In a superficial sense the operation of the camera is remarkably simple. As it goes about its business you can watch the slotted window in front of the mirror slowly move in a clockwise arc. You can detect a regular sparkle of light as the mirror looks back at you. You can listen to the whir of the mirror, and a solid thunk as the upper housing turns in azimuth five times every second. In fact, the camera is a complex device, involving extraordinary accuracy, reliability, and miniaturization.
Several examples illustrate the point.
Each pixel must be accurately positioned with relation to other pixels not only in the same vertical line, but also in adjacent lines. To assure this result the velocity of the mirror must be precisely controlled. The margin of error, the maximum allowable difference between the desired and actual positions of the upper edge of the mirror is only 0.01 mm, or one- tenth the diameter of a human hair. Some of the diodes are mounted at different focal positions to achieve optimum focus at various distances. Others are equipped with filters.