned relative to the base, means defining a first optical beam path whose direction is fixed in three dimensions relative to the base, a vergence-causing optical focussing element, means mounting the focussing element on the base between the said first path and the working surface to receive an optical beam which also passes along the said first path, the said mounting means mounting the focussing element for movement about first and second transverse axes whereby to scan the beam across the said working surface, and mounting it also to be movable linearly to adjust the focussing of the scan, and control means operatively connected to the focussing element to adjust the focussing of the scan on the working surface in dependence on the deflection of the scan from a predetermined datum whereby to maintain the scan continuously in focus on the working surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the optical means comprises a concave mirror having an axial aperture which defines the said first optical beam path, the concave mirror being mounted to define a second optical path between the focussing element and the working surface, and in which the focussing element is a convex mirror mounted in alignment with the said aperture to face the reflecting surface of the concave mirror to receive and reflect the said optical beam which passes through the aperture, the convex mirror being mounted for linear movement to and fro along the axis of the concave mirror to adjust the focus of the scan, and also being angularly movable about the axis of the concave mirror and about an axis perpendicular thereto whereby the angular positions of the convex mirror about these two axes respectively establish the r and theta coordinates of the position of the point of scan on the working surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the said control means comprises linkage responsive to that movement of the optical means which determines the deflection of the beam on the working surface and connected to control, in dependence thereon, that movement of the focussing element which determines the focussing of the scan On the working surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the control means comprises first linkage means mounted to sense movement of the mirror means about at least one of the said transverse axes, second linkage means connected to the focussing element mounting means for linearly moving the focussing element, and motion-transmitting means arranged to transmit the movement sensed by the first linkage means to the second linkage means whereby the resultant linear movement of the focussing element maintains the scan in focus on the working surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the control means comprises first programmable control means connected to control the deflection-determining movement of the optical means according to a predetermined program, and second programmable control means connected to control the focussing-determining movement of the focussing element to a predetermined program, the two programs being arranged whereby the scan is maintained continuously in focus on the working surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the control means comprises beam sensing means on the working surface and operative to produce a control signal in response to an incident beam thereon, and means responsive to the control signal to control the focussing-determining movement of the focussing element in a manner such as to maintain the scan continuously in focus on the surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including a source producing a laser-beam and directing it to the optical means along said first optical path for scanning and focussing thereby onto the said surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
140 words
Optical apparatus, comprising means defining a working surface, optical means mounted to perform a focussable scan of the working surface, first means mounting at least part of the optical means for respective angular movements about first and second transverse axes whereby to deflect the point of scan to different points on a predetermined area of the said surface, which area has a length and breadth greater than those of the said point of scan, second means mounting at least part of the optical means for linear movement so as to adjust the focussing of the scan on the working surface, and control means operative to control the linear, focussing determining movement of the optical means in dependence on at least one of the angular deflecting determining movements thereof whereby to maintain the beam continuously in focus on the working surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
140 words
Optical apparatus, comprising means defining a working surface, optical means mounted to perform a focussable scan of the working surface, first means mounting at least part of the optical means for respective angular movements about first and second transverse axes whereby to deflect the point of scan to different points on a predetermined area of the said surface, which area has a length and breadth greater than those of the said point of scan, second means mounting at least part of the optical means for linear movement so as to adjust the focussing of the scan on the working surface, and control means operative to control the linear, focussing determining movement of the optical means in dependence on at least one of the angular deflecting determining movements thereof whereby to maintain the beam continuously in focus on the working surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, in which the said part of the optical means mounted by the first mounting means comprises planar mirror means, and the said part mounted by the second mounting means comprises an optical focussing element, the planar mirror means defining an optical path between the optical focussing element and the working surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, in which the optical means comprises an optical focussing element, and in which the first mounting means mounts the focussing element for said angular movements about the two transverse axes and the second mounting means mounts the focussing element for said linear movement to adjust the focussing of the scan.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, including an optical beam source and in which: the optical means comprises a curved mirror defining a central aperture therethrough and mounted whereby the said optical beam passes through the aperture, and a convex mirror of smaller diameter than the concave mirror and mounted to face the concave mirror and in line with the aperture to receive the optical beam therethrough and to reflect it on to the concave mirror and thence on to the said working surface; and the said first mounting means comprises means mounting the convex mirror for angular movement about an axis transverse to the surface of the concave mirror and passing through the aperture and also for angular movement about a perpendicular Axis; and the second mounting means comprises means mounting the convex mirror for linear movement along the said axis transverse to the surface of the concave mirror and passing through the aperture.
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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) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |