Abstract: A gas supported bearing includes a first stationary bearing element having a longitudinal axis and a first bearing surface. A second rotating bearing element is coaxially aligned with respect to the first bearing element and includes a second bearing surface. A pneumatic load ramp is formed in one of the bearing surfaces to apply an asymmetric load to either bearing element to eliminate bearing whirl instability.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for transforming a collimated beam of light, such as that generated by a laser, into a line scan or a raster image for projecting onto a screen or other object. The laser beam is directed at a rotating mirror having a plurality of facets disposed at equal circumferential intervals around the mirror axis of rotation. The light reflected from the rotating mirror generates a first scanned reflected output beam. A first reflecting surface is aligned to receive the first scanned reflected output beam and generates a second scanned reflected output beam. This second scanned reflected output beam passes through a first pivot vertex and is directed back onto the rotating mirror facets by a second reflecting surface to generate an angularly amplified output beam which scans a first plane. The angularly amplified output beam is directed through a second pivot vertex and is then deflected through a second plane which is oriented perpendicular to the first plane.