Multiple wavelength laser beam scanning system
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsJames E. Roddy, Badhri Narayan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Laser beam scanning system combines multiple light beams, each of differing wavelengths, to achieve a multiple wavelength scan exposure of a medium, or to increase throughput by writing plural lines simultaneously, or to provide one or more scanning beams of selected wavelength. A polarizing beam splitting prism of the Thompson type is employed as a multiple input beam combiner. The two input laser beam components can be made selectively coincident or closely parallel to form an output beam which is then redirected in a scanning motion and focused to an exposure plane.
Claims30
A light beam scanning system comprising:
- multiple light beam sources for providing input beams at respectively differing wavelengths;
- a Thompson prism, locatable for receiving the input beams and for combining the input beams to form therefrom an output beam;
- means for modulating the output beam;
- means for deflecting the modulated output beam to provide a scanning beam;
- and
- means for focusing the scanning beam to an exposure plane for effecting scan exposure thereon.
A multicolor, simultaneous scan exposure system, comprising:
- first, second, and third light beam sources providing respective input beams at respectively differing wavelengths;
- means for imagewise modulation of selected ones of the input beams;
- a first Thompson prism, locatable for receiving and for combining the first and second input beams to form therefrom a first output beam;
- a second Thompson prism, locatable for receiving and for combining the first output beam and the third input beam to form therefrom a second output beam;
- means for deflecting the second output beam to provide a scanning beam;
- and
- means for focussing the scanning beam to an exposure plane for effecting scan exposure thereon.
A multicolor, sequential scan exposure system, comprising:
- first, second, and third light beam sources providing respective input beams at respectively differing wavelengths;
- a first Thompson prism, locatable for receiving and for combining the first and second input beams to form therefrom a first output beam;
- means, positionable in the path of the first output beam, for altering the polarization of the first output beam;
- a second Thompson prism, locatable for receiving and for combining the first output beam and the third input beam to form therefrom a second output beam;
- means, positionable in the path of the second output beam, for altering the polarization of the second output beam;
- means for imagewise modulation of the second output beam;
- means for deflecting the second output beam to provide a scanning beam;
- and
- means for focussing the scanning beam to an exposure plane for effecting scan exposure thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.