Laser scanning modules embodying silicone scan element with torsional hinges
First Claim
1. A laser scanning assembly for installation within a housing, said laser scanning assembly comprising:
- a scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly havinga silicone frame having a pair of silicone torsional hinges aligned along a scan axis passing through said silicone frame;
a scan mirror mounted on said silicone frame; and
a permanent magnet mounted on said silicone frame; and
a stator structure mounted stationary relative to a housing, and including a frame holder havinga support member for supporting said frame holder within said housing;
a pair of support elements provided on said frame holder, so that said pair of silicone torsional hinges are mounted to said support elements along the scan axis, and torsionally support said scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly and allow said scan mirror and magnet rotor assembly to oscillate freely about said scan axis passing through said silicone torsional hinges and said support elements; and
an omni-directional rotor motion limiting arrangement for limiting rotational and translational motion of said scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly, when said laser scanning assembly is subjected to external shock forces exceeding a predetermined threshold.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Laser scanning module employing a scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly supported by a stationary stator structure. The scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly includes: a silicone frame having a pair of silicone torsional hinges (i.e. posts) aligned along a scan axis and a supported by a pair of support elements associated with the stator structure, to support the scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly. When the scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly is rotated about its scan axis, by forces generated by an electromagnetic coil structure acting on the permanent magnet mounted on silicone frame, the silicone torsional hinges are elastically distorted and generate linear restoring forces which return the rotor subassembly back to its home position about the scan axis.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A laser scanning assembly for installation within a housing, said laser scanning assembly comprising:
-
a scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly having a silicone frame having a pair of silicone torsional hinges aligned along a scan axis passing through said silicone frame; a scan mirror mounted on said silicone frame; and a permanent magnet mounted on said silicone frame; and a stator structure mounted stationary relative to a housing, and including a frame holder having a support member for supporting said frame holder within said housing; a pair of support elements provided on said frame holder, so that said pair of silicone torsional hinges are mounted to said support elements along the scan axis, and torsionally support said scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly and allow said scan mirror and magnet rotor assembly to oscillate freely about said scan axis passing through said silicone torsional hinges and said support elements; and an omni-directional rotor motion limiting arrangement for limiting rotational and translational motion of said scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly, when said laser scanning assembly is subjected to external shock forces exceeding a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A laser scanning assembly for installation within a scanning system having a system housing, said laser scanning assembly comprising:
-
a scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly having an elastomeric frame having a pair of elastomeric torsional hinges aligned along a scan axis passing through said elastomeric one frame; a scan mirror mounted on said elastomeric frame; and a permanent magnet mounted on said elastomeric frame; and a stator structure mounted stationary relative to said system housing, and including a frame holder having a support member for supporting said frame holder within said system housing, and support elements provided on said frame holder, so that said pair of elastomeric torsional hinges are mounted to said support elements along the scan axis, and torsionally support said scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly and allow said scan mirror and magnet rotor assembly to oscillate freely about said scan axis passing through said elastomeric torsional hinges and said support elements; wherein said pair of elastomeric torsional hinges generate an elastic returning force to said scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly, the magnitude of which is linearly proportional to the magnitude of the angle of rotation of said scan mirror and magnet rotor subassembly about said scan axis.
-
Specification