The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 18, 1995

Filed:

Sep. 27, 1993
Applicant:
Inventor:

Troy M Watson, Tucson, AZ (US);

Assignee:

Other;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
359214 ; 359201 ; 359203 ; 359216 ;
Abstract

A method and a device for diametric active scanning of a forward region using a collimated beam of radiation energy to detect and track target objects by collecting beam energy scattered by the objects. Each scan line of the beam proceeds from an edge of a circular field-of-view through the center to the opposite edge. The azimuthal scan angle is advanced by a constant increment for each successive scan, and scanning progresses uniformly and continuously. A device implementing the method includes a rotor assembly having first and second angled reflectors which rotates within a concentric ring which includes an array of curved reflecting facets. A collimated beam emitted by a radiation source is reflected by the first reflector onto contiguous segments of each successive facet instantaneously aligned with the reflected beam path, the beam being obliquely re-reflected and redirected to the second angled reflector which reflects and redirects the beam so as to scan a rotating pattern of diametric scan traces.


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