Patent ID: 6434219
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: G21K

Abstract:
A device for scanning a beam as a periodic function of time, the device comprising:a. a wheel having an axis of rotational symmetry, the wheel being opaque to a specified energy range of electromagnetic radiation, the wheel having a set of apertures for transmitting the radiation in such a manner that the radiation is emitted in a beam from each of a specified number of illuminated apertures at a time; b. a first rotary actuator coupled to the wheel for rotating the wheel about a rotation axis coincident with the axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel such that the beam is scanned in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel; and c. a second rotary actuator for rotating the wheel about a scan axis not parallel to the axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel.