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 Title: |
US6288817:
High duty cycle synchronized multi-line scanner
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Rowe, David M.; Medway, MA
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| Assignee: |
Avanex Corporation, Fremont, CA
other patents from AVANEX CORPORATION (774072) (approx. 58)
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| Published / Filed: |
2001-09-11
/ 1998-01-21
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| Application Number: |
US1998000010785
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
G02B 26/12;
Core:
more...
IPC-7:
G02B 26/08;
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| ECLA Code: |
G02B26/12D;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
359/204.1;
359/017;
359/216.1;
Original:
359/204;
359/017;
359/216;
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| Field of Search: |
359/204,216,219,209,17,18
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| Priority Number: |
| 1998-01-21 |
US1998000010785 |
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| Abstract: |
A scanner includes a single scanning element such as a holographic disc or a polygon mirror and an illumination system that provides a plurality of input beams that are directed to different areas on the scanning element. In one embodiment, a light source provides a single beam that is alternately directed to a first area and a second area. While an input beam is incident on the first area, a first scan line forms. While an input beam is incident on the second area, a second scan line forms. Duty-cycle and energy efficiency of this embodiment are high because the beam from the source is switched from one area to the other during dead time when a scan beam would not otherwise have been directed to the desired scan aperture. Separate scan lines are automatically synchronized since they originate from the same source. Thus, alignment of multiple scan lines to form an extended scan line is simplified. Another embodiment simultaneously directs input beams to different areas of a scanning element to generate a plurality of synchronized scan lines suitable for alignment to form extended scan lines or for use separately in applications such as color printing.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Sawyer Law Group LLP ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Spyrou, Cassandra; Cherry, Euncha
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| Maintenance Status: |
E2 Expired Check current status
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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| Family: |
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First Claim:
Show all 31 claims |
I claim:
1. A scanner comprising:
- a scanning element having an axis of rotation;
- an illumination system comprising:
- a light source that generates a source beam, and
- path selection optics having a first operating mode and a second operating mode, wherein in the first operating mode, the path'selection optics direct the source beam along a first path to a first area, and the source beam forms a first input beam, and in the second operating mode, the path selection optics direct the source beam along a second path to a second area, and the source beam forms a second input beam,
- wherein the first and second areas are separated from each other by an angle about the axis of rotation of the scanning element and situated so that portions of the scanning element move through the first and second areas during a scanning operation, wherein a first scan beam originates from deflection of the first input beam by portions of the scanning element in the first area, and a second scan beam originates from deflection of the second input beam by portions of the scanning element in the second area; and
- post-scan optics that direct the first scan beam to illuminate a first scan line and direct the second scan beam to illuminate a second scan line.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 5 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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