Abstract: A polarization-direction-controlling element comprising a ½ wavelength plate disposed with a crystal optical axis tilted at substantially 45 degrees with respect to a polarization direction of a beam of light separated by a polarization-separating element with a part of a laser beam transmitted, is provided on the optical path of the laser beam, outputted from a plurality of semiconductor lasers, between an outlet for the laser beams at a fiber array and a polarization-separating element for separating the laser beam into two beams of light having mutually orthogonal polarization directions. A polarization-direction-controlling element capable of improving the quality of recorded images in an exposing-recording device using an element with polarization dependency and an exposure device capable of improving the quality of recorded images can also be obtained.

Abstract: An imaging device array of the present invention effectively reduces the influence of ghost light and flare light. An optical writing unit using the imaging device array and an image forming apparatus using the optical writing unit are also disclosed.

Abstract: An image-recording device for a printing form (29), including an array of light sources (12) and a downstream microoptics (14), which generates a virtual intermediate image (18) of the light sources (12), which is distinguished by the microoptics (14) having a downstream optical system (10) of a convex mirror (26) and of a concave mirror (24) having a common center of curvature, a combination of the Offner type, which produces a real image (28) of the virtual intermediate images (18). By employing a monolithic structure (40) of the optical system (10) of a convex mirror (26) and of a concave mirror (24), a more compact, space-saving design is able to achieved. The image-recording device according to the present invention may be utilized to special advantage for a printing form (29) in a plate-exposure unit or in a print unit of a printing press.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-beam scanning optical system, which can reduce relative deviation of a writing position of each light-emitting portion due to focus deviation of synchronization detection optical means, and an image forming apparatus using the same. In the multi-beam scanning optical system having the synchronization detection optical means including light source means, incident optical means, deflection means, scanning optical means and a slit, each element is set such that relative deviation of a writing position of each light beam due to deviation of a focus position within a main scanning cross section is reduced by a first light beam limiting element provided between the deflection means and the slit and a conditional expression is satisfied.

Abstract: A maskless, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system uses microlens arrays to focus EUV radiation (at an operating wavelength of 11.3 nm) onto diffraction-limited (58-nm FWHM) focused spots on a wafer printing surface. The focus spots are intensity-modulated by means of microshutter modulators and are raster-scanned across a wafer surface to create a digitally synthesized exposure image. The system uses a two-stage microlens configuration to achieve both a high fill factor and acceptable transmission efficiency. EUV illumination is supplied by a 6 kHz xenon plasma source, and the illumination optics comprise an aspheric condenser mirror, a spherical collimating mirror, and two sets of flat, terraced fold mirrors that partition the illumination into separate illumination fields covering individual microlens arrays. (The system has no projection optics, because the image modulator elements are integrated with the microlens arrays.

Abstract: Optical fibers constituting optical fiber rows are positioned as pinched between base plates defining numerous positioning V-grooves. In each optical fiber row, the optical fibers are arranged at a fixed pitch P. The optical fibers have projections thereof arranged at a fixed pitch PX in a secondary scanning direction, and at a fixed pitch PY in a primary scanning direction. The positions of the projections of the optical fibers constituting the optical fiber rows are partly coinciding in the secondary scanning direction.

Abstract: A rod lens array to be used for an optical printer comprises a plurality of rod lenses arranged densely in array, an opaque substance filled in the gaps separating the plurality of rod lenses, and a pair of side panels sandwiching the plurality of rod lenses and the opaque substance.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning optical system which obtains an image by reducing an error between the imaging positions of light beams from a plurality of light sources without any complicated adjustment, and an image-forming apparatus using the same.

Abstract: A line exposure type image forming apparatus having a micromirror device 40 with numerous micromirrors 41 tiltable for reflecting light incident from a light source to a predetermined exposure position on a photosensitive material 2, and a sub-scan moving mechanism 8a for moving the photosensitive material relative to the exposure position. The micromirror device is disposed such that an imaginary line linking imaging positions on the photosensitive material of the micromirrors in a predetermined line is at an angle to a direction of relative movement of the photosensitive material. As a result, an exposure dot line is produced on the photosensitive material in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the direction of relative movement by a main scanning mirror set formed of micromirrors selected in a direction at an angle to a direction of the columns of the micromirror device.

Abstract: Internal drum recording apparatus provided with a rotating deflecting element, comprising two (or more) beams of different wavelenghts, which are simultaneously operatable, and optical elements for bringing the two or more beams to a common optical path before they reach the rotating deflecting element. The deflecting element may have dispersing properties such that beams of different wavelengths will leave it at slightly different angles. The beams of different wavelengths may be generated by laser diodes or tunable laser diodes. The apparatus may further comprise a beam combiner to combine the beams generated by the light sources.

Abstract: An exposure head is provided in which a deterioration in image quality, due to density non-uniformity or the like, of an image formed by using plural light beams can be suppressed. A microlens array is provided at a light-exiting side of a LED chip which has plural LED elements. The microlens array has microlenses of the same number as a number of LED elements. The microlenses are arranged in an array form at uniform intervals. The microlens array is lenses of an illumination system which, for example, limit spreading of light beams emitted from the LED chip. Light beams of homogeneous configurations and homogeneous profiles are illuminated onto a theoretical object plane at a time of focusing the light beams onto an exposure drum. In this way, the light beams emitted from the LED elements are illuminated with homogeneous configurations and at homogeneous light amount distributions onto illumination regions by the microlenses which function independently.

