Flying spot scanning system with virtual scanners
First Claim
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1. An optical scanning system for scanning a surface comprising:
- means for providing a beam of high intensity light,means for imaging said beam to a spot in a focal plane,scanning means for directing said beam throughout a predetermined scan angle, andoptical means between said scanning means and said surface for redirecting said beam, said optical means being comprised of at least two prisms oriented symmetrically about the center-line which bisects said predetermined scan angle, the reflective surfaces of said prisms providing at least two contiguous focal circles that define a focal plane, said redirected bean scanning said contiguous focal circles as said beam is directed through said predetermined scan angle, the centers of each focal circle being located remote from said scanning means, the scan angle of said beam as it scans each focal circle being less than said predetermined scan angle.
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Abstract
A flying spot scanning system is provided which uses directed light from a scanning element, which directed light is reflected through a symmetrical arrangement of prisms for scanning across a medium with a planar object surface. Virtual scanners provide a segmented focal plane whereby the effective scan angle of the system is reduced.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An optical scanning system for scanning a surface comprising:
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means for providing a beam of high intensity light, means for imaging said beam to a spot in a focal plane, scanning means for directing said beam throughout a predetermined scan angle, and optical means between said scanning means and said surface for redirecting said beam, said optical means being comprised of at least two prisms oriented symmetrically about the center-line which bisects said predetermined scan angle, the reflective surfaces of said prisms providing at least two contiguous focal circles that define a focal plane, said redirected bean scanning said contiguous focal circles as said beam is directed through said predetermined scan angle, the centers of each focal circle being located remote from said scanning means, the scan angle of said beam as it scans each focal circle being less than said predetermined scan angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for recording information from an electrical signal onto a scanned medium comprising:
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means for providing a beam of high intensity light, means for modulating the light beam in accordance with the information content of an electrical signal, means for imaging said beam to a spot in a focal plane proximate to the linear surface of a light sensitive medium, scanning means for directing said beam throughout a predetermined scan angle, and optical means between said scanning means and said medium for redirecting said beam, said optical means being comprised of at least two prisms oriented symmetrically about the center-line which bisects said predetermined scan angle, the reflective surfaces of said prisms providing at least two contiguous focal circles that define a focal plane, said redirected beam scanning said contiguous focal circles as said beam is directed through said predetermined scan angle, the centers of each focal circle being located remote from said scanning means, the scan angle of said beam as it scans each focal circle being less than said predetermined scan angle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification