Single-Pass Imaging Apparatus With Image Data Scrolling For Improved Resolution Contrast And Exposure Extent

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one homogenous light source for generating homogenous light,
• a spatial light modulator including:
• a plurality of light modulating elements arranged in a two-dimensional array and disposed such that a light modulating structure of each said modulating element receives an associated portion of the homogenous light, and
• one or more shift register circuits including a plurality of control cells and means for sequentially shifting data bit values between adjacent pairs of the plurality of control cells,
• wherein each of the plurality of light modulating elements is controlled by a corresponding control cell of the plurality of control cells such that the light modulating structure of said each modulating element is disposed in a first modulated state when said corresponding control cell stores a first data bit value and is disposed in a second modulated state when said corresponding control cell stores a second data bit value, and wherein when the light modulating structure of said each modulating element is in said first modulated state, said each modulating element directs said associated received homogenous light portion in a corresponding predetermined direction, and when said light modulating structure of said each modulating element is in said second modulated state, said associated received light portion is prevented from passing along said corresponding predetermined direction by said each modulating element;
• an anamorphic optical system positioned to receive a modulated light field including modulated light portions directed by each of the plurality of light modulating elements disposed in the first modulated state, and configured to generate an associated anamorphically concentrated light field in response to said receive modulated light field;
• and
• a scan structure having a movable imaging surface positioned relative to the anamorphic optical system such that the anamorphically converged light field forms said elongated concentrated scan image on an elongated imaging region defined on the imaging surface.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one homogenous light source for generating homogenous light,
• a spatial light modulator including:
• a plurality of light modulating elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, each of the plurality of light modulating elements including a microelectromechanical (MEMs) mirror mechanism disposed on a substrate, wherein each MEMs mirror mechanism includes a mirror and means for movably supporting the mirror, said plurality of light modulating elements being disposed such that said mirror of each said modulating element receives an associated portion of the homogenous light, and
• one or more shift register circuits including a plurality of control cells and means for sequentially shifting data bit values between adjacent pairs of the plurality of control cells,
• wherein each of the plurality of light modulating elements is controlled by a corresponding control cell of the plurality of control cells such that the mirror of said each modulating element is disposed in a first modulated position when said corresponding control cell stores a first data bit value and is disposed in a second modulated position when said corresponding control cell stores a second data bit value;
• and
• an anamorphic optical system positioned to receive a modulated light field including modulated light portions directed by each of the plurality of light modulating elements disposed in the first modulated position, and configured to generate an associated anamorphically concentrated light field in response to said receive modulated light field.