Wide angle optical transmitter/receiver

Claim 1

An optical system for directing a transmitted light beam toward a target and receiving a reflected beam therefrom, comprising: a. a source of radiation providing a coherent collimated light beam directed along a first optical axis; b. a scraper mirror, magneto-optic light deflector means, optical beam expander, and collimating lens disposed along said first optical axis intermediate said source and target; c. said scraper mirror having a central hole concentric with said first optical axis for transmission of said light beam toward said deflector means, beam expander, lens and target, said mirror being inclined relative to said first optical axis to reflect said reflected beam along a second optical axis intersecting said first optical axis at said hole; d. said deflector means comprising a thin ferromagnetic film having a plurality of parallel stripe domains therein forming a light diffraction grating, said deflector means being responsive to an applied magnetic field for controllably deflecting said light beam off said first optical axis in the direction of said target; e. said optical beam expander disposed near said deflector means for expanding said deflected light beam to a predetermined beam size; f. said collimating lens disposed in predetermined spaced relationship to said beam expander for collimating said expanded light beam, transmitting said beam in the direction of said target, and receiving said reflected beam from said target; g. said beam expander and deflector means deflecting said return beam along said first optical axis to said scraper mirror; and h. detector means, disposed along said optical second axis for detecting said reflected beam.