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US 6,142,653 AGranted
Optical pattern producing system
AssigneePhysicreations, Inc.
InventorThomas Blaise Larson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed a system that produces patterns or images from a light beam by a series of reflections off of multiple mirrors, these mirrors rotated by motors. The mirrors are positioned with respect to each other and offset at a predetermined angle from a plane perpendicular with respect to the transverse vertical plane extending axially through the respective motors. This positioning creates a path of travel for the light beam that crosses over on itself at least once, allowing for the maximum number of patterns to be produced from a maximum number of mirrors, that are all preferably substantially uniform in their diameter (largest transverse dimension).
Claims29
An image producing system comprising:
- a light beam source for producing a light beam;
- a plurality of rotatable members, each of said rotatable members including a longitudinal vertical plane and a transverse vertical plane extending therethrough, said longitudinal vertical plane and said transverse vertical plane oriented substantially perpendicular to each other;
- means for driving each of said plurality of rotatable members;
- a plurality of substantially planar mirrors, each of said mirrors in communication with a rotatable member from said plurality of rotatable members, each of said mirrors including a surface defining a vertical mirror plane offset at a predetermined angle with respect to said transverse vertical plane;
- said light beam source and said plurality of mirrors aligned so as to produce a path of travel for said light beam that begins at said light beam source, reflects sequentially from each of said plurality of mirrors, and exits said system, whereby rotation of at least one of said plurality of mirrors produces a periodic angular motion of said path of travel of said light beam;
- whereby said periodic angular motion of said path of travel for said light beam produces an image in up to two dimensions when said light beam is projected on a visually detectable medium;
- and
- said light beam source and said plurality of mirrors aligned so as to produce a path of travel for said light beam that crosses over on itself at least once prior to exiting said system.
5 more elements
An image producing system comprising:
- a light beam source for producing a light beam;
- a plurality of substantially planar rotatable mirrors;
- means for driving each of said plurality of rotatable mirrors;
- said light beam source and said plurality of rotatable mirrors arranged in a substantially pentagonal configuration, said plurality of mirrors arranged in said pentagonal configuration to reflect said light beam from said light beam source sequentially from each of said plurality of mirrors before exiting said system in a manner whereby rotation of at least one of said plurality of mirrors produces a periodic angular motion of said path of travel of said light beam;
- whereby said periodic angular motion of said path of travel for said light beam produces an image in up to two dimensions when said light beam is projected on a visually detectable medium;
- and
- said plurality of rotatable mirrors arranged in said pentagonal configuration to reflect said light beam from said light beam source in a manner, whereby said light beam crosses over itself at least once prior to exiting said system.
4 more elements
An image producing system comprising:
- a light beam source for producing a light beam;
- a plurality of substantially planar mirrors;
- at least one rotating member in communication with at least one mirror of said plurality of mirrors for rotating said at least one mirror of said plurality of mirrors;
- means for driving each of said at least one rotating members;
- said light beam source and said plurality of mirrors arranged so as to produce a path of travel for said light beam that begins at said light beam source reflects sequentially from each of said plurality of mirrors, and exits said system whereby rotation of at least one of said plurality of mirrors produces a periodic angular motion of said path of travel of said light beam;
- whereby said periodic angular motion of said path of travel for said light beam produces an image in up to two dimensions when said light beam is projected on a visually detectable medium;
- and
- said light beam source and said plurality of mirrors arranged so as to produce a path of travel for said light beam that crosses over itself at least once prior to exiting said system.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.