US Patent 7558455 Receiver aperture broadening for scanned beam imaging

A scanning beam assembly includes a beam generator to generate a beam of radiation; at least one reflector configured to deflect the beam across a field of view; and a plurality of multi-mode optical fibers for receiving radiation reflected from the field of view, wherein the optical fibers have end surfaces that face in at least two different directions, or wherein the optical fibers are configured to receive scattered radiation from an angular field of view larger than that determined by their individual numerical apertures.