Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting a printing plate in a platemaking system includes: a carriage riding on a track and one or more low friction substantially horizontal planar support surfaces provided as a high wear laminate, positioned above the carriage and the track, for supporting the printing plate on the non-emulsion side without the use of rollers, belts, bearings or air cushioning. The carriage includes one or more engagement mechanisms for engaging a bottom, non-emulsion side of the printing plate, and the track includes an air cylinder. The engagement mechanisms can be, for example, suctions cups which engage the plate by a vacuum, suction cups which engage the plate by pressure and adhesion, other adhesive devices, or a mechanical gripper for gripping the plate. The track or linear actuating system is preferably an air cylinder. Alternatively the linear actuating system could include a belt and pulleys, a chain and gears, or a threaded lead screw.

Abstract: A substrate manager for a substrate exposure machine is used, in one example, as a platesetter. As such, it comprises a substrate storage system, containing one or more stacks of substrates, such as plates in one implementation. A substrate picker is provided for picking substrates from the stack of substrates. The substrates are then handed to a transfer system that conveys the substrates to an imaging engine. According to the invention, a substrate inverter system is also provided. This system inverts the substrates from being imaging or emulsion side down to emulsion side up in the present implementation. This allows plates, for example, which are stored emulsion side down in cassettes to be flipped to an emulsion side up orientation, and then transferred, using the substrate transfer system to the imaging engine. This flipping process has two advantages. First, the plates can be emulsion side up during the transfer. This prevents any damage to the sensitive plate emulsions.

Abstract: A method for characterizing exposure levels in a platesetter comprises exposing regions of a plate at different exposure levels by modulating the power of an exposure beam and then analyzing the plate after development to determine a desired exposure level for plates on the platesetter by reference to the regions receiving the different exposure levels. The plates are preferably exposed in an area outside of a printing area. In this way, the exposure test can be performed as part of the normal plate printing process. The plate is not consumed. Moreover, the plate exposure setting can be constantly monitored throughout production in one implementation.

Abstract: A cooling system having a single circulator cools a laser, laser power supply, and laser light valve using two parallel cooling loops having different flow rates. Independent protection against an over temperature condition of the laser, laser power supply, and/or laser light valve is provided in each cooling loop.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an imaging system and method for operating same are provided which includes a media support surface for supporting a printing plate during recording of an image thereon, a leading edge clamping mechanism for securing a leading edge of the printing plate to the media support surface, and a trailing edge clamping mechanism for securing a trailing edge of the printing plate to the media support surface. An actuation system is used to actuate both the leading edge clamping mechanism and the trailing edge clamping mechanism.

Abstract: A multi-level printing process using a printer by converting electronic page data to multi-level bitmap data with a specific number of gradation levels Nlev at a specified spatial resolution higher than that of the printer; converting the multi-level bitmap data to a lower spatial resolution; reducing the number of gradation levels by a processing technique to some lower number Nlevp giving a second multi-level bitmap; and printing the multi-level output bitmap by a printer having at least Nlevp different gradation levels at a single pixel location.

Abstract: A method for loading and unloading substrates on a drum of an imaging engine is applicable to the loading of plates in a platesetter. The method comprises unclamping a trailing edge of a first substrate of the drum and clamping a header of a second substrate to the drum. The order in which these two steps are performed is not critical to the invention. For example, the clamping and unclamping can happen simultaneously. Alternatively, the unclamping of the trailing edge can occur before the clamping of the header, or visa versa. In any case, the drum is then rotated to eject the first substrate from the drum while installing the second substrate on the drum. The notion here is that, as the drum is rotated, one substrate is being ejected while a second substrate is being installed on the drum. Thereafter, the header of the first substrate is unclamped and the trailing edge of the second substrate is clamped to the drum.

Abstract: A calibration system for a platesetter or imagesetter is applicable to systems that have a media drum and a carriage, including a light source and a spatial light modulator for selectively exposing the media that is held against the drum. The invention can be applied to internal or external drum systems. The calibration system comprises a calibration sensor that is scanned relative to the spatial light modulator. The controller then analyzes the response of the calibration sensor to generate calibration information that is used to configure the spatial light modulator. The use of this calibration sensor allows for job-to-job calibration of the spatial light modulator, in one example, that ensures; the generation of a high quality images, without banding, for example, on the media. This calibration system is also used to detect a best focus position for projection optics by measuring a contrast ratio between exposure and dark levels for various focus settings.

Abstract: A magnetically-assisted fixturing process for optical components on a bench utilizes precision placement of an optical component on a bench. This placement can be done either entirely passively, actively, or using a combination of active and passive alignment. The optical component is then held on the bench using a magnetic field. Thus, the optical component is maintained in a stable relationship with respect to the bench, especially after it has been aligned. The optical component is then affixed to the bench, typically by a solder bonding process. Alternatively, other bonding processes can be used, such as epoxy bonding or laser welding. In one implementation, the magnetic fixturing is maintained during the process of affixing or bonding the optical component. Thus, in one example, the optical bench can be transported to a solder reflow oven while the optical component is held on the bench via the magnetic fixturing.

