798 results about "Scanning beam" patented technology

A three-dimensional imaging and display system is provided in which user input is optically detected in an imaging volume by measuring the path length of an amplitude modulated scanning beam as a function of the phase shift thereof. Visual image user feedback concerning the detected user input is presented.

An array antenna is formed of a plurality of antenna elements, each of which scans a beam in the direction of an angle theta to a boresight of the antenna and electrically varies the direction of a rotation angle phi of the beam. The antenna elements are disposed so that the optical path difference of radio waves transmitted or received by two adjacent antenna elements in the directions of a plurality of direction angles phi on the plane tilted for an angle theta to the boresight of the antenna is nearly a multiple of the wave length of the radio waves.

A scanning endoscope, amenable to both rigid and flexible forms, scans a beam of light across a field-of-view, collects light scattered from the scanned beam, detects the scattered light, and produces an image. The endoscope may comprise one or more bodies housing a controller, light sources, and detectors; and a separable tip housing the scanning mechanism. The light sources may include laser emitters that combine their outputs into a polychromatic beam. Light may be emitted in ultraviolet or infrared wavelengths to produce a hyperspectral image. The detectors may be housed distally or at a proximal location with gathered light being transmitted thereto via optical fibers. A plurality of scanning elements may be combined to produce a stereoscopic image or other imaging modalities. The endoscope may include a lubricant delivery system to ease passage through body cavities and reduce trauma to the patient. The imaging components are especially compact, being comprised in some embodiments of a MEMS scanner and optical fibers, lending themselves to interstitial placement between other tip features such as working channels, irrigation ports, etc.

The invention discloses a lens antenna with high directivity intended for use in radio-relay communication systems, said antenna providing the capability of electronic steering of the main radiation pattern beam by switching between horn antenna elements placed on a plane focal surface of the lens. Electronic beam steering allows antenna to automatically adjust the beam direction during initial alignment of transmitting and receiving antennas and in case of small antenna orientation changes observed due to the influence of different reasons (wind, vibrations, compression and / or extension of portions of the supporting structures with the temperature changes, etc.). The technical result of the invention is the increase of the antenna directivity with simultaneously provided capability of scanning the beam in a continuous angle range and also the increase of the antenna radiation efficiency and, consequently, the increase of the lens antenna gain. This result is achieved by the implementation of horn antenna elements with optimized geometry.

A method and system of interference lithography (also known as interferometric lithography or holographic lithography) which utilizes phase-locked, scanning beams (so-called scanning beam interference lithography, or SBIL). The invention utilizes a high-precision stage that moves a substrate under overlapped and interfering pairs of coherent beams. The overlapped beams interfere, generating fringes, which form a pattern “brush” for subsequent writing of periodic and quasi-periodic patterns on the substrate. The phase of the fringes in the overlapped region is phase-locked to the motion of the precision stage. The invention includes methods for forming, overlapping, and phase-locking interfering pairs of beams on a variety of substrates; methods for measuring and controlling the period, phase, and angular orientation of fringes generated by the overlapping beams; and methods for measuring and controlling the effects of stage mechanical and thermal drift and other disturbances during the writing process.

A method and apparatus for monitoring a scanning beam of penetrating radiation, such as a scanning proton beam used to irradiate tissue. The position of the beam is tracked in real time by interposing a scintillator film between a source and an object of irradiation. An imaging detector, in optical communication with the scintillator, provides an output that is indicative of the position of the radiation and its variation with time. The accumulated dose over a scan may also be monitored.

A scanning device for: scanning coded data disposed on a surface; and generating interaction data based on the sensed coded data, the interaction data being indicative of interaction of the scanning device with the surface; the coded data including, at a plurality of locations on the interface surface, a corresponding plurality of coded data portions, the scanning device comprising: (a) a laser source and scan optics configured to emit a scanning beam through an aperture in a housing of the scanning device, the scanning beam being directed in first and second orthogonal directions to thereby generate a raster scan pattern over a scanning patch, the scanning patch being positioned to cause the exposure of the at least one coded data portion when the surface and the sensing device are positioned operatively with respect to each other; (b) a photodetector for detecting reflection of the scanning beam from the surface, thereby to capture sample information; (c) at least one analog to digital converter for converting the captured sample information into sample data; (d) a first framestore for storing successive sample data as image data; (e) an image processor for processing the image data to generate processed image data; (e) a host processor for generating the interaction data based at least partially on the processed image data.

