Abstract: An optical head and printing system for printing an image on a light sensitive print medium includes polarized beam splitting means, and a first and a second group of lasers. The polarized beam splitting means passes light beams with a first polarization propagating from a first surface to a second opposing surface thereof, and reflects light beams with a second orthogonal polarization propagating from a third surface to the second surface thereof. The first group of lasers are disposed in a first plane adjacent the first surface of the polarized beam splitting means for transmitting a first group of diverging laser light beams which are polarized with the first polarization. The second group of lasers are disposed in a second plane adjacent the third surface of the polarized beam splitting means for transmitting a second group of diverging laser light beams which are polarized with the second polarization.

Abstract: A method for redistributing intensity of a Gaussian beam of light having a Gaussian shaped intensity profile comprises the steps of exposing a photosensitive material to a scanning beam of a laser printing apparatus, writing a desired pattern onto the photosensitive material with the laser printing apparatus, and interposing the exposed photosensitive material in the Gaussian beam and flattening the Gaussian shaped intensity profile of the Gaussian beam. A beam shaper has a laser source for producing a beam of light, a collimating lens for receiving the beam of light from the laser source and producing a collimated beam of light, an apodizer for receiving the collimated beam of light and flattening a Gaussian intensity of the collimated beam in one dimension only, and shaping optics for receiving the beam from the apodizer and producing a beam that is large in a line scan direction.

Abstract: An athermally compensated printhead includes a laser diode having predetermined characteristics for generating a beam of light, a diode mount, cooling means, a collimator lens, and a len mount. The diode mount is formed of a predetermined material with a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion for mounting the laser diode in the printhead. The cooling means is used to maintain the laser diode at a substantially constant operating temperature for longer life and to avoid wavelength changes. The collimator lens has characteristics which provide predetermined changes in focal length versus changes in ambient temperature over a predetermined temperature range. The len mount is formed of a predetermined material having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion for mounting the collimator lens adjacent a first major surface of the diode mount to receive the beam of light from the laser diode.