초록 ▼

This invention discloses a narrow field of view scanner (10) incorporating two multi-faceted polygon scanning wheels (12, 16) having a slightly different number of facets (14, 18). Each scanning wheel (12, 16) turns at an angular rate such that a facet (14) on one wheel (12) rotates through a predet

This invention discloses a narrow field of view scanner (10) incorporating two multi-faceted polygon scanning wheels (12, 16) having a slightly different number of facets (14, 18). Each scanning wheel (12, 16) turns at an angular rate such that a facet (14) on one wheel (12) rotates through a predetermined field of view at the same rate as a facet (18) on the other wheel (16). Further, each of the scanning wheels (12, 16) scan in opposite scanning directions. This does not necessarily mean, however, that the wheels are actually rotating in opposite directions. Because both of the scanning wheels (12, 16) are scanning in opposite directions, the scanning of one scanning wheel (16) substantially cancels the scanning of the other scanning wheel (12). Because of the difference in the number of facets (14, 18) between the two scanning wheels (12, 16), the scanning is not entirely cancel out. By this configuration, a dual multi-faceted scanning wheel can scan a much narrower field of view which could be scanned by a single scanning wheel having the same number of facets. The scanning wheels (42, 44) can be configured relative to each other in a variety of different manners, including rotating about a common axis, to satisfy specific design and space requirements of a scanning system.

대표청구항 ▼

A narrow field of view scanner comprising: a first scanning wheel having a first number of facets; a second scanning wheel having a second number of facets, said second number of facets different than said first number of facets; first rotating means for rotating said first scanning wheel; and secon

A narrow field of view scanner comprising: a first scanning wheel having a first number of facets; a second scanning wheel having a second number of facets, said second number of facets different than said first number of facets; first rotating means for rotating said first scanning wheel; and second rotating means for rotating said second scanning wheel, wherein said first and second rotating means rotates said first and second scanning wheels at a rate such that a facet of said first scanning wheel moves through a predetermined point in the same time as a facet of said second scanning wheel moves through said point and wherein said first rotating means rotates said first scanning wheel in a direction opposite to the direction said second rotating means rotates said second scanning wheel.