Scanning thermography

Claim 2

Radiant energy scanning apparatus comprising a fixed housing including an input port for receiving radiant energy incoming along an energy receiving axis, a sensor for providing an output signal indicative of received radiant energy, and means for collecting energy received at said input port and focusing such energy upon said sensor, a scanning head assembly comprising a scanning head housing, a radiant energy output port in said scanning head housing aligned with said radiant energy input port of said fixed housing, a rotatable support journalled in said scanning head housing on said energy receiving axis, a reflector journalled in said rotatable support about a second axis normal to said energy receiving axis, said reflector including radiant energy reflective means for receiving energy projected toward said scanning head housing along a viewing axis and reflecting said energy through said output port and into said fixed housing input port, and means for mounting said scanning head housing to said fixed housing for angular motion about an axis aligned with the energy receiving axis of said fixed housing.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reflector comprises a mirror having a reflective surface lying in a plane that is spaced from said second axis by a distance that is considerably less than the dimensions of said reflector as measured in said plane.

Claim 4

The scanning apparatus of claim 1 including means for oscillating said rotatable support about said energy receiving axis between first and second terminal positions, and including means for rotating said reflector about said second axis.

Claim 5

The scanning apparatus of claim 3 including first pickoff means for generating a position signal indicative of at least one position of said rotatable support during oscillation thereof.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 including second pickoff means for generating a second position signal indicative of a predetermined position of said rotatable support relative to said reflector.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 including output means for generating an output indication of intensity of radiant energy received by said scanning head, said output means including location means responsive to said first and second pickoff means for generating signals representative of position of said reflecting means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 including a second pickoff means, and wherein said output means includes a display device having an intensity indicating beam, and means responsive to said sensor for intensity modulating said beam, said location means including first beam deflection means responsive to said first pickoff and second beam deflection means responsive to said second pickoff.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said location means comprises means responsive to said first pickoff means for generating a deflection trigger signal for the deflection means as said rotatable support begins to move from one oF the terminal positions of its oscillation and for generating a deflection termination signal as said rotatable support approaches the other terminal position of its oscillation, whereby deflection of said beam is slaved to portions of the rotation of the reflective means between but not including terminal portions of the oscillation about said first axis energy receiving.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for generating deflection signals includes means responsive to said first pickoff means for generating first and second dwell time signals during relatively small portions of the motion about each terminal portion of each oscillation.

Claim 11

Scanning apparatus comprising a support, a scanner pivoted to the support for oscillatory motion between first and second terminal positions, means for driving said scanner between said terminal positions to achieve said oscillatory motion, pickoff means for indicating position of said scanner with respect to said support, and means responsive to said pickoff means for generating dwell time signals that occur at and about the time at which the scanner reaches each said terminal position of its oscillatory scan.

Claim 12

Scanning apparatus comprising a support, a scanner pivoted to the support for oscillatory motion between first and second terminal positions, means for driving said scanner between said terminal positions to achieve said oscillatory motion, pickoff means for indicating position of said scanner with respect to said support, and means responsive to said pickoff means for generating dwell time signals that occur at and about the time at which the scanner reaches each said terminal position of its oscillatory scan.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 including a display device having a display beam, means responsive to energy received by said scanner for modulating said beam, means for deflecting said beam in accordance with motion of said scanner, and means responsive to said dwell time signals for preventing deflection of said beam at positions thereof corresponding to said terminal positions.

Claim 14

A scanning system comprising a fixed housing having a set of fixed optics defining an optical axis, a scanning head housing journalled to the fixed housing on said axis, a scanning mirror mounted to said scanning head housing for scanning motion about at least one scanning axis and positioned to reflect received energy along said optical axis during portions of the mirror scanning motion, said one scanning axis being coincident with said optical axis, means for oscillating said mirror about said one scanning axis and means for rotating said mirror about a second scanning axis that is angularly oriented with respect to said one scanning axis, said mirror comprising a thin rigid body of relatively high mass having oppositely disposed mutually parallel reflective surfaces positioned close to and parallel to said second scanning axis.

Claim 15

A scanning system comprising a fixed housing having a set of fixed optics defining an optical axis, a scanning head housing journalled to the fixed housing on said axis, a scanning mirror mounted to said scanning head housing for scanning motion about at least one scanning axis and positioned to reflect received energy along said optical axis during portions of the mirror scanning motion, said one scanning axis being coincident with said optical axis, means for oscillating said mirror about said one scanning axis and means for rotating said mirror about a second scanning axis that is angularly oriented with respect to said one scanning axis, said mirror comprising a thin rigid body of relatively high mass having oppositely disposed mutually parallel reflective surfaces positioned close to and parallel to said second scanning axis.

Claim 16

A scanning system comprising a fixed housing having a set of fixed optics defining an optical axis, a scanning head housing journalled to the fixed housing on said axis, and a scanning mirror mounted to said scanning head housing for scanning motion about at least one scanning axis and positioned to reflect received energy along said optical axis during portions of the mirror scanning motion, said scanning axis being coincident with said optical axis.

