Linear optical scanner
First Claim
1. A device for linear scanning, comprising:
- (a) a roof prism, wherein said roof prism includes a roof, wherein said roof includes two mutually perpendicular reflecting surfaces intersecting in a line of intersection;
(b) a scanning mechanism which moves said roof prism in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of bilateral symmetry, wherein said line of intersection is included in said plane of bilateral symmetry;
.wherein an incident beam entering said prism and an exit beam exiting said prism are angularly separated by a substantial angle.
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Abstract
A device for linear scanning includes a roof prism. The roof prism includes a roof of two mutually perpendicular reflecting surfaces intersecting in a line of intersection. A scanning mechanism moves the roof prism in a direction perpendicular to a plane of bilateral symmetry. The line of intersection is included in the plane of bilateral symmetry; and an incident beam entering the prism and an exit beam exiting the prism are angularly separated by a substantial angle. Preferably, the scanning mechanism generates periodic motion or rotational motion of the roof prism with a radius of motion greater than a dimension of the roof prism.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for linear scanning, comprising:
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(a) a roof prism, wherein said roof prism includes a roof, wherein said roof includes two mutually perpendicular reflecting surfaces intersecting in a line of intersection; (b) a scanning mechanism which moves said roof prism in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of bilateral symmetry, wherein said line of intersection is included in said plane of bilateral symmetry;
.wherein an incident beam entering said prism and an exit beam exiting said prism are angularly separated by a substantial angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for multi-dimensional linear scanning, the method comprising the steps of.
(a) providing a plurality of roof prisms located between an object and an image plane; - and
(b) linearly scanning said roof prisms in respective lateral directions perpendicular to respective planes of symmetry in said roof prisms, thereby causing a point in said image plane to move substantially in said respective lateral directions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification