Electronically driven spiral scan synchronous transmit-receiver laser system

Claim 2

An optical scanner for use in an optical system to cause coordinated scanning by two beams of light, as for example a projected beam and a reflected beam, and about which the beams are folded comprising: a. a two-sided mirror for simultaneously reflecting two beams of light, one from each of said mirror surfaces; b. supporting structure Surrounding said mirror and spaced from the peripheral edge thereof for fixedly mounting said scanner in a system; c. electromechanical transducer means including a plurality of paired piezoelectric benders attached at opposite points of said peripheral edge and to said structure for supporting said mirror and for deflecting said mirror about plural axes, one of which is orthogonal to each bender pair, in response to electrical signals applied to said benders; and d. plural phase electronic signal generating means, one phase coupled to each of said bender pairs to effect circular scanning, said signals incrementing in amplitude in timed relation to said circular scanning to effect a spiral area scanning pattern.

Claim 3

An optical scanner for use in an optical system to cause coordinated scanning by two beams of light, as for example a projected beam and a reflected beam and about which the beams are folded comprising: a. a two-sided mirror having two proximate planar mirror surfaces and a peripheral edge for simultaneously reflecting two beams of light, one from each of said mirror surfaces; b. supporting structure surrounding said mirror spaced from said peripheral edge for fixedly mounting said scanner in a system; c. electromechanical transducer means including a plurality of paired diametrically opposed piezoelectric benders interconnecting said peripheral edge and said supporting structure for supporting said mirror and for deflecting said mirror about plural axes orthogonal each bender pair and parallel to said mirror surfaces in response to electrical signals applied to said benders; and d. plural phase electronic signal generating means for generating and applying said signals to said benders with a separate phase coupled to each of said bender pairs, said signals being varying frequency, varying amplitude signals and being phase related to correspond to the spacing of said pairs about said mirror to cause said mirror to effect a regular area scan pattern.

Claim 4

An optical scanner for use in an optical system to cause coordinated scanning by two beams of light, as for example a projected beam and a reflected beam and about which the beams are folded comprising: a. a two-sided mirror having two proximate planar mirror surfaces and a peripheral edge for simultaneously reflecting two beams of light, one from each of said mirror surfaces; b. supporting structure surrounding said mirror spaced from said peripheral edge for fixedly mounting said scanner in a system; c. electromechanical transducer means including a plurality of paired diametrically opposed piezoelectric benders interconnecting said peripheral edge and said supporting structure for supporting said mirror and for deflecting said mirror about plural axes orthogonal each bender pair and parallel to said mirror surfaces in response to electrical signals applied to said benders; and d. plural phase electronic signal generating means for generating and applying said signals to said benders with a separate phase coupled to each of said bender pairs, said signals being varying frequency, varying amplitude signals and being phase related to correspond to the spacing of said pairs about said mirror to cause said mirror to effect a regular area scan pattern.

Claim 5

a transducer drive circuit including two Scott connected transformers responsive to said sine and cosine related voltage signals to produce three said similar waveform sinusoidal varying frequency, varying amplitude voltage signals having a mutual phase relationship of 120* to cause said mirror to precess about a line in space through said point of intersection and normal to said mirror, and ''''fly back'''' and repeat said precession; whereby oscillation of said mirror causes a beam of light reflected by either said planar mirror surface to define a repetitious circular spiral span pattern.

Claim 6

a transducer drive circuit including two Scott connected transformers responsive to said sine and cosine related voltage signals to produce three said similar waveform sinusoidal varying frequency, varying amplitude voltage signals having a mutual phase relationship of 120* to cause said mirror to precess about a line in space through said point of intersection and normal to said mirror, and ''''fly back'''' and repeat said precession; whereby oscillation of said mirror causes a beam of light reflected by either said planar mirror surface to define a repetitious circular spiral span pattern.

Claim 7

In an optical scanner having utility in an optical system providing for coordinated scanning by two beams of light, as for example, a projected beam and a reflected beam folded about said scanner, wherein the scanner includes a planar two-sided mirror having a peripheral edge supported from a surrounding structure by a plurality of piezoelectric transducers each cantilevered at one end to said structure and articulately connected at the other to said peripheral edge, said transducers being generally in the plane of said mirror when at rest and being evenly spaced around said edge in diametrically opposed pairs and connected by electrical circuitry to a generator for producing signals to cause said transducers to move in bending fashion, each said pair deflecting said mirror about an axis in the plane of the mirror normal to the axis of alignment of said pair, the improvement wherein: a. said generator includes means for generating a number of phase-related sinusoidal varying frequency, varying amplitude voltage signals of similar waveform equal in number to the number of said diametrically opposed pairs of said transducers, said signals being phase-related according to the number of said pairs in the relationship the angles subtended between said axes of alignment of said adjacent pairs of transducers from the point of intersection of said axes of alignment; and b. said electrical circuitry includes circuit means for distributing each of said signals to a distinct one of said pairs with said signals being applied to the individual transducers of each pair with opposite polarity to cause said pairs of transducers to torque said mirror in a sequence responsive to the phase relationship of the signals with a repetition and to a degree responsive to the frequency and amplitude of said signals; whereby activation of said generator and application of said signals cause said mirror to oscillate with a pattern determined by the number of said pairs and the nature of said siGnals to effect a regular area scan.

Claim 8

In an optical scanner having utility in an optical system providing for coordinated scanning by two beams of light, as for example, a projected beam and a reflected beam folded about said scanner, wherein the scanner includes a planar two-sided mirror having a peripheral edge supported from a surrounding structure by a plurality of piezoelectric transducers each cantilevered at one end to said structure and articulately connected at the other to said peripheral edge, said transducers being generally in the plane of said mirror when at rest and being evenly spaced around said edge in diametrically opposed pairs and connected by electrical circuitry to a generator for producing signals to cause said transducers to move in bending fashion, each said pair deflecting said mirror about an axis in the plane of the mirror normal to the axis of alignment of said pair, the improvement wherein: a. said generator includes means for generating a number of phase-related sinusoidal varying frequency, varying amplitude voltage signals of similar waveform equal in number to the number of said diametrically opposed pairs of said transducers, said signals being phase-related according to the number of said pairs in the relationship the angles subtended between said axes of alignment of said adjacent pairs of transducers from the point of intersection of said axes of alignment; and b. said electrical circuitry includes circuit means for distributing each of said signals to a distinct one of said pairs with said signals being applied to the individual transducers of each pair with opposite polarity to cause said pairs of transducers to torque said mirror in a sequence responsive to the phase relationship of the signals with a repetition and to a degree responsive to the frequency and amplitude of said signals; whereby activation of said generator and application of said signals cause said mirror to oscillate with a pattern determined by the number of said pairs and the nature of said siGnals to effect a regular area scan.

Claim 9

In the optical scanner of claim 3, the further improvement wherein there are six said transducers arranged in three diametrically opposed pairs and the axes of alignment of said pairs subtend an angle of 60*; and said means for generating further comprise: