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US 6,480,323 B1Granted
Two-dimensional beam scanner
AssigneeCarnegie Mellon University
InventorsWilliam C. Messner, Daniel D. Stancil, Tuviah E. Schlesinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device that includes a projection element positioned between first and second beam scanners configured in series and a two-dimensional display plane. An apparatus for controlling the first and second beam scanners is provided so that the angle of incidence and the point of incidence of a beam output from the series connected beam scanners onto the projection element are controlled. In that manner, each point on the projection element can be mapped to a line in the display plane. A method of mapping a point in the projection element to a line in the display plane is also disclosed.
Claims51
A device, comprising:
- a projection element having an intermediate surface;
- first and second beam scanners configured in series for projecting an output beam on said intermediate surface, the output beam having an angle of incidence with respect to said intermediate surface and a point on incidence on said intermediate surface;
- a two-dimensional display plane for receiving a beam projected from said intermediate surface;
- and
- an apparatus for controlling said first and second beam scanners such that said angle of incidence and said point of incidence are separately controllable, wherein said point of incidence is controlled so as to step though a predetermined number of points and said angle of incidence is controlled so as to scan through a predetermined range of angles for each point.
2 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a first surface;
- a second beam scanner having a second beam input surface and a second beam output surface, said second beam input surface for receiving a beam, said second beam output surface for projecting an output beam having a second angle of incidence with respect to said first surface and a second point of incidence on said first surface;
- at least one second control apparatus in cooperation with said second beam scanner, said second control apparatus varying said second angle of incidence and said second point of incidence;
- a first beam scanner having a first beam input surface for receiving a beam and a first beam output surface for projecting a transitional beam, having a first angle of incidence with respect to said second beam input surface and a first point of incidence on said second beam input surface, said first beam scanner configured in series with said second beam scanner;
- at least one first control apparatus in cooperation with said first beam scanner, said first control apparatus varying said first angle of incidence and said first point of incidence;
- and
- a display surface for receiving a projected beam projected from said first surface.
4 more elements
A method of projecting a beam on a two-dimensional display plane, comprising:
- passing a beam through series configured beam scanners to produce an output beam;
- separately controlling the angle of incidence with respect to an intermediate surface and the point of incidence on the intermediate surface by stepping the point of incidence through a predetermined number of points and scanning the angle of incidence through a predetermined range of angle for each point;
- and
- projecting the beam on the two-dimensional display plane.
1 more element
A method of switch actuation, comprising:
- passing a beam through series configured beam scanners to produce at output beam;
- separately controlling the angle of incidence of the output beam with respect to an intermediate surface and the point of incidence of the output beam on the intermediate surface by stepping the point of incidence through a predetermined number of points and scanning the angle of incidence through a predetermined range of angle for each point;
- and
- projecting the beam onto at least one fiber optic switch input.
1 more element
A device for projecting a beam on a two-dimensional display plane, comprising:
- first and second series configured beam scanners to produce an output beam:
- means for separately controlling the angle of incidence of the output beam with respect to an intermediate surface and the point of incidence on the intermediate surface of the output beam by stepping the point of incidence through a predetermined number of points and scanning the angle of incidence through a predetermined range of angle for each point;
- and
- means for projecting the beam on a two-dimensional display plane.
1 more element
A switch actuating device, comprising:
- first and second series configured beam scanners to produce an output beam;
- means for separately controlling the angle of incidence of the output beam with respect to an intermediate surface and the point of incidence of the output beam on the intermediate surface by stepping the point of incidence through a predetermined number of points and scanning the angle of incidence through a predetermined range of angle for each point;
- and
- means for projecting the beam onto at least one fiber optic switch input.
1 more element
A device, comprising:
- a projection element having an intermediate surface, wherein said projection element includes a curved mirror;
- first and second beam scanners configured in series for projecting a beam on said intermediate surface;
- a two-dimensional display plane for receiving a beam projected from said intermediate surface;
- and
- an apparatus for controlling said first and second beam scanners.
2 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a projection element having an intermediate surface;
- first and second beam scanners configured in series for projecting a beam on said intermediate surface;
- a two-dimensional display plane for receiving a beam projected from said intermediate surface;
- and
- an apparatus for controlling said first and second beam scanners, wherein:
- said first beam scanner has a first output area and said control apparatus controls said first beam scanner to deflect a beam in a first direction;
- and
- said second beam scanner has a second output area and said control apparatus controls said second beam scanner to deflect a beam in a second direction, said first direction and said second direction lying in a plane.
5 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a projection element having an intermediate surface;
- first and second beam scanners configured in series for projecting a beam on said intermediate surface;
- a two-dimensional display plane for receiving a beam projected from said intermediate surface;
- and
- an apparatus for controlling said first and second beam scanners, wherein said apparatus includes:
- a first adjustable power source and at least one first electrode responsive to said first adjustable power source for controlling said first beam scanner;
- and
- a second adjustable power source and at least one second electrode responsive to said second adjustable power source for controlling said second beam scanner, and wherein said first adjustable power source varies a first angle of deflection of a first transitional output beam in a plane and said second adjustable power source varies a second angle of deflection of a second transitional output beam in said plane.
5 more elements
A method of projecting a beam on a two-dimensional display plane, comprising:
- passing a beam through series configured beam scanners to produce an output beam;
- controlling the angle of incidence with respect to an intermediate surface and the point of incidence on the intermediate surface;
- projecting the beam on the two-dimensional display plane;
- and
- randomly accessing any point on the display plane.
2 more elements
A method of projecting a beam on a two-dimensional display plane, comprising:
- passing a beam through series configured beam scanners to produce an output beam;
- controlling the angle of incidence with respect to an intermediate surface and the point of incidence on the intermediate surface, wherein said controlling further comprises:
- maintaining a constant angle of incidence with respect to the intermediate surface;
- and
- varying the point of incidence on the intermediate surface;
- and projecting the beam on the two-dimensional display plane.
3 more elements
The method of claim, 47, wherein at least two discrete display points are formed on different display lines.
A method of projecting a beam on a two-dimensional display plane, wherein the beam is scanned along a display line, comprising:
- passing a beam through series configured beam scanners to produce an output beam;
- controlling the angle of incidence with respect to an intermediate surface and the point of incidence on the intermediate surface, wherein said controlling further comprises:
- maintaining a constant angle of incidence with respect to the intermediate surface;
- and
- varying the point of incidence on the intermediate surface;
- projecting the beam on the two-dimensional display plane;
- stepping the beam to at least one different point of incidence;
- and scanning the beam along a different display line.
5 more elements
A method of projecting a beam on a two-dimensional display plane, comprising:
- passing a beam through series configured beam scanners to produce an output beam;
- controlling the angle of incidence with respect to an intermediate surface and the point of incidence on the intermediate surface;
- projecting the beam on the two-dimensional display plane;
- and
- applying at least one physical force to the first and second beam scanners.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.