Wavefront corrector for scanning microlens arrays

A method of correcting a stepped wavefront output, produced by certain angles of scan and by certain positions of scan of unit cell trains in scanning microlens arrays, and reforming the stepped wavefront to a continuous, aligned wavefront, said method comprising,

• scanning one array of microlenses in one linear direction only,
• forming from outputs of all of the unit cell trains in the arrays and at each position of scan a unique separate, linear image, which image is aligned with the one linear direction, and
• interposing, in the path of each unique, separate, linear image, a related unique, stepped, wavefront corrector plate of material which removes any and all steps in a wavefront image entering the plate and which transmits a continuous, aligned wavefront image without steps at an outlet of the plate,
• each unique, stepped, wavefront corrector plate being constructed of a material having an index of refraction different from air,
• said each unique, stepped, wavefront corrector plate having a particular step for a particular, cross scan extending, row of the unit cell trains,
• each step having a particular thickness so that the particular thicknesses of the steps in said each unique, stepped wavefront corrector plate are effective to vary the time of optical passage through the material in amounts which restore the wavefront to a continuous, unstepped form at the outlet of the plate at each position of scan.