Abstract: An inkjet printing method ejects fluid droplets onto a transfer surface. On the transfer surface the droplets are treated. The droplets are then transferred to a substrate. The treatment decreases the sizes of the dots and increases their viscosity. Adjacent dots in the pattern may be printed in separate passes to retain dot integrity. The droplets may comprise UV-curable inks. The droplets may be partially cured by exposure to UV radiation while on the transfer surface.

Abstract: In an inkjet printer there is a trade off between speed and quality. Higher speed can be achieved at the expense of quality as inkjet droplets deposited are distorted in shape and or placement position if the relative velocity between the inkjet nozzles and the printing medium is simply increased. The velocity above which distortion occurs is termed threshold velocity. A feed mechanism that varies the printing medium advance rate to allow printing at below threshold velocity while maintaining a high average feed rate is described. By advancing the printing medium at a periodically varying velocity, with the printing medium velocity lower than the threshold velocity, the problem is avoided.

Abstract: A deformable mirror element with a high natural frequency has elongate ribbons attached along a longitudinal portion thereof to a support. A reflective wing portion extends laterally from the support and is capable of deforming in response to a force applied to the wing. The deformable mirror element is used in a light valve for modulating one or more beams of light. The high natural frequency of the element ensures that the light valve is useful in applications requiring fast response time.

Abstract: A deformable mirror element with a high natural frequency has elongate ribbons attached along a longitudinal portion thereof to a support. The ribbon is transversely slit to divide each ribbon into at least two individual wing portions. The wind portions extend laterally from the support and are capable of deforming in response to a force applied to the wing. The deformable mirror element is used in a light valve for modulating one or more beams of incident light. The high natural frequency of the element ensures that the light valve is useful in applications requiring fast response time.

Abstract: A method of fabricating color filters on the surface of a substrate involves ejecting fluid droplets onto a transfer surface and transferring the fluid droplets from the transfer surface to the substrate by bringing the fluid droplets on the transfer surface into contact with the substrate. While on the transfer surface the fluid droplets may have their spatial registration adjusted by interaction between the fluid droplets and a periodic pattern on the transfer surface. The fluid droplets may be subjected to various types of post-expulsion treatments on the transfer surface and may be cured on the substrate. Multiple passes may be made to eject the fluid droplets onto the transfer surface and/or to transfer the fluid droplets to the substrate.

Abstract: Individual elements in a micro-electromechanical array of integrated stretched membrane devices are independently addressed and controlled to produce independently controlled degrees of refraction of light beams.

Abstract: A fast scan axis for a high speed flat bed scanner has an elongated reciprocating table for securing the material to be scanned. The table is narrower than the material and portions of the material overhang the table. The overhanging portions are supported by stationary support surfaces with a plurality of air ports in the surface thereof for providing an air bearing support for the overhanging portions. The moving mass of the scanner is thus kept small enabling fast scanning of the material.

Abstract: A continuously moving object is imaged by a video projector producing a rapid sequence of stationary images. A galvanometer actuated mirror tracks the motion of the moving object and synchronizes it to the sequence of stationary images in order to avoid motion caused blurring of the images. The moving object is flat or is wrapped around a cylinder.

Abstract: An optical head comprising an array of laser diodes (LDA) where each member of the LDA having a fast axis direction and a slow axis direction of beam divergence, a spatial light modulator (SLM), an imaging lens, and a Micro-Scramblers array (MSA) where each member of the MSA has exit apertures and each member of the MSA is associated with a member of the LDA for scrambling the light only in the direction of the slow axis of the member of the LDA. The optical head can be incorporated into an external-drum electro-optical plotter or a flat bed electro-optical plotter.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an array of individually addressable micromachined light reflecting ribbons provide a high speed light valve action by employing a method in accordance with which the ribbons flex about their longer axis under the action of an applied electrostatic field. The ribbons are mounted on pedestals such that the resulting micromechanical structures are substantially symmetrical with respect to a plane along their long axis through the centers of the pedestals and normal to the substrate. This micromechanical arrangement ensures a structure with a high natural frequency, thereby allowing high light valve switching speeds. The particular mode of deformation also ensures a robust structure. The method may be applied in either “bright field” or “dark field” (Schlieren) mode. The particular combination of materials employed allows the method to be used in higher incident power applications such as those encountered in the printing industry.

