Light deflector and scanner

Claim 2

A light deflector and scanner, comprising means for circulating light in a progressively scanning closed loop path, said circulating means including nonreciprocal optical means for coupling light into said circulating means and for causing said light to follow said path when the polarization of the light is in a first polarization state and for ejecting said light from the circulating means when the light is in a second polarization state, and means positioned in the progressively scanning path within the circulating means for selectively altering the polarization state of the scanning light to the second state, so that the light is ejected from the circulating means by said nonreciprocal optical means at a predetermined discrete location.

Claim 3

The deflector and scanner of claim 1, wherein said circulating means further comprises first and second reflecting means arranged with said nonreciprocal optical means to form said path, said first reflecting means being positioned in an off-axis position to effect the progressive scanning of the light.

Claim 4

The deflector and scanner of claim 1, and further comprising light deflection means positioned in said path for effecting a predetermined displacement of said light each time the light revolves in said circulating means, whereby the progressive scanning of the light occurs in successive parallel paths.

Claim 5

A lighT deflector and scanner, comprising means for circulating light in a progressively scanning closed loop path, said circulating means including nonreciprocal optical means for coupling light into said circulating means and for causing said light to follow said path when the polarization of the light is in a first polarization state and for ejecting said light from the circulating means when the light is in a second polarization state, and electro-optic means having means for discretely activating a selected longitudinal portion of the electro-optic means in the progressively scanning path within the circulating means, said electro-optic means when activated changing the polarization state of the light scanning through it at that portion to the second state, so that the light is ejected from the circulating means by said nonreciprocal optical means at a predetermined discrete location.

Claim 6

A lighT deflector and scanner, comprising means for circulating light in a progressively scanning closed loop path, said circulating means including nonreciprocal optical means for coupling light into said circulating means and for causing said light to follow said path when the polarization of the light is in a first polarization state and for ejecting said light from the circulating means when the light is in a second polarization state, and electro-optic means having means for discretely activating a selected longitudinal portion of the electro-optic means in the progressively scanning path within the circulating means, said electro-optic means when activated changing the polarization state of the light scanning through it at that portion to the second state, so that the light is ejected from the circulating means by said nonreciprocal optical means at a predetermined discrete location.

Claim 7

The light deflector and scanner of claim 4, wherein said light when coupled into said circulating means is in a first linear polarization state and is altered to a second linear polarization state orthogonal to the first state, and said circulating means further comprises first and second reflecting means arranged with said nonreciprocal optical means to form said path, one of said reflecting means being positioned in an off-axis position to effect the progressive scanning of the light, said nonreciprocal means changing from a totally reflective mode of operation to a totally transmissive mode of operation when the polarization of said light is changed to the second state, whereby said light is ejected from said circulating means.

Claim 8

The light deflector and scanner of claim 5, wherein the electro-optic means is positioned at the focal point of said reflecting means and said electro-optic means changes the polarization state of focused light when activated, so that focused spots of light are provided from said circulating means and interference of adjacent spots is negated.

Claim 9

A light deflector and scanner, comprising first and second means arranged in series for discretely circulating light in individual progressively scanning closed loop paths, said first and second means being positioned orthogonal to one another so that the output of the first is the input to the second, each of said circulating means including nonreciprocal optical means for coupling light into said circulating means and for causing said light to follow each of said paths when the polarization of the light is in a first polarization state and for ejecting said light from the circulating means when the light is in a second polarization state, and means positioned in each of the progressively scanning paths within each of the circulating means for selectively altering the polarization state of the scanning light within that circulating means to the second state, so that the light is ejected from the second circulating means at a predetermined discrete location of a matrix of such locations.

Claim 10

A light deflector and scanner, comprising first and second means arranged in series for discretely circulating light in individual progressively scanning closed loop paths, said first and second means being positioned orthogonal to one another so that the output of the first is the input to the second, each of said circulating means including nonreciprocal optical means for coupling light into said circulating means and for causing said light to follow each of said paths when the polarization of the light is in a first polarization state and for ejecting said light from the circulating means when the light is in a second polarization state, and means positioned in each of the progressively scanning paths within each of the circulating means for selectively altering the polarization state of the scanning light within that circulating means to the second state, so that the light is ejected from the second circulating means at a predetermined discrete location of a matrix of such locations.

Claim 11

A polarization control device, comprising an electro-optic crystal having incident and exit faces for transmitting polarized light therethrough, a first plurality of pairs of electrode segments affixed to one of said faces with each such segment pair being insulated from all others and all of said segment pairs being maintained at a first potential level, a second plurality of pairs of electrode segments affixed to the other of said faces with each such segment pair being insulated from all others and all of said segment pairs being arranged for individual connection to a second potential level, and means for selectively connecting one segment pair of said second plurality at said second potential level, whereby the polarization of light provided at the incident face that encounters the selected segment pair is changed from one polarization state to another at the exit face.

Claim 12

A polarization control device, comprising an electro-optic crystal having incident and exit faces for transmitting polarized light therethrough, a first plurality of pairs of electrode segments affixed to one of said faces with each such segment pair being insulated from all others and all of said segment pairs being maintained at a first potential level, a second plurality of pairs of electrode segments affixed to the other of said faces with each such segment pair being insulated from all others and all of said segment pairs being arranged for individual connection to a second potential level, and means for selectively connecting one segment pair of said second plurality at said second potential level, whereby the polarization of light provided at the incident face that encounters the selected segment pair is changed from one polarization state to another at the exit face.