System and method for reducing ghost images in a laser imaging system
AssigneeHaas Laser Technologies, Inc.
InventorMichael J. Scaggs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for reducing ghost images in a laser imaging system. The method includes, positioning an absorptive neutral density filter, having an optical density (OD) of at least −1, between a pixelated detector and a laser source. The method further includes, emitting a laser beam, from the laser source onto the absorptive neutral density filter, transmitting a portion of the light incident upon a first surface of the absorptive neutral density filter to a second surface of the absorptive neutral density filter, reflecting a portion of light incident upon the second surface of the absorptive neutral density filter and absorbing the reflected portion of light, by the absorptive neutral density filter, to reduce ghost images at the pixelated detector.
Claims23
A method for reducing ghost images in a laser imaging system, the method comprising:
- positioning an absorptive neutral density filter between a pixelated detector and a laser source, wherein the absorptive neutral density filter has a first surface facing the laser source and a second surface facing, and in close proximity to, the pixelated detector, and wherein the absorptive neutral density filter attenuates incident radiation from the laser source uniformly independent of wavelength, and wherein the second surface further comprises an anti-reflective coating and the first surface is a highly reflective surface;
- emitting a laser beam, from the laser source, onto the first surface of the absorptive neutral density filter;
- transmitting a portion of the light incident upon the first surface of the absorptive neutral density filter to the second surface of the absorptive neutral density filter;
- reflecting a portion of light incident upon the second surface of the absorptive neutral density filter;
- and
- absorbing the reflected portion of light, by the absorptive neutral density filter, to reduce ghost images at the pixelated detector.
An apparatus for reducing ghost images in a laser imaging system, the apparatus comprising:
- a pixelated detector to analyze a laser beam emitted from a laser source;
- an absorptive neutral density filter positioned between the pixelated detector and the laser source;
- the absorptive neutral density filter having a first surface facing the laser source and a second surface facing, and in close proximity to, the pixelated detector, and wherein the absorptive neutral density filter attenuates incident radiation from the laser source uniformly independent of wavelength, and wherein the second surface comprises an anti-reflective coating and the first surface is a highly reflective surface;
- and
- the absorptive neutral density filter for receiving a laser beam emitted from the laser source, for transmitting a portion of light incident upon the first surface of the absorptive neutral density filter to the second surface of the absorptive neutral density filter, for reflecting a portion of light incident upon the second surface of the absorptive neutral density filter and for absorbing the reflected portion of light to reduce ghost images at the pixelated detector.
An apparatus for reducing ghost images in a laser imaging system, the apparatus comprising:
- a pixelated detector to analyze a laser beam emitted from a laser source;
- an absorptive neutral density filter comprising an optical element, the absorptive neutral density filter and the optical element positioned between the pixelated detector and the laser source;
- the absorptive neutral density filter having a first surface facing the laser source and a second surface facing, and in close proximity to, the pixelated detector, and wherein the absorptive neutral density filter attenuates incident radiation from the laser source uniformly independent of wavelength, and wherein the second surface comprises an anti-reflective coating and the first surface is highly reflective;
- and
- the absorptive neutral density filter for receiving a laser beam emitted from the laser source, for transmitting a portion of light incident upon the first surface of the absorptive neutral density filter to the second surface of the absorptive neutral density filter, for reflecting a portion of light incident upon the second surface of the absorptive neutral density filter and for absorbing the reflected portion of light to reduce ghost images at the pixelated detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.