US4084188A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical scanner
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1976-11-15
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Granted: 1978-04-11
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Expires: 1996-11-15
Abstract
Abstract An optical scanner is disclosed for scanning a three-dimensional object or a two-dimensional document located in a space which is open and exposed to ambient light. Light from a laser is directed through a beam splitter and a deflector to the object or document, from which it is reflected back through the deflector, and from the beam splitter through a narrow-band optical interference filter to a photodetector. The laser light is modulated at a carrier frequency rate, and the electrical signal from the photodetector is demodulated to produce a video signal free of disturbances due to ambient light.
Inventors
- 👤 Istvan Gorog
- 👤 Brown F. Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/04; H04N1/113; H04N1/024; H04N1/028; H04N1/029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for optically scanning an object exposed to ambient light to produce a video facsimile signal unaffected by the ambient light, comprising a light beam source, a beam splitter, a beam deflector, optical means directing light from said source in a beam passing through said beam splitter and said beam deflector to a place of an object to be scanned, a narrow-band optical interference filter constructed and positioned to pass light, having the wave-length of said source, which is reflected from a scanned object back through the beam deflector and the beam splitter, and a photodetector positioned to receive light passed by said optical interference filter and operative to produce an electrical video facsimile signal representing the scanned object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for optically scanning an object exposed to ambient light to produce a video facsimile signal unaffected by the ambient light, comprising a light beam source, a beam splitter, a beam deflector, optical means directing light from said source in a beam passing through said beam splitter and said beam deflector to a place of an object to be scanned, a narrow-band optical interference filter constructed and positioned to pass light, having the wave-length of said source, which is reflected from a scanned object back through the beam deflector and the beam splitter, and a photodetector positioned to receive light passed by said optical interference filter and operative to produce an electrical video facsimile signal representing the scanned object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and, in addition, means shielding the said photodetector from extraneous light not passing through said filter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said shielding means includes an optical fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and, in addition, means to modulate the amplitude of the light beam from said source at a carrier frequency, and means to detect the modulation on a resulting electrical carrier signal from said photodetector to produce an electrical video facsimile signal representing the scanned object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said light beam source is a laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said laser is a semiconductor injection laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for optically scanning an object exposed to ambient light to produce a video facsimile signal unaffected by the ambient light, comprising a laser light beam source, means to modulate the amplitude of the light beam at a carrier frequency, a beam splitter, a beam deflector, optical means directing light from said source in a beam passing through said beam splitter and said beam deflector to a place of an object to be scanned, a narrow-band optical interference filter constructed and positioned to pass light, having the wavelength of said source, which is reflected from a a scanned object back through the beam deflector and the beam splitter, a photodetector positioned to receive light passed by said optical interference filter, means shielding the said photodetector from extraneous light not passing through said filter, and means to detect the modulation on a resulting electrical carrier signal from said photodetector to produce a video facsimile signal representing the scanned object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for optically scanning an object exposed to ambient light to produce a video facsimile signal unaffected by the ambient light, comprising a laser light beam source, means to modulate the amplitude of the light beam at a carrier frequency, a beam splitter, a beam deflector, optical means directing light from said source in a beam passing through said beam splitter and said beam deflector to a place of an object to be scanned, a narrow-band optical interference filter constructed and positioned to pass light, having the wavelength of said source, which is reflected from a a scanned object back through the beam deflector and the beam splitter, a photodetector positioned to receive light passed by said optical interference filter, means shielding the said photodetector from extraneous light not passing through said filter, and means to detect the modulation on a resulting electrical carrier signal from said photodetector to produce a video facsimile signal representing the scanned object.
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) | 1981-04-10 | 1981-10-10 | 1982-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-10 | 1985-10-10 | 1986-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-10 | 1989-10-10 | 1990-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |