US3961838A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for producing a scanning laser beam of constant linear velocity
Assignee: Zygo Corp
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Filing: 1975-01-10
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Granted: 1976-06-08
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Expires: 1995-01-10
Abstract
Abstract An opto-mechanical apparatus is described which produces a scanning laser beam moving with a constant linear velocity, where velocity is used in the vector sense. The scanned beam can be either collimated or focused. By reflecting a laser beam from a uniformly rotating mirror to produce a rotationally scanned beam of uniform angular velocity, locating said mirror at the focus of a specially designed lens which follows the formula h=k.sup.. θ, where h is the distance between the center of the linearly scanned beam emerging from the lens and the optical axis, θ is the angle between the center of the rotationally scanned beam and the optical axis, and k is a constant very nearly equal to the back focal length of the lens, a scanning laser beam is produced which moves with a uniform linear velocity.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl A. Zanoni
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:12
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; G02B26/12; G02B26/125; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/02; G02B13/00; G02B13/0005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for producing a single scanning beam of radiant energy comprising (1) a source of radiant energy producing a single narrow collimated beam; (2) a uniformly rotating reflecting surface for reflecting said beam to produce a single angularly-scanned input beam of uniform angular velocity, which passes through (3) means for converting said single input beam into a linearly-scanning output beam of uniform linear velocity, said means comprising a lens which satisfies the relationship h = k.sup.. θ where h is the distance between the center of said output beam and the optical axis of said lens, k is a constant very nearly equal to the focal length of the lens and θ is the angle between the center of said input beam and the optical axis of said lens.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for producing a single scanning beam of radiant energy comprising (1) a source of radiant energy producing a single narrow collimated beam; (2) a uniformly rotating reflecting surface for reflecting said beam to produce a single angularly-scanned input beam of uniform angular velocity, which passes through (3) means for converting said single input beam into a linearly-scanning output beam of uniform linear velocity, said means comprising a lens which satisfies the relationship h = k.sup.. θ where h is the distance between the center of said output beam and the optical axis of said lens, k is a constant very nearly equal to the focal length of the lens and θ is the angle between the center of said input beam and the optical axis of said lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which the radiant energy is light from a laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which said narrow collimated beam is reflected through said lens and emerges as a focused beam of uniform linear velocity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which means are provided for focusing said narrow collimated beam onto said reflecting means, so that said input beam passes into said lens as a diverging bundle and emerges as a collimated scanning beam of uniform linear velocity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 4, in which said lens is positioned to both focus said narrow collimated beam onto said reflecting means, and recollimate said angular scanned input beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which said reflecting means is a uniformly rotating mirror.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which said reflecting means is a uniformly rotating polygon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3488102A
Cited
US3853406A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-08 | 1979-12-08 | 1980-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-08 | 1983-12-08 | 1984-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-08 | 1987-12-08 | 1988-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |