Variable length imaging apparatus using electronically registered and stitched single-pass imaging systems

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one homogenous light source for generating homogenous light,
• first and second spatial light modulators, each of the first and second spatial light modulators including:
• a plurality of light modulating elements arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns and disposed such that each said modulating element receives an associated portion of the homogenous light, wherein each said column includes an associated group of said plurality of light modulating elements, and
• a controller for individually controlling the plurality of modulating elements such that each modulating element is adjustable, in response to an associated control signal generated by the controller, between a first modulated state and a second modulated state, whereby when said each modulating element is in said first modulated state, said each modulating element directs said associated received light portion in a corresponding predetermined direction, and when 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;
• first and second anamorphic optical systems, said first anamorphic optical system being positioned to receive first modulated light portions from said first spatial light modulator and configured to generate a first anamorphically imaged and concentrated light field, said second anamorphic optical system being positioned to receive second modulated light portions from said second spatial light modulator and configured to generate a second anamorphically imaged and concentrated light field;
• a scan structure having an imaging surface and positioned relative to the first and second anamorphic optical systems such that the first anamorphically imaged and concentrated light field and the second anamorphically imaged and concentrated light field respectively form first and second scan line portions in an elongated imaging region defined on the imaging surface;
• and
• an image stitching controller for controlling the first and second spatial light modulators,
• wherein the first and second anamorphic optical systems are arranged such that, when all of the spatial light elements of the first and second spatial light modulators are in the first modulated state, first and second scan line portions generated by said first and second anamorphic optical systems form an overlapping pattern in said elongated imaging region, and
• wherein the image stitching controller includes means for disabling one or more groups of said plurality of light modulating elements in one or more associated columns such that adjacent end portions of the first and second scan line portions are aligned in a scan direction to produce a seamlessly stitched portion of said single-pass scan line.

An apparatus comprising:

• a homogenous light generator for generating homogenous light such that the homogenous light forms a substantially uniform two-dimensional homogenous light field;
• first and second spatial light modulators, each of the first and second spatial light modulators including:
• a plurality of light modulating elements arranged in a two-dimensional array and disposed in the homogenous light field such that each said modulating element receives an associated homogenous light portion of the homogenous light, and
• a controller for individually controlling the plurality of modulating elements such that each modulating element is adjustable, in response to an associated control signal generated by the controller, between a first modulated state and a second modulated state, whereby when said each modulating element is in said first modulated state, said each modulating element modulates an associated received homogenous light portion such that an associated modulated light portion is directed in a corresponding predetermined direction, and when said each modulating element is in said second modulated state, said each modulating element modulates the associated received homogenous light portion such that the associated modulated light portion is prevented from passing along said corresponding predetermined direction;
• and
• first and second anamorphic optical systems, said first anamorphic optical system being positioned to receive first modulated light portions from each modulating element of said first spatial light modulator disposed in said first modulated state and configured to generate a first anamorphically concentrated light field, said second anamorphic optical system being positioned to receive second modulated light portions from each modulating element of said second spatial light modulator disposed in said first modulated state and configured to generate a second anamorphically imaged and concentrated light field;
• a scan structure having an imaging surface and positioned relative to the first and second anamorphic optical systems such that the first anamorphically imaged and concentrated light field and the second anamorphically imaged and concentrated light field respectively form first and second scan line portions in an elongated imaging region defined on the imaging surface;
• and
• means for controlling the first and second spatial light modulators such that the first and second scan line portions form a seamlessly stitched scan line image in the elongated imaging region.