Abstract: A method for the image-wise transfer of fluid droplets from at least one fluid droplet source onto a substrate comprises ejecting fluid droplets from the at least one fluid droplet source onto a transfer surface. The fluid droplets may be water-based or oil based. The transfer surface repels the fluid droplets. For water-based fluid droplets, the transfer surface comprises a spatially periodic arrangement of less-strongly hydrophobic regions and more-strongly hydrophobic regions. The method includes adjusting a spatial registration of the fluid droplets on the transfer surface; and transferring the fluid droplets from the transfer surface to the substrate by bringing the fluid droplets on the transfer surface into contact with the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the redundancy of IALDA-based imaging devices and for increasing their serviceability. The functioning emitters are coupled to an array of optical fibers, leaving some of the functioning emitters as spare. The second ends of the optical fibers are arranged in an equidistance array, optionally passing through multi-fiber connectors or through an optical switchboard.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an improved multimode multi-track optical recording system are disclosed. A monolithic array of individually addressable multimode laser diode stripes is imaged onto a recording media, where the individual diode stripe images form a plurality of tracks. Introduction of astigmatism between each multimode laser diode and the recording medium causes the diode stripe images to be relatively sharply focussed on their short axes, but less focussed on their elongated axes. This blurring of the diode stripe images on their elongated axes at the surface of the recording media overcomes near-field non-uniformity in the power distribution of the multimode diode, increasing the reliability and overall performance of the recording system.

Abstract: Three dimensional objects are formed by scanning a liquid thermosensitive resin with a laser beam causing imagewise heating of the resin. Because thermosensitive compositions do not obey the law of linear superposition, the problem of stray exposure is eliminated allowing the thermal polymerization of any point within the volume of the liquid without affecting adjacent points.

Abstract: A continuously moving object is imaged by a video projector producing a rapid sequence of stationary images. A galvanometer actuated mirror tracks the motion of the moving object and synchronizes it to the sequence of stationary images in order to avoid motion caused blurring of the images. The moving object is flat or is wrapped around a cylinder.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a scanning method for flat objects obtains reciprocating ballistic motion without any physical contact between the mutually moving parts, as contact can create particulate matter causing defects. The method ensures that the peak forces attained during scanning are minimized to prevent dislodgement of particulate material and excessive vibration. The method furthermore ensures that both surfaces of flat plate objects be scanned simultaneously.

Abstract: A stepper for imaging integrated circuit and flat panel displays uses a thermoresist instead of photoresist and separates the mask into multiple masks, each one containing only part of the features which need to be imaged. The fmal image is generated by combining the images from all the masks on a single die taking advantage of the fact that thermal resists do not follow the reciprocity law. For maximum resolution each one of the multiple masks contains features of only one size.

Abstract: A stepper for imaging integrated circuit and flat panel displays uses a thermoresist instead of photoresist and separates the mask into multiple masks, each one containing only part of the features which need to be imaged. The final image is generated by combining the images from all the masks on a single die taking advantage of the fact that thermal resists do not follow the reciprocity law. For maximum resolution each one of the multiple masks contains features of only one size.

Abstract: An interferometric optical torque sensor senses the torque transmitted by a rotating shaft without requiring physical contact with the shaft. A diffraction grating is provided on the shaft with its grating lines parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the shaft. A laser beam is split in two and reflected from two axially-separated points of the grating. As the shaft twists, the phase of the light in the diffracted orders of the light reflected from the grating changes. By superimposing the diffracted beams an interference pattern is created. The motion of the interference fringes in this pattern is proportional to the twist, therefore the torque, in the shaft. The power transmitted by the shaft may be computed from the torque and shaft speed.

Abstract: A method for making a printing plate is disclosed comprising mounting a printing plate to a holder; applying a non-permanent patterned coating to an outer surface of the printing plate by moving a coating applicator relative to the holder; and, exposing the printing plate to actinic radiation through the patterned coating without removing the printing plate from the holder. The invention avoids handling-induced damage by performing coating and exposure steps in a single apparatus.