Galvanometer-type motor

Abstract

A galvanometer-type motor for driving an optical element to deflect or otherwise modulate a radiant energy beam, the motor having a favorable mass-to-torque ratio that renders it capable of oscillating at a high-frequency rate and of performing other movements in accordance with an input current. The motor includes a permanent magnet rotor and a soft magnetic stator having a pair of split pole pieces extending from a pair of arms that are joined by a bridge forming the core of a field coil. The split pole pieces are disposed on opposite sides of the rotor whose axis of rotation is centered with respect thereto, the rotor being supported for rotation by means including a torsion spring acting to return the rotor to its neutral rest position. In the neutral position, the split poles of each piece straddle the end poles of the rotor on the related side thereof. Current supplied to the field coil polarizes the split pole pieces of the stator, producing magnetic forces creating a torque causing the rotor to turn in a direction depending on the current direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.