Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for forming distortion free images comprises: (i) a rotationally symmetric lens system capable of forming a distorted image and of introducing lateral color aberration; (ii) a photosensitive image capture medium capable of capturing the distorted image created by the lens system; (iii) an image storage medium storing the distorted image captured by the image capture medium; (iv) an image buffer medium (area) for holding at least one distorted image stored by the image storage medium; and (v) an image processing unit correcting the distorted image and creating an undistorted image. The image processing unit has information describing distortion and lateral color aberration characteristics of the lens system. The image processing unit calculates, for at most one quadrant of the image, given any ideal radial position of a pixel, the actual radial position of the distorted data pixel from which to retrieve the data.

Abstract: A digital cinema projector (100) for projection of color images onto a display surface comprises a light source (116), which produces a beam of light. Beam-shaping optics (130) homogenize and focus the beam of light and color splitting optics (132) separate focus beam of light into separate color beams. A first modulation optics system comprises a prepolarizer (212), which prepolarizes a first color beam; a wire grid polarization beamsplitter (224), which transmits a first predetermined polarization state of the prepolarized beam; a reflective spatial light modulator (204), which alters the transmitted prepolarized beam with information and reflects the image bearing first color beam through the wire grid polarization beamsplitter (224); and a wire grid polarization analyzer (228), which transmits the image bearing first color beam and attenuates unwanted polarization components.

Abstract: A laser microfilm printer (170) having a telecentric F-theta scan lens (166) with optical resolution for image pixel sizes 1-5 microns for writing on an image-receiving medium (164) comprises a polygon reflector. A laser beam incident on the polygon reflector, has a diameter as measured at the 1/e2 intensity value, which is at least 1.4 times a width of a polygon facet (162) in a scan section of the laser microfilm printer (170). The polygon facet (162), at center of scan position, is in a substantially optically conjugate relationship with the image-receiving medium (164) in a cross-scan section of the laser beam (160). The cross-scan section of the F-theta lens (166) has an absolute value of optical magnification of 0.25 to 0.5 as measured from the facet (168) to the image-receiving medium (164).

Abstract: A multi-beam zoom lens for producing variable spot sizes on a photosensitive medium from a plurality of individually modulated light sources wherein each light source emits a light beam parallel to each of the other light sources and parallel to an optical axis and wherein a numerical aperture of each of said light beams is greater than 0.125, comprising an afocal zoom lens (10). The afocal zoom lens comprises a first moving group of lenses (13), a second group of moving lenses (14), and a third group of moving lenses (15). A constant barrel length of the afocal zoom lens is less than 160 mm and the zoom lens has a constant distance from the light sources to the photosensitive medium of less than 180 mm. The zoom lens has an afocal magnification of at least 45% across a zoom range.

Abstract: A digital cinema projector (100) for projection of color images onto a display surface comprises a light source (116), which produces a beam of light. Beam-shaping optics (130) homogenize and focus the beam of light and color splitting optics (132) separate focus beam of light into separate color beams. A first modulation optics system comprises a prepolarizer (212), which prepolarizes a first color beam; a wire grid polarization beamsplitter (224), which transmits a first predetermined polarization state of the prepolarized beam; a reflective spatial light modulator (204), which alters the transmitted prepolarized beam with information and reflects the image bearing first color beam through the wire grid polarization beamsplitter (224); and a wire grid polarization analyzer (228), which transmits the image bearing first color beam and attenuates unwanted polarization components.

Abstract: A multi-beam zoom lens for producing variable spot sizes on a photosensitive medium from a plurality of individually modulated light sources wherein each light source emits a light beam parallel to each of the other light sources and parallel to an optical axis and wherein a numerical aperture of each of said light beams is greater than 0.125, comprising an afocal zoom lens (10). The afocal zoom lens comprises a first moving group of lenses (13), a second group of moving lenses (14), and a third group of moving lenses (15). A constant barrel length of the afocal zoom lens is less than 160 mm and the zoom lens has a constant distance from the light sources to the photosensitive medium of less than 180 mm. The zoom lens has an afocal magnification of at least 45% across a zoom range.

Abstract: A replaceable modular opto-mechanical unit includes a light source in the form of, for example, a laser assembly; an optical modulator assembly which modulates light from the light source; and a lens located in a light path between the light source and the optical modulator assembly. The lens focuses the light from said light source toward a center of the optical modulator assembly. The unit further includes a base adapted to removably support the light source, the optical modulator assembly and the lens in an optically aligned manner. The base is further adapted to be removably attached onto a receiving structure of a printer, such that an attachment of the base having the optically aligned light source, optical modulator assembly, and lens supported thereon, permits light from the optical modulator assembly to be focussed onto an optical element of the printer.

Abstract: A dual resolution printer for printing images on an associated print medium includes: a light source providing a light beam and a focusing lens focusing the light beam and creating a converging light beam having at least one beam waist of at least one wavelength at a first beam waist location. The printer also includes an optical unit movable in and out of the converging light beam and having a corresponding first and second position, respectively. This optical unit, in the second position, reimages the beam waist of the converging light beam created by the focusing lens to a different size second beam waist, at a location substantially the same as the first beam waist location.

Abstract: A replaceable modular opto-mechanical unit includes a light source in the form of, for example, a laser assembly; an optical modulator assembly which modulates light from the light source; and a lens located in a light path between the light source and the optical modulator assembly. The lens focuses the light from said light source toward a center of the optical modulator assembly. The unit further includes a base adapted to removably support the light source, the optical modulator assembly and the lens in an optically aligned manner. The base is further adapted to be removably attached onto a receiving structure of a printer, such that an attachment of the base having the optically aligned light source, optical modulator assembly, and lens supported thereon, permits light from the optical modulator assembly to be focussed onto an optical element of the printer.

Abstract: A color printer for imaging on an image plane includes: (a) a plurality of light sources, each of the light sources being adapted to provide a spatially coherent, composite beam of light, each of the composite beams including a plurality of spectral components; (b) a single beam shaping optics accepting the composite beams, the beam shaping optics having optical elements adapted to shape said composite beams by a different amount in a scan direction and a cross scan direction, so as to form for each of the composite beams (i) a first beam waist in the cross scan direction of the composite beam and (ii) a second waist in the scan section of the composite beam, the first and second beam waists being spaced from one another; (c) a deflector adapted to move said plurality of composite beams across the image plane, the deflector being located closer to the first beam waists than to the second beam waists; and (d) scan optics located between the deflector and the image plane, the scan optics being adapted to (i) ge

Abstract: A printer system for producing color prints includes: (a) three light sources, each generating a light beam of different wavelengths; (b) three modulators, each of the modulators modulating intensity of each of the light beams by image data, to provide three modulated light beams; (c) a beam combiner combining the three modulated light beams into a single light beam; (d) a single set of beam shaping optics shaping this single light beam into a shaped light beam having different vergences and waist locations in the page and line directions, the vergences and the waist locations being substantially the same in each of the three wavelengths; (e) a light deflector deflecting the shaped light beam to provide a deflected beam, and performing a scanning function; (f) an f-.theta. lens focusing the deflected light beam onto an associated image surface.

Abstract: A lens system comprises a plurality of lens elements including at least one positive power lens element and at least one negative power lens element, the plurality of lens elements having radii of curvature, thicknesses, indices of refraction, Abbe V numbers and partial dispersion coefficients so as to provide in combination (i) magnification M so that 5<M<20; (ii) magnification variation .DELTA.M<5% for 0.46 to 0.7 micron wavelength range; and (iii) beam waist images located along an optical axis with axial positions being less than 0.3 Rayleigh distances from an image plane.

Abstract: A dual format pre-objective scanner (10), for use in a laser printer, having an incident beam (22) from input optics (12) incident on a polygon tower (14) comprised of a first polygon (20) having a first diameter and first number of facets and a second polygon (30) having a second diameter and second number of facets, rotating about an axis (42) common to both first and second polygon. The polygon tower (14) is moved in a vertical direction so that the incident light is directed in a plane approximately perpendicular to the axis rotation of the first and second polygon, at either the first polygon (20) or the second polygon (30). The polygon tower (14) is also moved in a lateral direction approximately perpendicular to the axis (42) of rotation of the polygon tower (14).

Abstract: A laser scanner (10) has a light source (12), which produces a light beam (32) which is incident on a polygon tower (14) comprised of a first polygon (30) having a first diameter and first number of facets, and a second polygon (20) having a second diameter and second number of facets. The polygon tower (14) rotates about an axis common to both the first (30) and second (20) polygon and the first polygon. The point at which the light beam is incident on the polygon tower is shifted in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of the polygon tower so that the incident light is directed at either the first polygon or the second polygon. In one embodiment a reflected light beam from one of the polygons is off center from an optical axis of a scan lens (16).

