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US 7,395,967 B2Granted
Methods and systems for counterbalancing a scanning beam device
AssigneeUniversity of Washington
InventorCharles David Melville
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and system for counterbalancing accelerations and/or torques caused by actuation of an actuation element and a scanning element. A scanning beam device may comprise a counterbalance to generate forces and/or torques that are substantially equal and substantially opposite to the forces and/or torque generated by the scanning of the actuation element.
Claims25
A scanning beam device comprising:
- a beam scanning element comprising an optical fiber;
- an actuation element coupled to the beam scanning element that generates at least one of a transverse force and a torque to move the optical fiber of the beam scanning element along one or more axes of motion;
- and
- a counterbalance coupled to the actuation element that generates at least one of a transverse force and torque that is substantially equal and substantially opposite to the transverse force and/or torque generated by the actuation element.
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A method of counterbalancing a scanning beam device, the method comprising:
- providing a scanning beam device comprising a beam scanning element coupled to an actuation element, and a counterbalance operatively coupled to the actuation element, the beam scanning element comprising an optical fiber;
- actuating the optical fiber of the beam scanning element with at least one of a force and torque provided by the actuation element;
- and
- counterbalancing the at least one of the force and torque provided by the actuation element with at least one of a force and torque that is substantially equal and substantially opposite to the at least one of the force and torque provided by the actuation element.
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A scanning beam device comprising:
- beam scanning means comprising an optical fiber;
- actuation means for generating a force and/or torque to actuate movement of the optical fiber of the beam scanning means;
- and
- counterbalancing means for generating at least one of a counterbalancing force and torque that is substantially equal and substantially opposite to the force and/or torque generated by the actuation means.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.