Claims
- 1. A translation system for directing an optical signal to predetermined coordinates, comprising:
- a tube having a sidewall and an aperture through said sidewall;
- an optical system for emitting an optical signal through said aperture; and
- a mechanism mounted within said tube for moving said optical system along a two dimensional path to direct said optical signal through selected coordinates of said aperture.
- 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said mechanism moves said optical system only when said optical system emits said optical signal.
- 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said translation mechanism moves said optical system so that said optical signal is transmitted through selected regions of said window in a predetermined pattern.
- 4. A system for directing an optical signal to predetermined coordinates, comprising:
- a tube having a sidewall and an aperture through said sidewall;
- an optical system for emitting an optical signal through said aperture; and
- a mechanism mounted within said tube for moving said optical system along a two dimensional path to direct said optical signal through selected coordinates of said aperture, where said mechanism includes:
- a frame mounted in said tube;
- a first motor drive system;
- a first cam which slides in said frame upon actuation of said first motor drive system
- a second motor drive system:
- a second cam which slides in said frame upon actuation of said second motor drive system; and
- a cam follower in contact with said first and second cams which translates when said first and second cams slide in said frame, and which supports said optical system.
- 5. The system of claim 4 further including a controller for directing said translation mechanism so that said cam follower translates said optical system along two orthogonal vectors.
- 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the position of said optical system is constant with respect to said window when said controller receives a logic input signal having a predetermined logic level.
- 7. The system of claim 4, further including a controller for controlling the directions and angular displacements of said first and second motor drive systems.
- 8. The system of claim 4 further including a spring interposed between said cam follower and said frame for urging said cam follower against said first and second cams.
- 9. The system of claim 4 wherein:
- said first cam has a generally planar first cam surface having a first normal that is non-parallel with respect to the direction of travel of said first cam;
- said second cam has a generally planar cam surface having a second normal that is non-parallel with respect to the direction of travel of said second cam; and
- said cam follower has a third generally planar surface in contact with said first cam surface, and a fourth generally planar surface in contact with said second cam surface, where said third and fourth planar surfaces are non-parallel.
- 10. The system of claim 4 wherein:
- said first motor drive system includes:
- a first stepping motor;
- a first gear reducer operably coupled to said first stepping motor for providing a first angular output signal having a first angular displacement and a first angular direction;
- a first screw drive coupled between said first gear reducer and said first cam which causes said first cam to slide in said frame when said screw drive receives said first angular output signal; and
- said second motor drive system includes:
- a second stepping motor;
- a second gear reducer operably coupled to said second stepping motor for providing a second angular output signal having a second angular displacement and a second angular direction; and
- a second screw drive coupled between said second gear reducer and said second cam which causes said second cam to slide in said frame when said screw drive receives said second angular output signal.
- 11. A translation system for directing an optical signal to predetermined coordinates, comprising:
- a tube having a sidewall and an aperture through said sidewall;
- an optical system for emitting an optical signal through said aperture;
- a mechanism mounted within said tube for moving said optical system along a two dimensional path to direct said optical signal through selected coordinates of said aperture; and
- a controller for enabling said mechanism when said controller receives a logic signal representing emission of said optical signal.
- 12. A system for directing an optical signal to predetermined coordinates, comprising:
- an optical system for emitting an optical signal; and
- a mechanism for moving said optical system along a two dimensional path to direct said optical signal to selected coordinates, where said mechanism includes:
- a frame;
- a first motor drive system;
- a first cam which translates in said frame upon actuation of said first motor drive system
- a second motor drive system:
- a second cam which translates in said frame upon actuation of said second motor drive system; and
- a cam follower in contact with said first and second cams which translates when said first and second cams translate in said frame, and which supports said optical system.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/820,662 (Navy Case No. 78165) filed Mar. 17, 1997, pending, entitled Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Soil Contamination Probe.
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
820662 |
Mar 1997 |
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