Patent · US Expired

Double pass scanning system

US4355860A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
12References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 29, 1980
Grant dateOct 26, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 29, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B26/127
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A raster scanner with laser for generating a scanning beam and compact, folded optical system for transmitting the beam to the object to be scanned. The optical system includes a first mirror for guiding the laser beam forward along a downwardly inclined slope to the modulator, a second mirror below the modulator for intercepting the beam from the modulator and folding the intercepted beam to guide the beam backwards along a horizontal plane to a third mirror which folds the beam and guides the beam forward along an upwardly inclined slope against the mirrored facets of a rotating polygon, the polygon scanning the beam through a preset scan arc and returning the beam via a focusing lens to the third mirror, the third mirror folding the scan beam and guiding the scan beam forward, and a fourth mirror for intercepting the scan beam and guiding the beam to the object to be scanned.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.