Gimbaled scanning system and method
US6576891B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 7, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N3/08
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A scanning system (10) and a method permit scanning a desired field-of-view within a maximized field-of-regard at a constant speed without reversing the scan direction about a primary axis (38). The system includes a mirror (20) which rotates about the primary axis (38). The mirror (20) is supported for rotation about a flip axis (40) which is perpendicular to the primary axis (38). Rotation of the mirror (20) about the primary axis (38) is divided into a scan period during which the field-of-view is scanned by the mirror (20), and a flip period during which the mirror (20) rotates about the flip axis (40). The mirror (20) is mounted in a gimbal for independent rotation about a secondary axis (24) which is parallel to the primary axis (38). Rotation of the mirror (20) about the secondary axis (24) provides an adjustment of the mirror orientation such that at the end of the scan period the mirror (20) faces the end of the field-of-view, and at the end of the flip period the mirror (20) faces the beginning of the field-of-view.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.