Claims
- 1. A linear optical scanner comprising:
a mirror assembly having an optical axis said assembly including at least three mirrors arranged in an Abbe K-configuration; and drive means operatively connected to said mirror assembly for effecting mechanical translation of said mirror assembly along a path perpendicular to the optical axis of said mirror assembly.
- 2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein each of the mirrors of said mirror assembly has a reflection surface.
- 3. The invention defined in claim 2 further including a lens having an optical axis, and a spaced apart image plane wherein said mirror assembly is disposed parallel to the optical axis of said lens.
- 4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein light rays passing through said lens will produce an image at an image plane.
- 5. The invention defined in claim 4 including a linear detector is disposed at the image plane. The lens, mirror assembly and image plane do not “co-operate to form a linear detector.” The linear detector is a type of sensor that may be placed at the image plane.
- 6. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein the linear axis of said linear detector is perpendicular to the optical axis of said lens.
- 7. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said drive means is effective to translate said mirror assembly in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of said lens and the linear axis of said linear detector.
- 8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the light rays passing through said lens and contributing to form an image at an image plane are reflected off of each of the reflective surfaces of the mirrors of said mirror assembly prior to converging to form an image at the image plane.
- 9. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein translation of said mirror assembly in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of said mirror assembly and said lens and perpendicular to the linear axis of said linear detector will result in translation of the image.
- 10. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein the velocity of translation of the images will equal twice the velocity of translation of said mirror assembly.
- 11. The invention defined in claim 10 wherein the focus of the light rays passing through said lens remain constant during translation of said mirror assembly.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/232,475 filed Sept. 13, 2000.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US01/28008 |
9/7/2001 |
WO |
|