An irradiation apparatus for irradiating by scanning a target volume according to a predetermined dose profile with a scanning beam of charged particles forming an irradiation spot on said target volume, said apparatus comprising:a beam generating device,a reference generator for computing, from said predetermined dose profile, through a dynamic inverse control strategy, the time evolution of commanded variables, these variables being the beam current I(t), the spot position settings x(t),y(t) and the scanning speed settings vx(t), vy(t),a monitor device having means for detecting at each time (t), the actual spot position as a measured position defined by the values xm(t),ym(t) on the target volume,characterised in that said irradiation apparatus further comprises means for determining the differences ex(t), ey(t) between the measured values xm(t), ym(t) and the spot position settings x(t) and y(t), and means for applying a correction to the scanning speed settings vx(t) and vy(t) depending on said differences ex(t), ey(t). The present invention is also related to a monitor for determining beam position in real-time.

The present invention provides scanning beam devices that have one or more detectors positioned within a housing of the device. The detector(s) may be disposed anywhere within the housing to receive light reflected from the target area. In one embodiment, an optical assembly of the device transmits a first portion of the reflected light to a scanning element, and a second portion of the reflected light to the detectors. In another embodiment, the optical assembly is configured to transmit substantially all of the reflected light to the scanning element. In such embodiments, the scanning element will be adapted to allow the light to exit the scanning element and impinge on the detector(s) within the housing.

The present invention provides software, methods, and systems for characterizing an actual scan pattern of a scanning beam device. The characterization of the actual scan pattern may be used in an image remapping method and / or a drive signal remapping method to reduce distortions in an image.

A transceiver for use in a wireless access network comprising a plurality of base stations, each of the plurality of base stations capable of bidirectional time division duplex (TDD) communication with wireless access devices disposed at a plurality of subscriber premises in a corresponding cell site of the wireless access network. The transceiver is associated with a first base station and comprises transmit path circuitry associated with a beam forming network for transmitting directed scanning beam signals in a sector of a cell site of the first base station. The transmit path circuitry transmits at a start of a TDD frame a broadcast beam signal comprising a start of frame field and subsequently transmits downlink data traffic in a downlink portion of the TDD frame to at least one of the wireless access devices using at least one directed scanning beam.

Substrate-guided relays that employ light guiding substrates to relay images from sources to viewers in optical display systems. The substrate-guided relays are comprised of an input coupler, an intermediate substrate, and an output coupler. In some embodiments, the output coupler is formed in a separate substrate that is coupled to the intermediate substrate. The output coupler may be placed in front of or behind the intermediate substrate, and may employ two or more partially reflective surfaces to couple light from the coupler. In some embodiments, the input coupler is coupled to the intermediate substrate in a manner that the optical axis of the input coupler intersects the optical axis of the intermediate substrate at a non-perpendicular angle.

An irradiation apparatus for irradiating by scanning a target volume according to a predetermined dose profile with a scanning beam of charged particles forming an irradiation spot on said target volume, said apparatus comprising: a beam generating device, a reference generator for computing, from said predetermined dose profile, through a dynamic inverse control strategy, the time evolution of commanded variables, these variables being the beam current I(t), the spot position settings x(t),y(t) and the scanning speed settings vx(t), vy(t), a monitor device having means for detecting at each time (t), the actual spot position as a measured position defined by the values xm(t),ym(t) on the target volume, characterised in that said irradiation apparatus further comprises means for determining the differences ex(t), ey(t) between the measured values xm(t), ym(t) and the spot position settings x(t) and y(t), and means for applying a correction to the scanning speed settings vx(t) and vy(t) depending on said differences ex(t), ey(t). The present invention is also related to a monitor for determining beam position in real-time.

A scanner, through which a document moves while being scanned by a moving beam of light, includes a wheel that rotates responsive to document movement. The wheel includes a multi-sectioned optical encoder upon which the scanning beam of light impinges when in a position at which it does not impinge upon the document. The scanner also includes an optical detector which receives light that is not absorbed by the optical encoder sections. Thus, the optical detector generates an electrical signal that indicates document movement speed. A preferred embodiment the scanner includes a pair of cup-shaped wheels one of which carries the optical encoder that encircles an inner surface of the wheel adjacent to a lip thereof. An axle, also included in the preferred embodiment, spans between, is coupled to, and supports the wheels for rotation in unison about a longitudinal axis parallel to the axle.