Abstract: An optical apparatus, for correcting deviations from straightness of an array of laser emitters in generally aligned positions along an array direction, includes a plurality of mirrors along the light beam paths and positioned to reflect its associated light beam along a folded light beam path. Individual mirrors are selectively displaced along its associated light beam path in a direction so as to align the reflected light beams from all of the plurality of mirrors along the folded light beam path, thereby to correct for any deviation of a laser emitter from the straight, array direction line of the laser emitters. According to a preferred embodiment, a plurality of lenslets having power in at least the array direction are positioned in the light beam paths between the laser emitters and the mirrors such that each lenslet receives the light from an associated laser emitter in the array.

Abstract: An imaging system including a Gaussian light source, such as a laser diode, an image plane, and an optical system located between the light source and the image plane. The optical system has an optical axis, a first principal focus and a second principal focus. The image plane is located at the second principal focus of the optical system. The optical system creates a Gaussian intensity profile on the image plane whose e.sup.-2 intensity diameter on such plane is substantially constant even when the Gaussian light source being imaged by the optical system shifts along the optical axis.

Abstract: Positioning of a scan line (L) relative to a recording medium drum (15) of a polygon printer is established by independently adjusting blocks (35, 36) mounted on a scan line generating optics module (10). The blocks (35, 36) have inverted V-notches (38) that nest in two-point tangential contact onto cylindrical surfaces of drum bearings (33, 34). X, z, .theta..sub.x and .theta..sub.z positions are set by x and z direction adjustment screws (44, 45, 49, 50) mounted on frame (11) that move against blocks (35, 36) against the bias of springs (61) and the weight of the frame (11). Clamping screws (56, 57) pass through oversized holes (58) and z direction elongated slots (59) on blocks (35, 36) to releasably lock blocks (35, 36) after adjustment. Alignment of holes (58), slots (59) and notches (38) maintains a constant angle of incidence during adjustment. A notch (41) of projection (40) of frame ( 11) engages with a pin (42) on printer body (29) to set y and .theta..sub.y positioning.

Abstract: Positioning of a scan line (L) relative to a recording medium drum (15) of a polygon printer is established by independently adjusting blocks (35, 36) mounted on a scan line generating optics module (10) through adjustments made to an external beam sensing fixture (52). Inverted V-notches (38) used for nesting the blocks (35, 36) onto cylindrical surfaces of drum bearings (33) are nested onto corresponding cylindrical surfaces of fixture ends (54, 55). X, z, .theta..sub.x and .theta..sub.z positions are then set by x and z direction adjustment screws (44, 45, 49, 50) mounted on a support structure (73) to make adjustments in the fixture positions against the bias of springs (100). Clamping screws (45, 46) pass through oversized holes (47, 48) on blocks (35, 36) to releasably lock blocks (35, 36) after adjustment. The z direction adjustment includes levers (85) and dual ball socket assemblies (95, 96, 97) so that adjustment of the .theta..sub.

Abstract: Positioning of a scan line (L) relative to a recording medium drum (15) of a polygon printer is established by independently adjusting blocks (35, 36) mounted on a scan line generating optics module (10) through adjustments made to an external beam sensing fixture (52). Inverted V-notches (38) used for nesting the blocks (35, 36) onto cylindrical surfaces of drum bearings (33) are nested onto corresponding cylindrical surfaces of fixture ends (54, 55). X, z, .theta..sub.x and .theta..sub.z positions are then set by x and z direction adjustment screws (44, 45, 49, 50) mounted on a support structure (73) to make adjustments in the fixture positions against the bias of springs (100). Clamping screws (45, 46) pass through oversized holes (47, 48) on blocks (35, 36) to releasably lock blocks (35, 36) after adjustment. The z direction adjustment includes levers (85) and dual ball socket assemblies (95, 96, 97) so that adjustment of the .theta..sub.

Abstract: In an imaging system comprising a source of light movable with respect to a writing element and projectable thereon to generate an image, a focusing means is provided for focusing a light source which generates a first beam of light of a wavelength selected to be actinic with respect to the writing element At least a portion of the first beam of light is absorbed by the writing element. The focusing means includes means for generating a second beam of light which is projectable onto the writing element and has a wavelength different than the wavelength of the first light beam. Means is provided which is responsive to the second beam of light to generate a signal to control the focusing means.