Resolution improvement in flying spot scanner

An improved resolution flying spot scanner, (48, 68), comprising:

• a. a modulated light source (24) which produces an optical beam (26), said optical beam (26) scanning each of a plurality of pixels (12) in a scan line (40);
• b. a first beam deflector (30), which imparts a continuous first scan motion of said optical beam (26) along said scan line (40), with a first scan velocity;
• c. a second beam deflector (50, 70), which imparts a secondary scan motion to said optical beam (26), along said scan line (40), said secondary scan motion having a velocity opposite to said first scan velocity,
• said secondary scan motion stabilizing each of a plurality of pixels (12) in said scan line (40);
• d. a deflector driver (84) which provides a drive signal to said second beam deflector (50, 70);
• and
• e. a driver controller (82), which associates a pixel time (78) with each of said plurality of pixels (12), and which provides a control signal to said deflector driver (84).

A method of stabilizing an optical beam (26), comprising the steps of:

• a. using a beam deflector (30) to continuously scan said optical beam (26) along a scan line (40), at a first velocity;
• b. providing a pixel time (78) corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels (12) in said scan line (40);
• c. positioning a second angle deflector (50) in a collimated portion (60) of said optical beam (26);
• d. deflecting said optical beam (26) through an angular deflection during said pixel time (78) by said second angle deflector (50), said angular deflection being of an opposite velocity to said first velocity;
• e. cancelling out said first velocity with said opposite velocity, stabilizing said optical beam (26) on each of said plurality of pixels (12) during said pixel time;
• and
• f. repeating said angular deflection, during each of said pixel times (78).

A method of stabilizing an optical beam (26), comprising the steps of:

• a. continuously scanning said optical beam (26) along a scan line (40), with a first velocity;
• b. providing a pixel time (78) corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels (12) in said scan line (40);
• c. positioning a translation deflector (70) in a non-collimated portion (72) of said optical beam (26);
• d. translating said optical beam (26) during said pixel time (78), by said translation deflector (70), said translation having an opposite velocity to said first velocity;
• e. cancelling out said first velocity by said opposite velocity, stabilizing said optical beam (26) on each of said plurality of pixels (12) during said pixel time (78);
• and
• f. repeating said translation during each of said pixel times (78).