Modulator for optical printing
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsAlan C. G. Nutt, Sujatha Ramanujan, Joseph F. Revelli, Jr.
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Abstract
A modulator for a high optical power printing includes a transparent crystal and a patterned buffer layer formed over one of the surfaces of the crystal. An electrode array is formed so that each electrode of the electrode array is patterned directly on each portion of the patterned buffer layer. In a further feature of the invention, the crystal substrate can be formed so that opposing endfaces through which high optical power laser light passes are at an angle and are antireflection coated. A transparent and electrically insulating overcoat is provided above the electrodes.
Claims23
An internal reflection type spatial modulator comprising:
- a crystal substrate;
- a patterned buffer layer having buffer portions formed on a support surface of said crystal substrate;
- an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes, said electrode array being patterned based on said patterned buffer layer, such that each electrode of said electrode array is positioned on each buffer portion of said patterned buffer layer;
- and
- wherein said crystal substrate is an electro-optical material.
An internal reflection type modulator comprising:
- a crystal substrate having angled opposing end faces;
- a patterned buffer layer deposited on a surface of said crystal substrate;
- and
- an electrode array disposed on said patterned buffer layer.
A printer assembly comprising:
- a light source;
- an internal reflection type modulator for modulating light from said light source, said modulator comprising a crystal substrate and a patterned buffer layer deposited on said crystal substrate, said internal reflection type modulator further comprising electrodes positioned on buffer portions of said patterned buffer layer such that each electrode is positioned on each buffer portion;
- and
- an optics assembly for imaging light from said modulator onto a printing plane.
A method of modulating a constant wave light beam produced by a high optical power infrared light source, the method comprising the steps of:
- depositing a patterned buffer layer having buffer portions on a surface of a crystal substrate;
- and
- positioning an electrode array over said patterned buffer layer, such that each electrode of said electrode array is positioned over a buffer portion of said patterned buffer layer.
An internal reflection type spatial modulator comprising:
- an electro-optic crystal substrate;
- a pattern buffer layer having buffer portions formed on a support surface of said crystal substrate;
- a plurality of pixels;
- wherein each of said pixels is comprised of a plurality of electrodes, said electrode array being patterned based on said pattern buffer layer, such that each electrode of said electrode array is positioned on each buffer portion of said buffered layer;
- and
- a ground array forming a pattern with said electrode array;
- wherein individual elements of said ground array associated with an individual pixel are connected in a serpentine fashion with individual ground elements associated with adjacent pixels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.