| US 7,587,832 B2 | ||
| Rotating laser transmitter | ||
| Ayman Hajmousa, Washington, Ohio (US); Michael F. Glantz, Kettering, Ohio (US); and James N. Hayes, Urbana, Ohio (US) | ||
| Assigned to Trimble Navigation Limited, Sunnyvale, Calif. (US) | ||
| Filed on Sep. 10, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/852,758. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2009/0067461 A1, Mar. 12, 2009 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01B 11/26 (2006.01); G01C 15/02 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 33—290 [33/227] | 14 Claims |
| 1. 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.
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