Scanning mirror system and associated methods
View Patent ↗A scanning mirror includes a reflective surface having a preset width dimension measured orthogonally to its axis of rotation. The preset width dimension accommodates a maximum angle of incidence of a beam being scanned by the reflective surface. A length dimension of the reflective surface, as measured along the axis of rotation, is at least equal to a diameter of the beam being scanned. A bottom portion of the reflective surface has an effective width dimension greater than the preset width dimension, and a top portion of the reflective surface has an effective width dimension less than the preset width dimension, such that a greater inertia is provided to the bottom portion of the scanning mirror that to the top portion. One shape for the reflective surface comprises a trapezoid.
1. A laser scanning system comprising:
a laser source operable for transmitting a laser beam having a generally circular cross section and measurable diameter thereof, the laser beam transmitted along a beam axis;
a first scanner having a first mirror operable thereby for at least one of oscillations and rotations, the first mirror positioned for receiving the generally circular laser beam reflecting the laser beam therefrom, wherein the first mirror is angled with respect to the beam axis providing an angle of incidence such that the generally circular laser beam received thereby and scanned within an oval shaped beam area, and wherein the first mirror has a trapezoidal shape including a length dimension measured along an axis of rotation of the first mirror equal to at least one diameter of the laser beam incident on the first mirror, a bottom width dimension measured orthogonal to the axis of rotation greater than a top width dimension and a width dimension therebetween equal to at least a secant of the angle of incidence of the laser beam onto the first mirror times the diameter thereof;
a second scanner having a second mirror operable thereby for at least one of oscillations and rotations, the second mirror positioned for receiving the laser beam reflected from the first mirror and reflecting the laser beam therefrom, the first mirror positioned proximate the second mirror; and
a target positioned for receiving the laser beam reflected from the second mirror.
2. The laser scanning system according to claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the first mirror comprises a multiple faceted edge.
3. The laser scanning system according to claim 2 , wherein the top surface comprises a center portion generally parallel to the bottom surface and undercut left and right sides portions, and wherein the trapezoidal shaped first mirror is symmetrical about the axis of rotation of the first mirror.
4. The laser scanning system according to claim 1 , wherein the second mirror has a trapezoidal shape including a bottom width dimension greater than a top width dimension.
5. The laser scanning system according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum angle of incidence of the laser beam onto the first mirror is sixty degrees and the width of the first mirror between the top width and the bottom width is twice the diameter of the incident laser beam.
6. A laser scanning system comprising:
a first scanner having a first mirror operable thereby for at least one of oscillations and rotations, the first mirror positioned for receiving a laser beam and reflecting the laser beam therefrom, wherein the first mirror is angled with respect to a beam axis for providing an angle of incidence such that the laser beam is scanned over and reflected from a generally oval shaped area on the first mirror, and wherein the first mirror has a trapezoidal shape including a length dimension measured along an axis of rotation of the first mirror equal to at least one diameter of the laser beam incident on the first mirror, a bottom width dimension measured orthogonal to the axis of rotation greater than a top width dimension and a width dimension therebetween sufficient for reflecting all of the laser beam within the oval shaped area; and
a second scanner having a second mirror operable thereby for at least one of oscillations and rotations, the second mirror positioned for receiving the laser beam reflected from the first mirror and reflecting the laser beam therefrom, the first mirror positioned proximate the second mirror.
7. The laser scanning system according to claim 6 , wherein the laser beam comprises a circular cross section, and wherein the width dimension between the top and bottom of the first mirror including the oval shaped area is equal to at least a secant of the angle of incidence of the laser beam onto the first mirror times the diameter thereof.
8. The laser scanning system according to claim 6 , further comprising a laser source operable for transmitting the laser beam having the circular cross section and measurable diameter.
9. The laser scanning system according to claim 6 , wherein the top surface of the first mirror comprises a multiple faceted edge.
10. The laser scanning system according to claim 9 , wherein the top surface comprises a center portion generally parallel to the bottom surface and undercut left and right sides portions, and wherein the trapezoidal shaped first mirror is symmetrical about the axis of rotation of the first mirror.
11. The laser scanning system according to claim 6 , wherein the second mirror has a trapezoidal shape including a bottom width dimension greater than a top width dimension.
12. A laser scanning mirror comprising:
a reflective surface having a trapezoidal shape;
a length dimension measured along an axis of rotation of the mirror equal to at least one diameter of a laser beam to be incident thereon;
a bottom width dimension measured orthogonal to the axis of rotation greater than a top width dimension; and
a width dimension therebetween equal to at least a secant of an angle of incidence of the laser beam incident onto the reflective surface times the diameter of the incident laser beam.
13. The laser scanning mirror according to claim 12 , wherein a top surface of the mirror comprises a multiple faceted edge.
14. The laser scanning mirror according to claim 12 , wherein the top surface comprises a center portion generally parallel to the bottom surface and undercut left and right sides portions, and wherein the mirror is symmetrical about its axis of rotation.
15. The laser scanning system according to claim 12 , wherein a maximum angle of incidence of the laser beam onto the mirror is sixty degrees and wherein the width dimension between the top width and the bottom width is twice the diameter of the incident laser beam.