Light scanning device
AssigneesPENTAX Corporation, Optiscan Pty Ltd.
InventorMartin Russell Harris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides a light scanning device for scanning light from a light source, the light scanning device having: a pivotably mounted mirror for receiving light from the light source; a counterbalance; and a drive for oscillatorily pivoting the mirror and the counterbalance simultaneously in opposite directions to reduce uncoupled forces.
Claims22
A light scanning device for scanning light from a light source, said light scanning device comprising:
- a pivotably mounted mirror for receiving light from said light source;
- a counterbalance;
- a drive for oscillatorily pivoting said mirror and said counterbalance simultaneously in opposite directions to reduce uncoupled forces;
- a torsion bar rigidly connected to and supporting said mirror;
- and
- a mount rigidly connected to and supporting said torsion bar;
- wherein said mirror is pivotably mounted on said mount with said torsion bar.
A method of scanning light, comprising:
- reflecting said light from a mirror rigidly connected to and supported by a torsion bar;
- supporting said torsion bar with a mount rigidly connected thereto, whereby said mirror is pivotably mounted on said mount with said torsion bar;
- driving said mirror so as to oscillatorily pivot said mirror and thereby scan said light reflected from said mirror;
- and
- driving a counterbalance to act as a counterbalance to said mirror;
- whereby uncoupled forces due to said pivoting of said mirror are reduced by means of said counterbalance.
A light scanning device for scanning light from a light source, said light scanning device comprising:
- a pivotably mounted mirror for receiving light from said light source;
- a counterbalance;
- a drive for oscillatorily pivoting said mirror and said counterbalance simultaneously in opposite directions to reduce uncoupled forces;
- and
- a torsion bar comprising a filament rigidly connected to and supporting said mirror;
- and
- a mount rigidly connected to and supporting said torsion bar;
- wherein said mirror is pivotably mounted on said mount with said torsion bar and said counterbalance is permanently mechanically coupled to said mirror.
A light scanning device for scanning light from a light source, said light scanning device comprising:
- a pivotably mounted mirror for receiving light from said light source, said mirror having a reflective light receiving face;
- a counterbalance;
- a drive for oscillatorily pivoting said mirror and said counterbalance simultaneously in opposite directions to reduce uncoupled forces;
- and
- a mount;
- wherein said mirror and said counterbalance are located, respectively, on first and second supports, said first and second supports are rigidly connected to and supported by said mount, said mirror is pivotably mounted on said mount with said first support, said counterbalance is located behind said mirror so as not to obscure said light receiving face of said mirror, and said first and second supports are not mutually coaxial.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.