Beam pattern contractor and focus element, method and apparatus
AssigneeT Squared G, Inc.
InventorsRonald E. Rope, Martin L. Pullam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical head assembly, method, and procedure which generates and then precisely positions multiple light beams onto a target. The system diffracts an input light source into a multiple light beam pattern, or initially generates a multiple light beam pattern, in which individual beams of the multiple light beam pattern are precisely spaced, corrected, focused and directed through a two axis plane to the target with minimal movement of any components of the optical head assembly. Such individual beams can also be individually modulated.
Claims40
An apparatus for impinging light beams onto a target, comprising:
- a light beam generator means for generating a multiple light beam pattern of spatially arranged multiple individual light beams;
- modulating means for modulating the individual light beams;
- sweeping means for linearly sweeping the multiple light beam pattern across the target while maintaining a diameter of the individual light beams and a spatial separation between the individual light beam;
- and
- decreasing means for decreasing a sweep angle of the linearly sweeping means.
An apparatus for impinging light beams onto a target, comprising:
- a light beam generator generating a multiple light beam pattern of spatially arranged multiple individual light beams;
- a light beam modulator modulating the individual light beams;
- a lens system linearly sweeping the multiple light beam pattern across the target while maintaining the reduced diameter of the individual light beams and the spatial separation between the individual light beam;
- and
- a beam focus angle contractor decreasing a sweep angle of the lens system.
A method for impinging light beams onto a target, comprising the steps of:
- generating a multiple light beam pattern of spatially arranged multiple individual light beams;
- modulating the individual light beams;
- linearly sweeping the multiple light beam pattern across the target while maintaining the reduced diameter of the individual light beams and the spatial separation between the individual light beam;
- and
- decreasing a sweep angle in the linearly sweeping step.
A beam pattern contractor and focus element for reducing a diameter of an input beam pattern including a plurality of individual beams and reducing a spatial separation between the plurality of individual light beams, comprising:
- a focal point extender for extending a focal point of each of the plurality of individual beams;
- a beam diameter reducer for reducing a diameter of each of the plurality of individual beams;
- and
- an anamorphic beam expander for changing a spacing between the plurality of individual beams in the beam pattern.
A focus angle contractor for increasing an optical length of an input beam pattern, comprising:
- a deflection angle reflector for first reflecting the input beam;
- a plurality of reflecting wall surfaces for further multiply reflecting the input beam pattern to generate a multiply reflected beam pattern;
- a convex lens through which the multiply reflected beam pattern passes;
- and
- re-alignment reflectors for realigning the multiply reflected beam pattern output of the convex lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.