Abstract: A monocentric arrangement of optical components providing stereoscopic display of a virtual image, electronically generated, line by line, from a linear image source (36) and projected, as a real intermediate image, near the focal surface (22) of a curved mirror (24) by means of a scanning ball lens assembly (100). To form each left and right intermediate image component, a separate image generation system (70) comprises a scanning ball lens assembly (100) comprising a spherical lens (46) for wide field of view and a reflective surface (102). A monocentric arrangement of optical components images the left and right scanning ball lens pupil at the corresponding left and right viewing pupil (14) of the observer (12) and essentially provides a single center of curvature for projection components. Use of such a monocentric arrangement with linear image source (36) and scanning ball lens assemblies (100) provides an exceptionally wide field of view with large viewing pupil (14).

Abstract: A head-mounted optical apparatus (10) providing pupil imaging with a very wide field of view. The head-mounted optical apparatus (10) employs a monocentric arrangement of optical components providing stereoscopic display of a virtual image, electronically generated and projected as left and right images from curved surfaces (68). For each right and left image, a ball lens assembly (30) is used to project a displayed intermediate image from the curved display surface (68) toward a beamsplitter (16), which directs an intermediate image toward the front focal surface of a curved mirror (24) that collimates the image to form a virtual image. The beamsplitter (16) transmits the virtual image for each eye to the observer.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic image display apparatus (10) that adapts to sensed feedback data about an observer (12) in order to conform its operation to adapt to the position and intraocular dimensions of the observer. The apparatus (10) uses ball lens projection optics to provide wide field-of-view pupil imaging, providing separate left- and right-eye images to the left and right eye pupils (14l,14r) of the observer (12), respectively. The apparatus (10) compensates for positional variables such as variable interocular distance and variable observer distance from projection optics. At least one observer feedback sensor (52) is disposed to provide feedback data about the observer (12). The feedback data can be used by a control logic processor (50) that, based on the data, adjusts left- and right viewing pupil forming apparatus (36l,36r). The control logic processor (50), based on sensed feedback data, may also vary image content or provide other stimuli such as smell, movement, and sound.

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: An apparatus and method of printing images (10) onto a photosensitive media (140) using multiple reflective spatial light modulators. In the apparatus and method, illumination optics (25) uniformize and image light from at least one light source through polarization beamsplitting elements (80). The polarization beamsplitting elements (80) divide the illumination light into two polarization states. One polarization state of the illumination light illuminates the reflective spatial light modulators in a telecentric manner. The reflective spatial light modulators are addressed with image data signals. The reflective spatial light modulators modulate the polarized illumination light on a site by site basis and reflect the modulated light back through the polarized beamsplitting elements (80). The modulated light beams are combined to form an image, which is directed through a print lens (110) to expose a photosensitive media (140).

Abstract: A monocentric autostereoscopic optical apparatus (10) for viewing a virtual image, electronically generated and projected on a curved surface. For each left and right image component, a separate optical system comprises an image generation system (701, 70r) and projection system (72), the projection system comprising a spherical diffusive surface (40) and a ball lens (30) to provide wide field of view. A monocentric arrangement of optical components images the ball lens pupil (48) at the viewing pupil (14) and essentially provides a single center of curvature (C) for projection components. Use of such a monocentric arrangement, diffusive surface (40), and ball lens (30) provides an exceptionally wide field of view with large viewing pupil (14).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing large format lenticular images on a lenticular sheet (902) having a plurality of generally parallel lenticules (903) on a front side of the lenticular sheet (902). A sensor (209) senses a beginning of each lenticule (903). A printhead (102) prints interleaved image information on the lenticular sheet (902) in a series of swaths (220). A width of each of the swaths (220) is less than a width of the lenticular sheet (902). Each of the swaths (220) is printed in a direction parallel to the lenticules (903) and each of the swaths (220) is printed in a direction perpendicular to the lenticules (903).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing large format lenticular images on a lenticular sheet (902) having a plurality a generally parallel lenticules (903) on a front side of the lenticular sheet (902) is disclosed, which comprises a sensor (209) which senses a beginning of each lenticule (903). A printhead (102) prints interleaved image information on the lenticular sheet (902) in a series of swaths (220) wherein a width of each of the swaths (220) is less than a width of the lenticular sheet (902). In one embodiment, each of the swaths (220) is printed in a direction parallel to the lenticules (903). In another embodiment, each of the swaths (220) is printed in a direction perpendicular to the lenticules (903).

Abstract: A monocentric autostereoscopic optical apparatus (10) for viewing a virtual image, electronically generated and projected on a curved surface. For each left and right image component, a separate optical system comprises an image generation system (70l, 70r) and projection system (72), the projection system comprising a spherical diffusive surface (40) and a ball lens (30) to provide wide field of view. A monocentric arrangement of optical components images the ball lens pupil (48) at the viewing pupil (14) and essentially provides a single center of curvature (C) for projection components. Use of such a monocentric arrangement, diffusive surface (40), and ball lens (30) provides an exceptionally wide field of view with large viewing pupil (14).

