Patent ID: 7587832

Claim:
A laser transmitter, comprising: a generally flat, circuit board stator, including a plurality of motor coils, a laser source, mounted on said stator, for providing a beam of laser light directed outward from said circuit board stator, a rotor including a plurality of magnets mounted in a ring around a central opening, a pentaprism assembly including an optics holder mounted on said rotor for rotation therewith, said pentaprism assembly receiving said beam of laser light through said central opening and redirecting at least a portion of said laser light outward in a direction normal to said rotation axis, a bearing, supporting said rotor for rotation about a rotation axis that extends through said central opening and that is aligned with said beam of laser light, said bearing comprising a single ball bearing having a plurality of bearing balls between an outer race secured to said rotor and an inner race, and a magnetic shield plate on the side of said circuit board stator opposite said rotor for providing for magnetic attraction between said plurality of magnets and said magnetic shield plate, whereby play in said bearing is substantially eliminated.