Abstract: Apparatus for high resolution imaging of integrated circuits and flat panel displays uses a pulsed laser source, a thermoresist coated image receiving surface and a pair of masks. A primary mask carries the principal image and a secondary mask containing an array of lenslets which concentrate light from the source onto a subset of the features of the primary mask. The secondary mask lenslets are dimensioned so as to illuminate a subset of the features with a known pitch and form an image corresponding to the subset on the thermoresist. After creating a subset image, the secondary mask is moved so as to expose another subset of the features and form another subset image. In this manner the entire principal image is reconstructed on the thermoresist from subset images. The secondary mask is moved on two axes by a plurality of piezo-electric actuators.

Abstract: A linear light valve array including individually addressable diffractive optical elements, the diffractive optical elements having planes of diffraction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the array.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspection of unpopulated printed circuit boards is disclosed. A printed circuit board is mounted on a mobile base capable of scanning on at least one direction. During a scan, the printed circuit board moves with respect to a heater and a portion of the board's surface, including both tracks and substrate, is heated. After heating, but within seconds of removing the heat source, the board surface is analyzed by an infrared (IR) sensitive camera. The different intensities of IR emissions allow for discrimination between the traces and the substrate and provide a means of detecting defects on the board. Defects are detected either by comparison to a database used for production of the boards or by design rule checking.

Abstract: An imaging device and a camera with an imaging device for imaging and digital photography are provided. The imaging device includes an imaging die having an electrical circuit on a surface thereof, a glass cover having a first surface and a second surface, and connecting means for connecting the first surface of the glass to cover the surface of the imaging die, wherein the connecting means have a refractive index substantially equal to the refractive index of the glass cover. The connecting means may include spectral filtering means. The first surface of the glass cover may be coated with spectral filtering means.

Abstract: High resolution ink jet printing is achieved by using a completely hydrophobic layer on a substrate and allowing droplets to dry before permanently bonding to the substrate. In shadow and solid areas, the ink droplets may coalesce before the carrier liquid evaporates corrupting the printed image. Several multiple pass techniques, herein disclosed, eliminate the quality degradation from coalescing of nonwetted ink droplets. The simplest solution involves printing shadows or solids on a hydrophobic surface in a plurality of passes, wherein the ink droplets of each pass are applied sufficiently far apart to avoid touching adjacent droplets and are evaporated prior to commencing a subsequent pass. Alternatively, ink applied in shadow and solid areas wets the bare substrate in a pass prior to application (or subsequent to removal) of the hydrophobic coating. Highlights are inked in a second pass when the hydrophobic coating is present on the substrate.

Abstract: Imaging resolution can be increased by separating image data into a plurality of overlapping subsets and imaging each subset independently on an imaging material responsive only to the instantaneous intensity of the light an not to the accumulated exposure. The method is particularly suitable for thermal recording as thermal materials respond to the instantaneous temperature. The preferred separation is when an image subset contains only image features of a single size.

Abstract: Improved resolution and quality of ink jet printing is achieved by treating the paper with an overcoat preventing wetting by the liquid ink. The surface tensions of the liquid droplet keeps it spherical and droplet shrinks as the liquid evaporates, leaving a small dot of concentrated pigment or dye. Fusing or overcoating is used to increase durability of the printed sheet.

Abstract: A light valve which can be fabricated as an array of individually addressable micromachined linear mirror reflective light valves is disclosed. Each light valve may comprise a metallized silicon nitride ribbon situated above a micromachined cavity. Incident light is reflected by the ribbons. The reflected beam travels into an optical collecting system. The ribbons may be caused to deform into the micromachined cavities by the application of electrical signals. Only a small area on the ribbons is required to be reflective. The deformation causes light reflected by the deformed ribbon to be substantially collimated. The collimated reflected light can be directed through a slit and focussed on a spot to record a data element on a recording surface. A light valve array according to the invention may be used for various data recording applications including exposing printing plates, printed circuit boards, silicon wafers, masks for making semiconductor devices, optical data storage systems and the like.

Abstract: The power density used during a thermal recording process is changed without changing the total energy, scanning speed or resolution. The change of power density is achieved by making the optical resolution greater than the addressability and sweeping the optical spot to write each pixel. If the optical spot is in the shape of a rectangle, a square pixel can be generated and power density is changed by changing the width of the rectangle.

