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 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 into a beam of light which repetitively scans a fixed path by utilizing first and second mirrors repetitively rotated through a predetermined angular displacement. The angle between each mirror facet and mirror axis of rotation varies and defines a facet to axis error which is eliminated by the present invention. A first mirror receives an upper input beam and repetitively generates a first scan. A second mirror receives a lower input beam and repetitively generates a second scan. First and second redirecting means such as first and second prisms form first and second redirected scans which are ultimately reflected from the mirrors to generate a plurality of first and second output scans. A lens converges the first and second output scans onto a fixed path such that the scanner optical output beam repetitively scans the fixed path and eliminates the effect of the facet to axis errors of the first and second mirrors.

Abstract: An optical beam pulse generator comprises segmented reflecting means aligned to receive an input light beam. The segmented and reflecting means includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart mirror facets having a centrally located, vertically oriented axis of rotation and mirror facet to axis errors. The segmented reflecting means is rotated to sequentially reflect the input beam to generate a pulsed beam. A prism or similar device redirects the pulse beam back onto the reflecting means to generate a redirected pulse beam vertically displaced from the pulse beam by a distance related to the mirror facet to axis error and laterally offset from the pulse beam by a distance related to the angle between the mirror facet and the input light beam. The redirected pulsed beam is reflected from each of the mirror facets to generate a pulsed reflected output beam.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for transforming a collimated beam of light, such as that generated by a laser, into a beam of light which repetitively scans a fixed path by utilizing a mirror which is repetitively rotated through a predetermined angular displacement. The angle between the mirror axis of rotation and the mirror position relative to the axis varies between subsequent mirror rotations and defines a scanning beam rotational axis error which is eliminated by the present invention. An input beam of collimated light is directed onto the rotating mirror along a first path to produce a first scanned reflected output beam for each rotation of the mirror. A second scanned reflected output beam is generated by redirecting the first scanned reflected output beam through a prism and back onto the mirror along a second path. The second path is vertically displaced from the first path by a distance related to the mirror rotational axis error.

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.