Claim 17

A scanning system comprising a fixed housing having a set of fixed optics defining an optical axis, a scanning head housing journalled to the fixed housing on said axis, and a scanning mirror mounted to said scanning head housing for scanning motion about at least one scanning axis and positioned to reflect received energy along said optical axis during portions of the mirror scanning motion, said scanning axis being coincident with said optical axis.

Claim 18

The system of claim 13 including means for oscillating said mirror about said one scanning axis, and including means for rotating said mirror about a second scanning axis that is angularly oriented with respect to said one scanning axis.

Claim 19

A scanning system comprising a fixed housing having a set of fixed optics defining an optical axis, a scanning head housing journalled to the fixed housing on said axis, and a scanning mirror mounted to said scanning head housing for scanning motion about two mutually angulated scanning axes and positioned to reflect received energy along said optical axis during portions of the mirror scanning motion.

Claim 20

A scanning system comprising a fixed housing having a set of fixed optics defining an optical axis, a scanning head housing journalled to the fixed housing on said axis, and a scanning mirror mounted to said scanning head housing for scanning motion about two mutually angulated scanning axes and positioned to reflect received energy along said optical axis during portions of the mirror scanning motion.

Claim 21

The system of claim 15 wherein one of said scanning axes is coaxial with said optical axis of said fixed optics.

Claim 22

The system of claim 16 wherein said mirror has a reflective surface that lies substantially in a plane containing the other of said scanning axes.

Claim 25

The method of claim 18 wherein said step of scanning comprises the steps of repetitively scanning the same portion of said target and actuating the control to vary the focal distance of the system so as to maximize generated signals representative of at least a pair of different points of the scanned portion of the target.

Claim 26

The method of claim 18 wherein said step of scanning comprises causing said viewing axis to repetitively scan a relatively narrow strip of said target, wherein said step of generating signals indicative of intensity comprises generating a B-scan display having an analog representation of intensity of energy received from points in said narrow target strip that are successively viewed during said scanning, and wherein said step of operating said control to vary the focal distance of said receiving system comprises operation of the control to vary the focal distance in a sense to increase the amplitude of at least one point of said analog representation.

Claim 27

Radiant energy scanning apparatus comprising a set of fixed optics including a fixed housing, a radiant energy transducer mounted in the housing, a fixed optical system mounted to the housing for collecting energy directed along an input optical axis and directing such collected energy to said radiant energy transducer and including a a primary energy collector, means for moving the primary energy collector along said input optical axis for focusing the optical system, a scanning head assembly, means for mounting the scanning head assembly to said fixed housing for rotation about said input optical axis relative to the housing, said scanning head assembly comprising a scanning head housing having an input port adapted to receive energy projected from a target and having an output port for projecting energy received via said input port, said output port being aligned with the input optical axis of said fixed optical system, a support journalled in said housing for pivotal motion about a first scanning axis coincident with said input optical axis of the fixed optical system, a mirror journalled in said support for rotation about a second scanning axis that is angulated with respect to said first scanning axis, a motor driven cam mounted to said scanning head housing for oscillating said support between first and second terminal positions of an oscillatory scan about said first axis, oscillatory pickoff means mounted to said support and to said scanning head housing for generating first and second oscillatory scan pickoff signals at said first and second terminal positions respectively of said oscillatory scan, a motor carried by the support and connected to drive said mirror about said second scanning axis in a continuous scan, continuous scan pickoff means mounted to the mirror and to the support for generating continuous scan pickoff signals representative of at least one predetermined position of the mirror during the course of said continuous scan, said mirror comprising a thin, rigid sheet of relatively high mass having first and second mutually parallel reflective surfaces defining planes parallel to said second scanning axis, a first display device comprising a cathode ray tube having an intensity control circuit, a Y axis deflection circuit, an X axis deflection circuit, a blanking circuit, and an intensity modulation circuit, a Y axis sweep generator comprising means for generating a ramp signal having positive going and negative going ramp portions, means for applying said ramp signal to said Y aXis deflection circuit, a dwell generator responsive to said oscillatory scan pickoff signals for generating a first ramp sync signal, means responsive to said oscillatory scan pickoff signal for generating a second ramp sync signal, and means responsive to said first and second ramp sync signals for synchronizing the initiation and termination of each of said positive and negative going ramp portions of said ramp signal, a horizontal sweep generating circuit for generating a horizontal sweep sawtooth, means for transmitting said horizontal sweep sawtooth to said X axis deflection circuit, means responsive to the continuous scan pickoff signal for synchronizing said horizontal sweep generating circuit, a horizontal sweep blanking gate circuit, means responsive to the continuous scan pickoff signal for providing a first triggering input to said horizontal blanking gate circuit, means responsive to said horizontal sweep generating circuit for providing a second triggering input to said horizontal blanking gate circuit, means responsive to said horizontal blanking gate circuit for transmitting a blanking signal to said cathode ray tube blanking circuit, and means responsive to said radiant energy transducer for feeding an intensity modulating signal to said modulation circuit of the cathode ray tube.

