Chopper wheel with two axes of rotation
First Claim
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1. A device for scanning a beam as a periodic function of time, the device comprising:
- a. a wheel having an axis of rotational symmetry, the wheel being opaque to a specified energy range of electromagnetic radiation, the wheel having a set of apertures for transmitting the radiation in such a manner that the radiation is emitted in a beam from each of a specified number of illuminated apertures at a time;
b. a first rotary actuator coupled to the wheel for rotating the wheel about a rotation axis coincident with the axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel such that the beam is scanned in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel; and
c. a second rotary actuator for rotating the wheel about a scan axis not parallel to the axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for creating a beam of penetrating radiation of specified cross section that raster scans over a two-dimensional area, using a chopper wheel rotated about two axes. The wheel has a set of apertures of which at least one is illuminated to form the beam. Rotary actuators rotate the wheel about an axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel and about an axis not parallel to the axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel.
174 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for scanning a beam as a periodic function of time, the device comprising:
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a. a wheel having an axis of rotational symmetry, the wheel being opaque to a specified energy range of electromagnetic radiation, the wheel having a set of apertures for transmitting the radiation in such a manner that the radiation is emitted in a beam from each of a specified number of illuminated apertures at a time;
b. a first rotary actuator coupled to the wheel for rotating the wheel about a rotation axis coincident with the axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel such that the beam is scanned in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel; and
c. a second rotary actuator for rotating the wheel about a scan axis not parallel to the axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel. - 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 scanning a beam in two dimensions as a periodic function of time, the method comprising:
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a. illuminating a surface of a wheel with electromagnetic radiation to which the wheel is opaque other than at a set of apertures traversing the wheel in a direction of propagation of the electromagnetic radiation;
b. rotating the wheel about an axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel; and
c. simultaneously rotating the wheel about an axis not parallel to the axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification