Abstract: A method of sensing the pitch or relative location of a lenticular lens on a sheet of transparent lenticular material of the type having a repeating pattern of cylindrical lenses on one side and a flat opposite side, comprising the steps of: forming a beam of light; focusing the beam of light into a spot smaller than the pitch of the cylindrical lenses onto the lenticular material; moving the lenticular material relative to the beam in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the cylindrical lenses to modulate the angle of reflection or refraction of the beam of light; and sensing the position of the modulated beam of light to determine the pitch or relative location of lenticular material to the focused spot.

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 method of adjusting a first spot size for a first color component (74) of a multiple color co-axial laser beam (70) that comprises, focusing the multiple color co-axial laser beam (70). Filtering the multiple color co-axial laser beam (70) with a filter (50) to adjust the first spot size. The filter (50) is opaque to the first color component (74) in an annular region (62) and transparent to the first color component (74) in a center region (60) of the multiple color co-axial laser beam (70). The filter (50) is transparent to a second color component (76) of the multiple color co-axial laser beam (70) in both the center region (60) and the annular region (62).

Abstract: A method of sensing the pitch or relative location of a lenticular lens on a sheet of transparent lenticular material of the type having a repeating pattern of cylindrical lenses on one side and a flat opposite side, comprising the steps of: forming a beam of light; focusing the beam of light into a spot smaller than the pitch of the cylindrical lenses onto the lenticular material; moving the lenticular material relative to the beam in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the cylindrical lenses to modulate the angle of reflection or refraction of the beam of light; and sensing the position of the modulated beam of light to determine the pitch or relative location of lenticular material to the focused spot.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a first spot size for a first color component (74) of a multiple color co-axial laser beam (70) that comprises, focusing the multiple color co-axial laser beam (70). Filtering the multiple color co-axial laser beam (70) with a filter (50) to adjust the first spot size. The filter (50) is opaque to the first color component (74) in an annular region (62) and transparent to the first color component (74) in a center region (60) of the multiple color co-axial laser beam (70). The filter (50) is transparent to a second color component (76) of the multiple color co-axial laser beam (70) in both the center region (60) and the annular region (62).

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 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 motion picture film projector illumination system (100) for minimizing film buckle comprises a light source (405) for producing a beam of light (416). Beam shaping optics (411) focus the light beam onto a film through an aperture (408) having an aperture opening (410) corresponding to a film frame (324). A secondary beam steering optics (465) directs stray light around edges of the aperture to illuminate film edge to frame edge areas (446).

Abstract: A lenticular image product is formed from a lenticular material having an array of cylindrical lenses and a photographic emulsion coated thereon, by scanning the lenticular material with an intensity modulated first beam of light in a direction parallel to the long axes of the cylindrical lenses to form a latent lenticular image in the photographic emulsion. A second beam of light having a wavelength outside of the range of sensitivity of the photographic emulsion is focused into a spot smaller than the pitch of the cylindrical lenses onto the lenticular material. The lenticular material is moved through the beam in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the cylindrical lenses to provide a page scan motion of the lenticular material and to modulate the angle of reflection or refraction of the second beam of light. The position of the angularly modulated second beam of light is sensed to control the motion of the lenticular material.

Abstract: A method of detecting the relative skew between a reference beam and transparent lenticular material of the type having a repeating pattern of cylindrical lenses, comprising the steps of: forming a beam of light; focusing the beam of light into a line with a width smaller than the pitch of the cylindrical lenses onto the lenticular material; moving the lenticular material relative to the beam in a direction such that the beam crosses the longitudinal axes of the cylindrical lenses to modulate the angle of reflection or refraction of the beam of light; and sensing the position of the line of modulated beam of light along a line parallel to the longitudinal axes of the cylindrical lenses to determine the skew or relative angular location of lenticular material to the focused line.

Abstract: A method of sensing the pitch or relative location of a lenticular lens on a sheet of transparent lenticular material of the type having a repeating pattern of cylindrical lenses on one side and a flat opposite side, comprising the steps of: forming a beam of light; focusing the beam of light into a spot smaller than the pitch of the cylindrical lenses onto the lenticular material; moving the lenticular material relative to the beam in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the cylindrical lenses to modulate the angle of reflection or refraction of the beam of light; and sensing the position of the modulated beam of light to determine the pitch or relative location of lenticular material to the focused spot.