A method of terrain mapping and / or obstacle detection for aircraft, comprising: (a) transmitting a non-scanning beam that illuminates the terrain and / or obstacles; (b) receiving a Doppler shifted signal that is Doppler frequency shifted by an amount dependent on an angle between a line of flight of the aircraft and scatterers that reflect the transmitted beam; (c) determining the angle from the Doppler frequency; (d) determining the range of at least some of said scatterers; and (e) determining the azimuth and elevation of the scatterers.

Scanning beam device calibration using a calibration pattern is disclosed. In one aspect, a method may include acquiring an image of a calibration pattern using a scanning beam device. The acquired image may be compared with a representation of the calibration pattern. The scanning beam device may be calibrated based on the comparison. Software and apparatus to perform these and other calibration methods are also disclosed.

A method includes scanning beams of a multiple beam antenna to collect metrics associated with the beams; selecting a best beam based on the collected metrics or based on a manual selection received from an operator; retrieving thresholds associated with the metrics; comparing the collected metrics, associated with the selected best beam, to the retrieved thresholds; and determining whether the antenna unit is in an acceptable location based on the comparison. Another method includes scanning beams of the multiple beam antenna to collect metrics associated with the beams; selecting a best beam based on the collected metrics; determining a serving beam; comparing a set of metrics associated with the selected best beam with a corresponding set of metrics associated with the serving beam; and determining whether to switch from the serving beam to the selected best beam based on the comparison.

The present invention provides scanning beam devices that have one or more detectors positioned within a housing of the device. The detector(s) may be disposed anywhere within the housing to receive light reflected from the target area. In one embodiment, an optical assembly of the device transmits a first portion of the reflected light to a scanning element, and a second portion of the reflected light to the detectors. In another embodiment, the optical assembly is configured to transmit substantially all of the reflected light to the scanning element. In such embodiments, the scanning element will be adapted to allow the light to exit the scanning element and impinge on the detector(s) within the housing.

A display apparatus includes first and second IR or other light sources that produce light at respective first and second non-visible wavelengths. The light is modulated according to a desired image. The modulated light is then applied to a wavelength selective phosphor that converts each component of the light to a respective visible wavelength. In one embodiment, the image source is a scanned light beam display that scans an IR light beam onto a screen that carries the phosphor.

The present invention provides methods and systems for scanning an illumination spot over a target area. The present invention removes stored energy from a scanning element to stop the scanning element from vibrating and to substantially return the scanning element to its starting position so as to enable high frame rates.

A three-dimensional imaging and display system is provided in which user input is optically detected in an imaging volume by measuring the path length of an amplitude modulated scanning beam as a function of the phase shift thereof. Visual image user feedback concerning the detected user input is presented.

The techniques described herein facilitate the reliable and widespread communication of information in support of various types of transactions at various types of facilities using personal electronic devices, which are electronic devices that can be easily carried on the person. Personal electronic devices may be enabled to access and communicate information using Near Field Communications (“NFC”), as well as to communicate information to bar code scanners by emitting light that simulates a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of a bar code. Such a personal electronic device may be used for transactions both at the relatively uncommon facilities which have the newer NFC systems as well as the many facilities which have the older bar code scanners, thereby enhancing its value to its user. Moreover, NFC and light-simulated bar codes may be used cooperatively on a personal electronic device to enable a variety of novel and useful methods of communicating information.

A surgical technique for removing corneal tissue with scanned infrared radiation is disclosed which utilizes short mid-infrared laser pulses to provide a tissue removal mechanism based on photospallation. Photospallation is a photomechanical ablation mechanism which results from the absorption of incident radiation by the corneal tissue. Since photospallation is a mechanical ablation process, very little heat is generated in the unablated adjacent tissue. The disclosed surgical system includes a scanning beam delivery system which allows uniform irradiation of the treatment region and utilizes low energy outputs to achieve controlled tissue removal. A real-time servo-controlled dynamic eye tracker, based on a multiple-detector arrangement, is also disclosed which senses the motion of the eye and provides signals that are proportional to the errors in the lateral alignment of the eye relative to the axis of the laser beam. Temporal and frequency discrimination are preferably utilized to distinguish the tracking illumination from the ambient illumination and the surgical laser beam. A laser parametric generator for surgical applications is disclosed which utilizes short-pulse, mid-infrared radiation. The mid-infrared radiation may be produced by a pump laser source, such as a neodymium-doped laser, which is parametrically down converted in a suitable nonlinear crystal to the desired mid-infrared range. The short pulses reduce unwanted thermal effects and changes in adjacent tissue to potentially submicron-levels. The parametrically converted radiation source preferably produces pulse durations shorter than 25 ns at or near 3.0 microns but preferably close to the water absorption maximum associated with the tissue. The down-conversion to the desired mid-infrared wavelength is preferably produced by a nonlinear crystal such as KTP or its isomorphs. In one embodiment, a non-critically phased-matched crystal is utilized to shift the wavelength from a near-infrared laser source emitting at or around 880 to 900 nm to the desired 2.9-3.0 microns wavelength range. A fiber, fiber bundle or another waveguide means utilized to separate the pump laser from the optical parametric oscillation (OPO) cavity is also included as part of the invention.

