Patent ID: 6341028
Filing Date: 2002-01-22
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A jitter mechanism for rotationally oscillating and orbiting an optical image projected along a primary optical axis comprising, in combination,a. optical image rotator element for optically: (i) receiving the image projected along the primary optical axis; (ii) rotating the image; and (iii) projecting the received and rotated image along an output optical axis slightly displaced from and parallel to the primary optical axis; b. suspension means for supporting the optical image rotator element for slight rotational and slight lateral displacement relative to the output optical axis; c resilient means for restraining the position of the optical image rotator element within the suspension means to a quiescent equilibrium position with its rotation axis aligned with the output optical axis; d. perturbing means for perturbing the position of the optical rotator element inducing it: (i) to periodically oscillate rotating relative to the output optical axis, (ii) to elliptically orbit relative to the quiescent equilibrium position and (iii) to precess about the quiescent equilibrium position; whereby, the received, rotated, and projected optical image jitters, i.e. rotationally oscillates relative to the output optical axis and moves elliptically in an orbit which precesses relative to the quiescent equilibrium position.