Double-reflection light scanner
First Claim
1. A light scanner for scanning an input light beam, comprising:
- a rotatable support having an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to said input light beam;
a reflector subsystem including a plurality of reflector pairs, each of said reflector pairs being mounted on said support at a different azimuthal location around the axis of said rotatable support;
the central ray of said input light beam being offset from the rotational axis of said rotatable support;
each of said reflector pairs having first and second light-reflective plane surfaces, the planes of which intersect at an obtuse angle, said first light-reflective surface being oriented to receive said input light beam during at least a portion of each rotational cycle of the rotatable support and to reflect said beam toward said second light-reflective surface, and said second light-reflective surface being oriented to further reflect said beam to be approximately orthogonal to the direction of said input light beam.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A light scanning system is disclosed which reduces the effects of wobble without the need for complex, cumbersome, or expensive optical equipment. A light source is provided for generating an input light beam. A rotatable support is provided, and has an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the input light beam. A reflector subsystem is provided, and includes a plurality of reflector pairs. Each of the reflector pairs is mounted on the support at a different azimuthal location around the axis of the rotatable support. Each of the reflector pairs has first and second light-reflective plane surfaces, the planes of which intersect at an obtuse angle. The first light-reflective surface is oriented to receive the input light beam during at least a portion of each rotational cycle of the rotatable support and to reflect the beam toward the second light-reflective surface, and the second light-reflective surface is oriented to further reflect the light beam to be approximately orthogonal to the direction of the input light beam. The disclosed structure has a scan rate and duty cycle that depends on the number of reflector pairs used.
28 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A light scanner for scanning an input light beam, comprising:
-
a rotatable support having an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to said input light beam; a reflector subsystem including a plurality of reflector pairs, each of said reflector pairs being mounted on said support at a different azimuthal location around the axis of said rotatable support; the central ray of said input light beam being offset from the rotational axis of said rotatable support; each of said reflector pairs having first and second light-reflective plane surfaces, the planes of which intersect at an obtuse angle, said first light-reflective surface being oriented to receive said input light beam during at least a portion of each rotational cycle of the rotatable support and to reflect said beam toward said second light-reflective surface, and said second light-reflective surface being oriented to further reflect said beam to be approximately orthogonal to the direction of said input light beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A light scanning system, comprising:
-
a light source for generating an input light beam; a rotatable support having an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to said input light beam; a reflector subsystem including a plurality of reflector pairs, each of said reflector pairs being mounted on said support at a different azimuthal location around the axis of said rotatable support; the central ray of said input light beam being offset from the rotational axis of said rotatable support; each of said reflector pairs having first and second light-reflective plane surfaces, the planes of which intersect at an obtuse angle, said first light-reflective surface being oriented to receive said input light beam during at least a portion of each rotational cycle of the rotatable support and to reflect said beam toward said second light-reflective surface, and said second light-reflective surface being oriented to further reflect said beam to be approximately orthogonal to the direction of said input light beam; and means for rotating said rotatable support on its axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification