TORSIONAL OSCILLATOR

摘要

A mechanical oscillator for periodically swinging an optical or other load element. The oscillator includes an erect torsion rod anchored to a base, the load element being attached to the free end of the rod. The rod is sustained in torsional vibration by a motor constituted by an armature secured to the rod at a point adjacent the base and an electromagnet cooperating with the armature, the motor being energized by a drive signal whose frequency substantially corresponds to the resonant frequency of the oscillator. In order to dampen the oscillator and thereby broaden its mechanical bandwidth, the rod is designed so that the spring constant of the section thereof above the armature point approaches that of the rod section below this point.