Patent ID: 8842263
Filing Date: 2014-09-23
Classification: A23C,F41G,G01S

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for furnishing information sufficient to determine two polor co-ordinated (r, θ) of a point position within a two dimensional bounded space, said polar coordinates measured with respect to a center of said space and a reference angle with said space, comprising: means for generating a beam of radiation, and for shaping said beam to illuminate a part only of the space, said part extending from the center to the circumference of the shape, said part including an edge defined by the following equation: where d is a distance between said edge and said reference angle when said part is positioned at a reference position corresponding to said reference angle, K is a constant falling within the range of 0<K≦substantially 0.25, and r is normalized to unit radius, means for revolving the beam around the center of the space whereby the beam is incident upon the said point position during discrete spaced periods of time, a duration of said periods of time defining said r coordinate, and means for modulating the beam in phase with the revolution of the beam thereby to define said θ co-ordinate.