Claim 28

Radiant energy scanning apparatus comprising a set of fixed optics including a fixed housing, a radiant energy transducer mounted in the housing, a fixed optical system mounted to the housing for collecting energy directed along an input optical axis and directing such collected energy to said radiant energy transducer and including a a primary energy collector, means for moving the primary energy collector along said input optical axis for focusing the optical system, a scanning head assembly, means for mounting the scanning head assembly to said fixed housing for rotation about said input optical axis relative to the housing, said scanning head assembly comprising a scanning head housing having an input port adapted to receive energy projected from a target and having an output port for projecting energy received via said input port, said output port being aligned with the input optical axis of said fixed optical system, a support journalled in said housing for pivotal motion about a first scanning axis coincident with said input optical axis of the fixed optical system, a mirror journalled in said support for rotation about a second scanning axis that is angulated with respect to said first scanning axis, a motor driven cam mounted to said scanning head housing for oscillating said support between first and second terminal positions of an oscillatory scan about said first axis, oscillatory pickoff means mounted to said support and to said scanning head housing for generating first and second oscillatory scan pickoff signals at said first and second terminal positions respectively of said oscillatory scan, a motor carried by the support and connected to drive said mirror about said second scanning axis in a continuous scan, continuous scan pickoff means mounted to the mirror and to the support for generating continuous scan pickoff signals representative of at least one predetermined position of the mirror during the course of said continuous scan, said mirror comprising a thin, rigid sheet of relatively high mass having first and second mutually parallel reflective surfaces defining planes parallel to said second scanning axis, a first display device comprising a cathode ray tube having an intensity control circuit, a Y axis deflection circuit, an X axis deflection circuit, a blanking circuit, and an intensity modulation circuit, a Y axis sweep generator comprising means for generating a ramp signal having positive going and negative going ramp portions, means for applying said ramp signal to said Y aXis deflection circuit, a dwell generator responsive to said oscillatory scan pickoff signals for generating a first ramp sync signal, means responsive to said oscillatory scan pickoff signal for generating a second ramp sync signal, and means responsive to said first and second ramp sync signals for synchronizing the initiation and termination of each of said positive and negative going ramp portions of said ramp signal, a horizontal sweep generating circuit for generating a horizontal sweep sawtooth, means for transmitting said horizontal sweep sawtooth to said X axis deflection circuit, means responsive to the continuous scan pickoff signal for synchronizing said horizontal sweep generating circuit, a horizontal sweep blanking gate circuit, means responsive to the continuous scan pickoff signal for providing a first triggering input to said horizontal blanking gate circuit, means responsive to said horizontal sweep generating circuit for providing a second triggering input to said horizontal blanking gate circuit, means responsive to said horizontal blanking gate circuit for transmitting a blanking signal to said cathode ray tube blanking circuit, and means responsive to said radiant energy transducer for feeding an intensity modulating signal to said modulation circuit of the cathode ray tube.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 21 including a selectively variable intensity control, first switching means for alternatively coupling to said modulation circuit either the output of said radiant energy transducer or said selectively variable intensity control, second switching means for alternatively connecting to said Y axis deflection circuit either said ramp signal or the video signal provided by said radiant energy transducer, and means for actuating said first and second switching means simultaneously.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said cathode ray tube includes a screen having a short persistence, a camera mounted to view said screen, said camera having a shutter and a shutter control, means responsive to a first signal from said oscillitory scanning pickoff for operating said shutter control to open the camera shutter, and means responsive to a following signal from said oscillatory scanning pickoff for operating the shutter control to close the camera shutter.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said means for operating said shutter control comprises a camera control command circuit and manually controlled means for enabling said command circuit, said command circuit comprising means responsive to a first one of said oscillatory scanning pickoff signals for operating the shutter control to open said shutter and means responsive to a following oscillatory scanning pickoff signal for operating the shutter control to close the camera shutter and to disable the command circuit.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 22 including means for disabling the oscillatory scanning of said mirror, means responsive to said radiant energy transducer for detecting amplitude of energy received by the transducer, and means for moving said primary energy collector in one direction or the other along the input optical axis in a sense to increase the amplitude of energy received by the transducer.

Claim 33

For use with a radiant energy receiver, focusing apparatus comprising means for causing the receiver to scan at least a portion of a target upon which the receiver is to be focused, means responsive to energy received by the receiver during said scan for generating signals representing intensity of energy received from the target, means responsive to said signal generating means for indicating maxima of said energy received from said target, and means responsive to said maxima indicating means for changing the focus of said receiver in a sense to increase intensity of energy received from the target.

Claim 34

For use with a radiant energy receiver, focusing apparatus comprising means for causing the receiver to scan at least a portion of a target upon which the receiver is to be focused, means responsive to energy received by the receiver during said scan for generating signals representing intensity of energy received from the target, means responsive to said signal generating means for indicating maxima of said energy received from said target, and means responsive to said maxima indicating means for changing the focus of said receiver in a sense to increase intensity of energy received from the target.