Abstract: A process for configuring a tunable MOEMS filter train comprises determining a spectral response of a MOEMS tunable filter. A spectral separation between different order modes, or free spectral range, is then determined for the filter. This information is then related to a mode size of a desired mode of the tunable filter. With this information, lenses for the optical train are provisioned, and then installed so that light is launched into the optical filter at the desired mode size to thereby maximize the SMSR of the filter train.

Abstract: A mounting and alignment structure of an optical component has an optical element interface. Optical elements, such as lenses or fibers are attached to the mounting structure at this interface. The structure further comprises a base. The base forms the part of the structure that is generally attached to an optical bench or other submount, for example. Armatures extend between the base and the interface to allow for deformation or alignment of the optical structure in a plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis. The base further includes an upper support, a lower support, and a link extending between the upper and lower support. In the preferred embodiment, this link allows the mounting structure to be deformed in a direction at least partially parallel to the optical axis. Thus, when a lens optical element is mounted on the mounting structure, a position of the focal point of the beam being transmitted through the lens can be controlled in a direction along the optical axis.

Abstract: A tunable filter system comprises a signal source providing a WDM having multiple channels, or other signal requiring spectral analysis, within a spectral signal band. A reference signal source is also provided that generates a reference signal with spectral features, such as narrow spectral lines, that are located within a spectral reference band. A tunable filter functions as a band pass filter in transmission and a notch filter in reflection. It is controlled to filter both the reference signal and the WDM signal. A transmission detector is provided to detect the signal transmission through the tunable filter and a return detector is provided to detect the signal that is returned from the filter. Embodiments of the invention rely on a characteristic of a class of tunable filters, such as Fabry Perot etalons, in which light that is not transmitted through the filter is reflected. Thus, while the tunable filter appears as a band pass filter in transmission, it functions as a notch filter in reflection.

Abstract: An assembly fixture for optical benches comprises a jig base, having at least one blind hole. The jig base is formed with a surface that is a non-wetting to solder material. The blind hole is shaped and sized in response to dimensions of the optical bench. The fixture further comprises a bench jig shroud. This shroud at least partially covers optical benches installed in the blind holes. Preferably, previsions are made in the top of the jig base at the interface with the jig shroud to facilitate its stable placement on the base.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser system includes a reflector on the lid that directs light emitted from the front facet to the monitoring diode. Thus, even when the diode is installed behind the semiconductor laser chip, and as a result receives back facet light, the ratio of front facet to back facet light received by the monitoring diode is increased due to the operation of the reflector. This configuration improves power tracking in Bragg grating stabilized semiconductor laser systems, for example.

Abstract: A multi-cavity micro-optical Fabry-Perot filter uses electrostatically deflected MEMS membranes. The filter comprises a first electrostatically deflectable membrane device. A curved mirror structure is formed on its optical membrane. Similarly, a second electro-statically deflectable membrane device is provided, which has a second curved mirror structure on the membrane. The spacer is used to separate the first membrane device from the second membrane device. The spacer supports a mirror between the first and second curved mirror structures. Wafer-level and device level assembly techniques are also described.

Abstract: A process for singulating MOEMS optical devices from a precursor structure, in which the precursor structure comprises device material, having movable optical structures, and handle material, through which optical ports are formed to provide for optical access to the movable optical structures. The process comprises coating a frontside and a backside of the precursor structure with protection material. The precursor structure is then attached to a substrate such as dicing tape and the precursor structure separated into individual optical devices by a process, including die sawing. Thereafter, the optical devices are removed from the tape and the protection material removed from the optical devices.

Abstract: Mounting and alignment structures for optical components allow optical components to be connected to an optical bench and then subsequently aligned, i.e., either passively or actively, in a manufacturing or subsequent calibration or recalibration, alignment or realignment processes. The structures comprise quasi-extrusion portions. This portion is “quasi-extrusion” in the sense that it has a substantially constant cross section in a z-axis direction as would be yielded in an extrusion manufacturing process. The structures further comprise at least one base, having a laterally-extending base surface, and an optical component interface. At least one armature connects the optical component interface with the base. In the preferred embodiment, the base surface is securable to an optical bench.

Abstract: An optical component is adapted for pick-and-place-style installation on an optical submount or bench and compatible with a chuck of a bonder that picks-up the optical component, places it on the optical bench, and then typically solder bonds the optical component to the bench. In the current implementation, this optical component comprises an optical element, such as an optical fiber, lens, or MOEMS device, that is attached to a plastically deformable mounting structure. The optical component has a bench-attach surface that is used to bond the optical component to an optical bench. Further, the optical component has a bonder chuck engagement surface to which a bonder chuck attaches to manipulate the optical component, such as install it, on the optical bench.

Abstract: A mechanical interface between a manipulation system and an optical component in which manipulation system jaws are adapted to engage an optical component at a handle and then deform the component. In some applications, an optical component is translationally or rotationally deformed. In one example, the jaws are moved towards each other in an opposed fashion such that teeth engage the optical component at the handle. Then, the jaws are collectively actuated so that they are moved in substantially the same direction. This results, typically, in the deformation of the optical component so that the optical element held by the optical mounting structure is moved into an improved alignment position. In another example, a V-shaped slot in one of the jaws is used to grasp the optical element, e.g., fiber, to move the element.