US4019811A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical scanner
Assignee: RAPIFAX CORP
•
Filing: 1975-03-26
•
Granted: 1977-04-26
•
Expires: 1995-03-26
Abstract
Abstract An optical scanner wherein the image of a straight line is focused by an optical element such as a concave mirror or converging lens on the arc of a circle which is scanned by a rotating drum having one or more field stops such as pin holes or optical fibers directing light upon a stationary photodetector. The optical center of the focussing element is disposed in the plane of the scanning circle; and the axis of rotation of the drum orthogonally intersects the plane at a point displaced from the optical center.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence D. Lorah
- 👤 Richard W. Stresau
- 👤 Lawrence B. Lapson
- 👤 Curtis P. VAN Vloten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/04; H04N1/12; H04N1/126; H04N1/1295
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An optical line scanning system including in combination means for focusing an image of a line upon an arc of a circle, means providing at least one field stop, and means for causing the field stop means to traverse said circle, said focusing means having a focal length and having an optical center disposed in the plane of said circle, said traversing means including means mounting the field stop means for rotation about an axis which orthogonally intersects the plane at a point offset from said optical center in a direction such that the distance of the field stop means from the focusing means when traversing the image arc exceeds said focal length.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
An optical line scanning system including in combination means for focusing an image of a line upon an arc of a circle, means providing at least one field stop, and means for causing the field stop means to traverse said circle, said focusing means having a focal length and having an optical center disposed in the plane of said circle, said traversing means including means mounting the field stop means for rotation about an axis which orthogonally intersects the plane at a point offset from said optical center in a direction such that the distance of the field stop means from the focusing means when traversing the image arc exceeds said focal length.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the focussing means includes means providing a generally semicircular aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the focussing means includes a concave spherical mirror.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the focussing means includes a converging lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein thd focussing means includes a concave spherical mirror and a generally semicircular aperture stop positioned adjacent the center of curvature of the mirror.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the focussing means includes a generally semicircular converging lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said line is formed by a real object disposed in the plane of said circle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as in claim 1 and further including a plane mirror forming a virtual image of a real object, wherein said line comprises said virtual image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the field stop means includes an optical fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the field stop means includes a pinhole.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the field stop means comprises a plurality of similar and equally spaced field stops.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 1 further including an angular transducer mounted for common rotation with the field stop means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as in claim 1 further including a non-linear angular transducer mounted for common rotation with the field stop means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as in claim 1 further including a non-linear incremental transducer mounted for common rotation with the field stop means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the focussing means includes a concave spherical mirror and an aperture stop positioned adjacent the center of curvature of the mirror and wherein the rotational axis intersects the plane at a point offset toward said line from the center of curvature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the focussing means includes a converging lens and wherein the rotational axis intersects the plane at a point offset toward said image arc from the lens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 1 further including stationary means for detecting radiant energy and means optically coupling the field stop means to the detecting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as in claim 17 wherein the field stop means comprises one end of an optical fiber and wherein the coupling means includes the remaining portion of said fiber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the field stop means includes a pinhole and wherein the coupling means includes one converging lens.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system as in claim 1 further including an elongated elliptical reflector having a pair of foci disposed along a major axis and an elongated source of radiant energy positioned at one focus, the reflector being provided with an elongated slot adjacent said one focus but displaced from the major axis by an appreciable angle measured from the other focus, said other focus comprising said line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-04-25 | 1980-10-25 | 1981-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-25 | 1984-10-25 | 1985-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-25 | 1988-10-25 | 1989-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |