In-line stitched image optical system architecture for GLV laser line imagers
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorPatrick Y. Maeda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical imager system and method of operating the optical imager system, can include one or more imager modules including a laser light source, a collimator, an illumination optical system, a grating light valve, a spatial light modulator and a projection optical system. A group of imager modules can include the one or more imager modules. The group of imager modules is operable in a stacked arrangement to produce an image from in-line stitching of individual images generated by the one or more imager modules. The illumination optical system can homogenize, shape, and direct a beam from the laser light source onto the grating light valve, and homogenization can occur in a cross-process direction.
Claims20
An optical imager system, comprising:
- at least one imager module comprising a laser light source, a collimator, an illumination optical system, a grating light valve, a spatial light modulator and a projection optical system;
- and
- a plurality of imager modules that includes the at least one imager module, wherein the plurality of imager modules is operable in a stacked arrangement to produce an image from in-line stitching of individual images generated by the at least one imager module among the plurality of imager modules, wherein the illumination optical system homogenizes, shapes, and directs a beam from the laser light source onto the grating light valve, and wherein homogenization occurs in a cross-process direction, wherein the at least one imager module is organized mechanically into a feathered section and an in-line section, wherein the feathered section and the in-line section are sized and arranged in a configuration of at least one upper level and at least one lower level to facilitate stacking of the stacked arrangement in a manner that avoids mechanical interference between imager modules among the plurality of imager modules.
An optical imager system, comprising:
- at least one processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions to cause the at least one processor to perform:
- generating a beam of light by a laser light source included as a part of at least one imager module that comprises the laser light source, a collimator, an illumination optical system, a grating light valve, a spatial light modulator and a projection optical system;
- producing an image from in-line stitching of individual images generated by the at least one imager module among a plurality of imager modules operable in a stacked arrangement to produce the image from the in-line stitching of individual images generated by the at least one imager module;
- and
- homogenizing, shaping and directing a beam of light by the illumination optical system from the laser light source onto the grating light valve, wherein the homogenizing occurs in a cross-process direction wherein the at least one imager module is organized mechanically into a feathered section and an in-line section, wherein the feathered section and the in-line section are sized and arranged in a configuration of at least one upper level and at least one lower level to facilitate stacking of the stacked arrangement in a manner that avoids mechanical interference between imager modules among the plurality of imager modules.
A method of operating an optical imager system, comprising:
- generating a beam of light by a laser light source included as a part of at least one imager module that comprises the laser light source, a collimator, an illumination optical system, a grating light valve, a spatial light modulator and a projection optical system;
- producing an image from in-line stitching of individual images generated by the at least one imager module among a plurality of imager modules operable in a stacked arrangement to produce the image from the in-line stitching of individual images generated by the at least one imager module;
- and
- homogenizing, shaping and directing a beam of light by the illumination optical system from the laser light source onto the grating light valve, wherein the homogenizing occurs in a cross-process direction, wherein the at least one imager module is organized mechanically into a feathered section and an in-line section, wherein the feathered section and the in-line section are sized and arranged in a configuration of at least one upper level and at least one lower level to facilitate stacking of the stacked arrangement in a manner that avoids mechanical interference between imager modules among the plurality of imager modules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.