# US 2025/0147302 A1 · Compact scanners > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0147302 A1 - Document ID: US20250147302A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/931,113 - Filed: 2024-10-30 - Published: 2025-05-08 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-06 - Assignees: Lyte Ai, Inc. - Applicants: Lyte AI Inc. - Inventors: Jamie Nam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250147302A1 ## CPC - G02B 26/105: {with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors (G02B26/101 takes precedence)} - G02B 7/1821: {for rotating or oscillating mirrors} - G02B 26/101: {with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners (colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129)} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An optical scanner includes a mirror, which has a reflective front surface and a rear surface) and is mounted to rotate about a mirror axis. A motor is mounted behind the mirror in proximity to the rear surface and has a rotating shaft, which rotates about a shaft axis parallel to the mirror axis. A mechanical drive is coupled between the rotating shaft and the mirror so as to cause the mirror to oscillate about the mirror axis responsively to rotation of the shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical scanner, comprising: a mirror, which has a reflective front surface and a rear surface and is mounted to rotate about a mirror axis; a motor, which is mounted behind the mirror in proximity to the rear surface and has a rotating shaft, which rotates about a shaft axis parallel to the mirror axis; and a mechanical drive, which is coupled between the rotating shaft and the mirror so as to cause the mirror to oscillate about the mirror axis responsively to rotation of the shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The scanner according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical drive comprises a linkage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The scanner according to claim 2, wherein the linkage comprises: a motor arm connected to the shaft of the motor; a mirror arm connected to the mirror; and a linking arm connected to the motor arm and to the mirror arm by respective bearings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The scanner according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical drive comprises a cam connected to rotate with the shaft and a cam follower, which is connected to the mirror and rides on an outer surface of the cam as the cam rotates. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The scanner according to claim 1, and comprising a motor controller, which is configured to vary a rotational speed of the motor as a function of an angle of oscillation of the mirror. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The scanner according to claim 5, and comprising a sensor, which is coupled to sense an angle of rotation of a component of the scanner, wherein the motor controller is configured to control the motor responsively to an output of the sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The scanner according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical drive is configured to cause the mirror to oscillate about the mirror axis in a sawtooth scan pattern. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The scanner according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical drive is configured to cause the mirror to oscillate about the mirror axis in a triangular scan pattern. ### Claim 9 An optical scanner, comprising: a mirror, which is mounted to rotate about a mirror axis; a cam, which is mounted to rotate about a cam axis; a motor, which is coupled to drive the cam to rotate about the cam axis; and a cam follower, which is connected to the mirror and rides on an outer surface of the cam as the cam rotates, thereby causing the mirror to oscillate about the mirror axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The scanner according to claim 9, and comprising a spring, which is coupled between the mirror and the motor to maintain contact between the cam follower and the cam. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The scanner according to claim 9, wherein the motor is mounted behind the mirror. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The scanner according to claim 11, wherein the cam follower is positioned behind the mirror. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The scanner according to claim 9, wherein the cam has a non-symmetrical flattened side. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The scanner according to claim 9, wherein the cam has a mirror-image symmetry in a plane containing the cam axis. ### Claim 15 A method for scanning, comprising: mounting a mirror, which has a reflective front surface, to rotate about a mirror axis; mounting a motor, having a rotating shaft, which rotates about a shaft axis, behind the mirror in proximity to a rear surface with the shaft axis parallel to the mirror axis; and coupling a mechanical drive between the rotating shaft and the mirror so as to cause the mirror to oscillate about the mirror axis responsively to rotation of the shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein coupling the mechanical drive comprises coupling a linkage between the rotating shaft and the mirror. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein coupling the linkage comprises: connecting a motor arm to the shaft of the motor; connecting a mirror arm to the mirror; and connecting a linking arm to the motor arm and to the mirror arm by respective bearings. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein coupling the mechanical drive comprises: connecting a cam to rotate with the shaft; connecting a cam follower to the mirror; and positioning the cam follower to ride on an outer surface of the cam as the cam rotates. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, and comprising varying a rotational speed of the motor as a function of an angle of oscillation of the mirror. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein coupling the mechanical drive causes the mirror to oscillate about the mirror axis in a sawtooth scan pattern. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein coupling the mechanical drive causes the mirror to oscillate about the mirror axis in a triangular scan pattern.