Linked scanner imaging system and method
First Claim
1. A method of producing an image for viewing by a user, comprising the steps of:
- acquiring light from a first scene by optically scanning the first scene in a selected pattern at a first rate;
transmitting the acquired light to a second location remote from the first scene; and
at the second location, constructing the image by scanning the transmitted acquired light at a second rate substantially synchronously with the first rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for image transmission includes a first scanner at a first location and a second scanner at a second location, with an optical fiber linking the scanners. The first scanner scans the first location and couples light from the first location to the optical fiber. The fiber transmits the light to the second location where the second scanner constructs an image of the second location from the light. The two scanners are synchronized so that the constructed image corresponds directly to the scanned scene. The second scanner may be part of a retinal scanner, so that the image is formed directly on the user'"'"'s retina. In another embodiment, the each of the scanners acts as a transceiver so that imaging is bi-directional.
60 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of producing an image for viewing by a user, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring light from a first scene by optically scanning the first scene in a selected pattern at a first rate;
transmitting the acquired light to a second location remote from the first scene; and
at the second location, constructing the image by scanning the transmitted acquired light at a second rate substantially synchronously with the first rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of producing an image of a remote location for viewing by a user, comprising the steps of:
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receiving light from the remote location with a first scanner;
transmitting the received light to a second location separate from the remote location; and
constructing the image from the transmitted received light. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for remotely viewing an image, comprising:
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a first scanner, having a first light input alignable to the image and a first light output, the first scanner being configured to capture light from the image when the first light input is aligned to the image;
a second scanner having a second light input and a second light output, the second scanner being configured to construct a virtual image at the second light output from light received at the second light input; and
an optical fiber coupled to the first scanner and extending from the first light output to the second light input. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A remote viewing apparatus, comprising:
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a first scanner having an optical input aligned with a viewing field and an output optical port, the first scanner being configured to scan the viewing field and to transmit light from the viewing field to the output optical port;
a second scanner having an optical output and an optical input port, the second scanner being operative to transmit light received at the optical input port to the optical input and to scan the light transmitted light through a two dimensional pattern substantially synchronously with the scanning of the first scanner; and
an optical fiber coupled between the output port of the first scanner and the input port of the second scanner. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for transmitting images bidirectionally, comprising:
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a first scanner operative to scan light at a selected scanning frequency, the first scanner being optically aligned to a first environment;
a second scanner operative to scan light at the selected frequency, the second scanner being optically aligned to a second environment physically separated from the first environment; and
an optical transmission fiber having a first end optically coupled to the first scanner and a second end optically coupled to the second scanner. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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39. An optical viewing apparatus, comprising:
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a first scanner having a first input port and a first output port, the first scanner operative to sweep through a first angular range along a first predetermined scan pattern; and
a second scanner having a second input port and a second output port, the second scanner operative to sweep through a second angular range along a second predetermined scan pattern, the second input port being optically coupled to the first output port, wherein one of the first and second angular ranges is variable.
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Specification