A phase-sensing and scanning time-of-flight LADAR method and device are disclosed that take advantage of an atmospheric absorption bands within the solar IR spectrum.In the phase-sensing LADAR embodiment, an object is illuminated with electromagnetic energy such as a laser beam having a wavelength substantially equal to a predetermined atmospheric absorption band such as 1.39 microns. The transmitted laser beam is modulated at a predetermined frequency and has a first phase. The phase of the reflected and returned laser beam is altered proportional to the distance of the object and has a second phase. The first phase of the transmitted signal and the second phase of the received signal are compared and used to determine the distance of the object from the device. The system may comprise a modified laser that is tuned to operate in an atmospheric absorption band. A method to identify range ambiguity is disclosed by periodically altering the modulation frequency from a first modulation frequency to a second modulation frequency.In the scanning LADAR embodiment, an object is scanned or illuminated with electromagnetic energy having a wavelength substantially equal to a predetermined atmospheric absorption band at a first time and detects the reflection of the beam at a second time. The difference in time from the transmission of the scanning beam and the detection of the reflection of the beam from the object is used to calculate the range of the object.

The present invention provides a memory element for providing compatibility information and / or parametric data about a scanning beam device to a universal base station. The present invention provides a memory coupled to the scanning beam device that provides parametric data, such as an identifier code, compatibility information, and other characteristics of the scanning beam device that is coupled to the universal base station. A controller of the base station may use the parametric data to configure or generate a control routine so as to allow the base station to properly operate the device.

An apparatus and a method are provided for 3-D imaging and scanning using a 2-D planar VCSELs source configured as a lightfiled optical source. VCSELs are configured in different 2-D spatial arrangements including single VCSEL, or preferably a group, cluster, or array each to be operated effectively as an independent VCSEL array source. A set of microlens and an imaging lens positioned at a pre-determined distance collimates radiation from each VCSEL array source to a set of parallel beams. The parallel beams from different VCSEL array sources generated in a rapid pre-determined timing sequence provide scanning beams to illuminate an object. The radiation reflected from the object is analyzed for arrival time, pulse shape, and intensity to determine a comprehensive set of distance and intensity profile of the object to compute a 3-D image.

A stationary vacuum deposition machine for use in a method for processing substrates to make magnetic hard disks includes a series of stations and a transport. The series of stations includes an entrance station for receiving substrates into the machine and a predetermined station. The transport operates in a cycle with each cycle including a transport phase and a stationary phase. The transport causes all the substrates that are in the machine to be moved during the transport phase, and be temporarily held stationary during the stationary phase, such that during each stationary phase a predetermined one of the stations is occupied by one of the substrates while each of a plurality of others of the stations is occupied by a respective one of a plurality of others of the substrates. The machine further includes a plurality of vacuum deposition stations and a scanning beam generator. Each vacuum deposition station operates during each stationary phase such that each station causes a thin film to be deposited on a respective one of the substrates. The scanning beam generator directs a scanning beam at the substrate occupying the predetermined station while the substrate is held stationary to produce a textured pattern.

In a laser radar, a first scanning member scans a laser beam in a virtual plane passing through an axis. A control means controls displacements of the first scanning member to change a scan beam angle in the plane. A second scanning member deflects the scanned laser beam and again scans the deflected laser beam toward an external space. A light collecting means collects reflected light. A driving means rotates both the second scanning member and the light collecting means about the axis. The second scanning member has a deflecting surface to deflect the laser beam. The deflecting surface is formed around the axis and has a plurality of reflecting surfaces coaxially arranged centering on the axis. The reflecting surfaces have different inclinations with respect to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the axis.