Abstract: A device for optical-mechanical scanning within the visual or infrared wavelength range, including an optical device to supply radiation from an image field to a rotating refracting optical means and then to a detecting means to receive and detect radiation passing through the rotating refracting means.The device produces a spiral or radial sweep during the scanning of an object and is composed of a rotating refracting optical means with at least a pair of surfaces parallel to each other through which incident and outgoing radiation is received and transmitted. The optical means is rotated around the optical axis of the scanning system and rotated or swayed around an axis which is principally perpendicular to the optical axis. Thus, two-dimensional scanning of an object is obtained by means of one scanning means pivoting around two axes. Depending upon the angular velocities around said axes spiral scanning or radial scanning can be obtained.

Abstract: Several embodiments of an optical scanning system are disclosed which employ an accessible entrance pupil interposed between an image and a scanning device for isolating rays of light from the image without focusing the rays, thereby eliminating the aberrations associated with focusing. The disclosure shows the use of rotating mirrors spaced from the axis of rotation being employed for line scanning. A tilting mirror is also disclosed which converts the line scanners into complete image scanners.