Abstract: An exposure system for liquid photopolymer printing plates has a small movable illumination source. The illumination source moves to expose all of a photopolymer object, such as a printing plate being exposed. The area covered by the light source can be adjusted to match the area of the printing plate. The system does not require a large uniform source of illumination. The collimation of the light source is variable. This permits control over the cross sectional profile of exposed features in the photopolymer. Preferably a flat horizontal glass plate supported by air pressure supports the photopolymer being exposed. An optical sensor and a control system are used in preferred embodiments to keep the plate flat by controlling air pressure in an enclosure beneath the plate.

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: A flexographic varnishing plate, used for the selective application of varnish over printed areas, is made by cutting an elastomeric layer bonded to a clear substrate with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The elastomer is peeled off from the areas which should not be varnished and an exposure to ultra-violet light increases the strength of the adhesive holding the remaining elastomer to the substrate. The plate can be used on lithographic and flexographic printing presses.

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 micromachined linear light valve uses a linear array of cantilevers to stop an array of focused light beams. The response time is fast as the movement of the cantilever has to be about the size of the focused spot, which is below one micron. The focusing optics can be a cylindrical lens, covering the full length of the linear array or an array of aspheric lenslets.

Abstract: A method for imaging seamless printing sleeves of varying length and diameter includes providing a retractable support for the end of a mandrel holding the sleeve and a tilting mechanism to title the mandrel upwards, allowing sleeve replacement. Since different length sleeves can be used on a fixed length mandrel, a fixed size frame can be used for different sleeve lengths. Tilting of the mandrel allows the use of a rigid frame, eliminating the need for a removable end block.

Abstract: A method for exposing photo-sensitive printing plates comprises applying a patterned coating to the printing plate to form a mask. The coating may be sprayed onto the printing plate and patterned by laser ablation. The method avoids the need to stock printing plates with integral masking layers. In preferred implementations the printing plate is exposed to actinic radiation without dismounting it from the apparatus in which the coating is applied. This minimizes the likelihood that the coating could be damaged in handling. The coating may be a thin sprayed on layer of carbon in a suitable binder.

Abstract: A method for compensating for image distortion imparted on a flexographic printing plate is disclosed. The compensation scheme reduces the distortion effect caused by stretching of the image when the printing plate is wrapped around the cylindrical drum of a printing press. The compensation scheme predicts the localized distortion on different parts of the image caused by variations in the undercut depth and density of the image features on the plate. By so doing, the scaling factor is varied in accordance with the predicted localized distortion in the different parts of the image, so as to minimize the distortion effect over the entire printing plate.

Abstract: A plate for flexographic, or `raised image`, printing consists of a backing layer, an intermediate layer and a top layer. The backing comprises a thin metallic sheet or a thin polyester sheet for dimensional stability. The intermediate layer is a closed-cell elastomer foam. The top layer is a thin layer of solid elastomer. The intermediate layer absorbs strongly at an operating wavelength where the backing is either essentially transparent or highly reflective. When the plate is cut with a laser operating at the operating wavelength then the cutting action is self-limiting. As soon as the backing is exposed to the laser beam then the beam is either transmitted through the backing or reflected from the backing. In either case damage to the backing is avoided. Most of the thickness of the plate is in the intermediate layer which has a low density. Thus it takes much less energy to cut a plate according to the invention than is required to laser cut conventional flexographic printing plates.

Abstract: A deformable mirror light valve comprised of an array of silicon nitride ribbons, metalized to reflect light. Each ribbon is electrostatically deformed to form a cylindrical mirror. Each deformable ribbon modulates the light of one pixel by focusing the reflected light through a slit. An alternative embodiment focuses the light onto a stop. The ribbon structure has a fast response time combined with high contrast.

Abstract: The exposure time of high data rate single spot laser scanner can be extended by the use of Time Domain Integration (TDI) mode imaging to expose thermographic materials. Many thermographic materials, such as thermal printing plates, can not be properly exposed in single spot scanners such as internal drum scanners, due to the shortness of the exposure time of a single spot, but can be exposed by the extended exposure time of TDI scanning. The Scophony effect can also be used as a method of TDI.