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 lenticular image product is formed from a lenticular material having an array of cylindrical lenses and a photographic emulsion coated thereon, by scanning the lenticular material with an intensity modulated first beam of light in a direction parallel to the long axes of the cylindrical lenses to form a latent lenticular image in the photographic emulsion. A second beam of light having a wavelength outside of the range of sensitivity of the photographic emulsion is focused into two distinct spots or a line both with a width smaller than the pitch of the cylindrical lenses onto the lenticular material. The lenticular material is moved through the beam in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the cylindrical lenses to provide a page scan motion of the lenticular material and to modulate the angle of reflection or refraction of the second beam of light.

Abstract: A method of correcting a scanning device's reflective face's pyramid error as well as coma in the cross scan direction of an optical scanning system comprising the steps of: focusing a beam of light to a spot in the cross scan axis in the vicinity of the scanning device's reflective face with a first cylinder mirror which is tilted at an angle to produce a fixed, known amount of coma in the spot focused in the cross scan axis; and imaging the location of the reflective face, and thus reimaging the spot, to a second image position with a second cylinder mirror which is tilted at a second angle, the second cylinder mirror imaging the spot with a fixed and known amount of coma in the cross scan axis which is approximately equal to and opposite in sign to the first fixed, known amount of coma.

Abstract: A desired design for electronic structures is converted into a graphic design format and sorted into a pseudo-raster format corresponding to scan lines. A laser or other machining beam is controlled by a separate tracking beam utilizing a mid-objective scanning system. The firing frequency of the machining beam is determined by the position of the tracking beam on a detector, as compared to the scan line data. Accuracy is verified by detection of plume or spectra generated during machining. Alignment of the machining and tracking beams is by interferometric methods. The system improves optical performance parameters of telecentricity, angle of scanned beam line, location of line in which the scanned line resides, astigmatism and field curvature.

Abstract: A desired design for electronic structures is converted into a graphic design format and sorted into a pseudo-raster format corresponding to scan lines. A laser or other machining beam is controlled by a separate tracking beam utilizing a mid-objective scanning system. The firing frequency of the machining beam is determined by the position of the tracking beam on a detector, as compared to the scan line data. Accuracy is verified by detection of plume or spectra generated during machining. Alignment of the machining and tracking beams is by interferometric methods. The system improves optical performance parameters of telecentricity, angle of scanned beam line, location of line in which the scanned line resides, astigmatism and field curvature.

Abstract: A desired design for electronic structures is converted into a graphic design format and sorted into a pseudo-raster format corresponding to scan lines. A laser or other machining beam is controlled by a separate tracking beam utilizing a mid-objective scanning system. The firing frequency of the machining beam is determined by the position of the tracking beam on a detector, as compared to the scan line data. Accuracy is verified by detection of plume or spectra generated during machining. Alignment of the machining and tracking beams is by interferometric methods. The system improves optical performance parameters of telecentricity, angle of scanned beam line, location of line in which the scanned line resides, astigmatism and field curvature.

Abstract: A desired design for electronic structures is converted into a graphic design format and sorted into a pseudo-raster format corresponding to scan lines. A laser or other machining beam is controlled by a separate tracking beam utilizing a mid-objective scanning system. The firing frequency of the machining beam is determined by the position of the tracking beam on a detector, as compared to the scan line data. Accuracy is verified by detection of plume or spectra generated during machining. Alignment of the machining and tracking beams is by interferometric methods. The system improves optical performance parameters of telecentricity, angle of scanned beam line, location of line in which the scanned line resides, astigmatism and field curvature.

Abstract: A laser system which utilizes a reflective objective lens includes a closed loop servo and beam profiling system to provide improved uniformity of the laser beam impinging on the work piece. The laser beam is passed through an aperture to pattern the work piece. A beamsplitter separates the laser beam into workpiece and diagnostic beams. The workpiece and diagnostic beams are both passed through identical reflective objective lenses, to accurately measures performance of the work piece beam. Preferably, a third reflective objective lens collimates the diagnostic beam and directs it to a beam analyzer where the uniformity can be accurately assessed. The information determined by the beam analyzer is then used to position a pre-aperture converging optic (PACO) located between the laser source and the aperture. Adjustments in the x- and y-dimensions of the PACO lens change the angular uniformity at the aperture.

Abstract: A desired design for electronic structures is converted into a graphic design format and sorted into a pseudo-raster format corresponding to scan lines. A laser or other machining beam is controlled by a separate tracking beam utilizing a mid-objective scanning system. The firing frequency of the machining beam is determined by the position of the tracking beam on a detector, as compared to the scan line data. Accuracy is verified by detection of plume or spectra generated during machining. Evaluation and alignment of the machining and tracking beams is by interferometric methods. The system improves optical performance parameters of telecentricity, angle of scanned beam line, location of line in which the scanned line resides, astigmatism and field curvature.