Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A light beam scanning apparatus comprising a rotatable plate provided with at least one plane diffraction grating, a light, beam source for emitting a light beam incident on said plane diffraction grating so as to define a plane of incidence, an optical system for reflecting the first-order diffracted light component and the minus first-order diffracted light component of the light beam diffracted by said plane diffraction grating by use of a plurality of plane reflection surfaces and for guiding the reflected light beam of said first-order diffracted light component and the reflected light beam of said minus first-order diffracted light component again to said plane diffraction grating so that, after said reflected light beams are diffracted again by said plane diffraction grating, said light beams diffracted again become parallel with said original light beam incident on said plane diffraction grating, and a focusing lens for focusing said parallel light beams diffracted again by said plane diffraction grating to a light spot on a scanning surface, whereby said scanning surface is scanned with the focused light spot as said rotatable plate is rotated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A light beam scanning apparatus comprising a rotatable plate provided with at least one plane diffraction grating, a light, beam source for emitting a light beam incident on said plane diffraction grating so as to define a plane of incidence, an optical system for reflecting the first-order diffracted light component and the minus first-order diffracted light component of the light beam diffracted by said plane diffraction grating by use of a plurality of plane reflection surfaces and for guiding the reflected light beam of said first-order diffracted light component and the reflected light beam of said minus first-order diffracted light component again to said plane diffraction grating so that, after said reflected light beams are diffracted again by said plane diffraction grating, said light beams diffracted again become parallel with said original light beam incident on said plane diffraction grating, and a focusing lens for focusing said parallel light beams diffracted again by said plane diffraction grating to a light spot on a scanning surface, whereby said scanning surface is scanned with the focused light spot as said rotatable plate is rotated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the direction of the grating lines of said plane diffraction grating is tangent to the rotating direction of said rotatable plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said optical system for reflecting and guiding said light beam again to said plane diffraction grating comprises two plane reflection surfaces normal to said plane of incidence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said two plane reflection surfaces are positioned perpendicularly to each other.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as defined in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the angle of incidence of said light beam incident on said plane diffraction grating is 0°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said optical system for reflecting and guiding said light beam again to said plane diffraction grating comprises three plane reflection surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said three plane reflection surfaces are positioned perpendicularly to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein at least one of said three plane reflection surfaces is inclined at other than 90 degrees with respect to said plane of incidence.