Abstract: A method of printing (10) to a photosensitive media contains the step of imaging light from a light source through an optics assembly to a polarization beamsplitter (80). The polarization beamsplitter (80) produces a first polarized state and a second polarized state. The first polarized state is directed to a first filter to a first spatial light modulator. The first spatial light modulator is addressed with a first color signal to modulate the first polarized beam which is reflected back through the polarization beamsplitter (80). A second polarized light is passed through a second filter to a second spatial light modulator. A second color signal causes said second spatial light modulator to reflect a second modulated light beam through the polarization beamsplitter (80). The first and second modulated light beam are focused through print lens (110) onto a photosensitive media.

Abstract: A high speed, high resolution, continuous optical film printer (25) is disclosed for copying negative intermediate film (11) onto a print film (12). The two films are placed side by side on a common transport shaft (13) and moved past an illumination system comprised of a source (30) and an integrating cylinder (15a). A unit magnification imaging optical system (25) produces a telecentric, monocentric, color corrected, high resolution, low flare image strip (18) on the print film which is parallel to the object strip. The optical film print also provides angularly diffuse illumination to provide scratch and matte suppression.

Abstract: A high speed, high resolution, continuous optical film printer (25) is disclosed for copying negative intermediate film (11) onto a print film (12). The two films are placed side by side on a common transport shaft (13) and moved past an illumination system comprised of a source (30) and an integrating cylinder (15a). A unit magnification imaging optical system (25) produces a telecentric, monocentric, color corrected, high resolution, low flare image strip (18) on the print film which is parallel to the object strip. The optical film print also provides angularly diffuse illumination to provide scratch and matte suppression.

Abstract: A method for printing images on a recording material by way of at least two multimode laser beams created by emitting apertures of at least two multimode lasers includes the steps of: forming with each of said multimode lasers a spot having a long dimension and a short dimension with each of the multimode laser beams such that the long dimension of each of the spots corresponds to a long dimension of a respective emitting aperture of each of the multimode lasers; and scanning the spots created by the multimode laser beams across the recording material such that (i) the long dimension of each of the spots is parallel to scan direction, and (ii) so as to create a series of spaced apart swaths, each of which has a plurality of image lines, the spacings between the image lines of a swath being different from spacing between two adjacent swaths.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of printing two-dimensional swaths of area onto a photosensitive media uses at least one reflective liquid crystal spatial light modulator. In the apparatus and method, illumination optics receive light from a light source and image the light at a polarization beamsplitter element. The polarization beamsplitter element images one polarization state of light at the spatial light modulator to create an essentially telecentric illumination at the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A laser thermal printing system and method utilizes a blur filter (3) made of one or more pieces of double refractive crystal material to smooth printing or laser spots or fill up gaps in an array of laser spots. Blur filter (3) is disposed between a light source (1) and a media or image plane (100). Light source (1) provides for an original array of laser spots (30) at media plane (100) and blur filter (3) splits an image of each of the original array of laser spots (30) to create a displaced duplicate array of laser spots (31) with improved spot uniformity.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention a method for increasing intensity of a polarized multimode laser beam including the steps of: (i) changing polarization of a portion of a cross section of the multimode laser beam, so that the cross section of this multimode laser beam comprises a first portion with one polarization and a second portion with a polarization that is different from this one polarization; and (ii) at least partially superimposing the first portion of the cross section of the multimode laser beam onto the second portion of the cross section of the multimode laser beam, thereby forming a superimposed laser beam.

Abstract: A focusing apparatus (10) for maintaining a first beam in focus at an imaging plane comprising a first reflective surface (14) which redirects the first beam from a first direction to a second direction wherein the second direction is oriented approximately 90.degree. from the first direction; a second reflective surface (24) which redirects the first beam from the second direction to a third direction wherein the third direction is oriented approximately 90.degree. from the second direction; a third reflective surface (26) which redirects the first beam from the third direction to a fourth direction wherein the fourth direction is oriented approximately 90.degree. from the third direction; a fourth reflective surface (32) which redirects the first beam from the fourth direction to a in a fifth direction wherein the fifth direction is oriented approximately 90.degree.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing images. The optical output from a spatial multimode laser, which is multimode in one direction and is single mode in the orthogonal direction, is scanned parallel to the multimode direction. More specifically, according to one aspect of the present invention the printing apparatus includes a multimode laser having an emitting aperture that provides a laser beam. A scanner scans the laser beam from this laser along a scan line such that a long dimension of said emitting aperture corresponds to the scan direction. An optical system focuses the laser beam to a spot having a long dimension and a short dimension, such that the long dimension of the spot is along the scan direction.

Abstract: A laser printer (10) is comprised of a laser diode array (11), a cross array illumination optics (21), a laser lenslet array (24), a spatial light modulator (40), and a fly's eye integrator (23) which illuminates the spatial light modulator with flooded uniform light.In another embodiment the angular spectrum of the light incident to the spatial light modulator is tailored to enhance the quality of modulation. The spatial light modulator (40), is illuminated uniformly by laser diode emitters (12) comprising laser diode array (11), and the spatial light modulator (40) break up the light into image elements, which are subsequently imaged to a media plane (60), to form a desired pattern of spots.

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 corrector for aligning the light beam paths in a cross-array direction. A lenslet array shaping optics is provided to direct the light of individual emitters to individual associated regions of the corrector.