Compact rotator and method for making a beam steering device
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsDaniel N. Carothers, Stephen J. Fedigan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for a beam steering device includes a rotator constituting a cylindrical body extending along an axis and defining a central passage therethrough. A wedge-shaped prism is secured to the body within the central passage. The prism has a first surface extending perpendicular to the axis and a second surface extending transverse to the axis. A drive member is provided on one of an axial end surface and a radially outer surface of the body for rotating the rotator. An encoder member is provided on the same surface of the body as the drive member for tracking the position of the rotator.
Claims20
An apparatus for a beam steering device, comprising:
- a rotator comprising a cylindrical body extending along an axis and defining a central passage;
- a wedge-shaped prism secured to the body within the central passage, the wedge-shaped prism having a first surface extending perpendicular to the axis and a second surface extending transverse to the axis;
- a drive member for rotating the rotator and provided on one of an axial end surface and a radially outer surface of the cylindrical body;
- an encoder member for tracking a position of the rotator and provided on the same surface of the cylindrical body as the drive member;
- and
- an annular groove positioned between the drive member and the encoder member, the annular groove provided on the same surface of the cylindrical body as the drive member and the encoder member.
An apparatus for a beam steering device having a housing with a longitudinal centerline, comprising:
- a pair of rotators rotatably for mounting in the housing, each including:
- a cylindrical body rotatably mounted within the housing, the body extending along an axis and defining a central passage;
- a wedge-shaped prism secured to the body within the central passage, the wedge-shaped prism having a first surface extending perpendicular to the axis and a second surface extending transverse to the axis;
- a drive member for rotating the rotator and provided on one of an axial end surface and a radially outer surface of the body;
- an encoder member for tracking a position of the rotator and provided on the same surface of the body as the drive member;
- and
- an annular groove positioned between the drive member and the encoder member, the annular groove provided on the same surface of the cylindrical body as the drive member and the encoder member,
- wherein the inner diameters of the central passages of the bodies are identical.
A method for making a beam steering device comprising:
- rotatably mounting a pair of rotators inside a housing such that a wedge-shaped prism for each rotator in the pair of rotators are disposed coaxially and free from radial overlap with respect to each other within the housing, each wedge element comprising:
- a cylindrical body extending along an axis and defining a central passage;
- a wedge-shaped prism secured to the body within the central passage, the wedge-shaped prism having a first surface extending perpendicular to the axis and a second surface extending transverse to the axis;
- a drive member for rotating the rotator and provided on one of an axial end surface and a radially outer surface of the cylindrical body;
- an encoder member for tracking a position of the rotator and provided on the same surface of the cylindrical body as the drive member;
- and
- an annular groove positioned between the drive member and the encoder member, the annular groove provided on the same surface of the cylindrical body as the drive member and the encoder member;
- securing drive elements to the housing for cooperating with each drive member to rotate the prism about the axis;
- and
- securing at least one encoder sensor to the housing for cooperating with the encoder member to sense the rotational position of the prism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.