Abstract: Optical fibers are arranged into staggered matrix. Spacer substrates are inserted between rows of the staggered matrix and cover substrates are attached on the top and bottom of the staggered matrix. All fibers are arranged at a constant pitch P/N in a subscanning direction Y without any overlapping therebetween, where the number P is the pitch of the optical fibers in each row and is the number of the staggered matrix. Photo-beams modulated in response to image signals are emitted from light-emitting ends of the optical fibers onto an objective surface. The spacer substrates reduce the arrangement pitch of the optical fibers in the direction Y, facilitating fine image recording.

Abstract: A multibeam scanning optical system includes a light source unit having a light source and a plurality of beam converting elements having a first optical system for converting a beam emitted from the light source into a divergent beam or a convergent beam, beam combining element for combining a plurality of divergent beams or convergent beams emerging from the light source unit, and causing them to emerge substantially in the same direction, a second optical system for causing the plurality of divergent beams or convergent beams combined by the beam combining element to be imaged as a linear image long in the main scanning direction, deflector having a deflecting surface at or near the imaging position of the second optical system, and for reflecting and deflecting the plurality of incident divergent beams or convergent beams in the main scanning direction, and a third optical system for causing the plurality of divergent beams or convergent beams reflected and deflected by the deflector to be imaged on a sur

Abstract: A multi-beam scanner has two light emitting points ch1, ch2 and an optical system. The light emitting points ch1, ch2 are separated by a distance &Dgr;along a depth-of-focus direction. The longitudinal magnification &agr;, or the image-side numerical aperture NA, of the optical system is set so that the surface to be scanned of a photosensitive drum is positioned within a range where the depths of focus de of the light beams from the two light emitting points ch1, ch2 overlap. The multi-beam scanner can focus the light beams onto the surface of the photosensitive drum at all the scanning positions even when the optical system has curvature of field.

Abstract: A laser exposure apparatus including a laser oscillator (1) for oscillating laser beam having a circular section, a beam expander (4) for enlarging the laser beam oscillated from the laser oscillator, a square mask (6) for shaping the laser beam having the circular section enlarged by the beam expander into a square section and an optical system for contracting the laser beam formed into the square section by the square mask. Even when a very small identification code is attached to a wafer, the identification code can be marked to improve reading recognizability of the identification code.

Abstract: A rod lens array to be used for an optical printer includes a plurality of rod lenses arranged densely in an array, an opaque substance filled in the gaps separating the plurality of rod lenses, and a pair of side panels sandwiching the plurality of rod lenses and the opaque substance. The rod lens array satisfies the requirement as defined by the formula: S<(Z/L)·(25.4/5P) where P is the resolution of the optical printer expressed in dpi, Z is the length of the rod lenses expressed in mm, L is the conjugate length of the rod lenses expressed in mm, and S is the flatness of the surfaces of the side panels bearing the rod lenses.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus is configured to comprise (a) a deflector for deflecting and scanning a plurality of bundled incident laser beams, (b) a conversion optical system for converting the bundle of laser beams moving at a constant angular velocity into a bundle of laser beams moving at a constant linear velocity, (c) reflection mirrors for separating the bundled laser beams into four corresponding to respective colors, (d) photosensitive members for forming respective electrostatic latent images by means of the laser beams corresponding to the respective colors, wherein one of the photosensitive members is disposed on a plane parallel to an area defined by the laser beams traveling between the deflector and the conversion optical system and (e) a correction optical system for correcting curvatures of field with respect to the respective laser beams and leading the laser beams to the photosensitive members.

Abstract: A multi-beam scan optical system and an image forming apparatus using the same are provided in which high-quality printing can be realized at high speed with a relatively simple construction.

Abstract: An optical scanner assembly exposes an image on photosensitive media positioned on the internal surface of a drum platen. The assembly includes: a laser assembly for producing a laser beam representative of the image to be exposed on photosensitive media; a semi-circular flexible lens curved to the shape of the photosensitive media positioned on the internal surface of the drum platen, the lens having a plano-convex cylinder lens having a convex side facing the media; a laser beam scanner positioned between the laser assembly and the lens to scan the laser beam through the lens across the media in an image-wide pattern; and a baffle located between the scanner and the lens for extinguishing laser beam reflections from the convex side of the lens.

Abstract: A recording sheet of a recording material is transported on a conveyer belt to a recording station, and is held to be flat and stationary at the recording station by vacuum suction. A line image projection device projects a line recording light onto the recording sheet along a main scan direction on the basis of image data of each line of an image to print. Synchronously with the projection of the line recording light, projecting position on the recording sheet is shifted perpendicularly to the main scan direction by moving the line image projection device or an optical scanning device. The optical scanning device consists of at least a mirror and a mirror shift mechanism.

Abstract: A laser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser is guided to a sensitive recording medium on a drum by a focusing optical system and an optical anisotropic element. The optical anisotropic element separates the laser beam along its optical axis to produce a laser beam having two focused positions for thereby increasing the depth of focus. With the increased depth of focus, it is possible to record a highly accurate image on the sensitive recording medium even if the sensitive recording medium is displaced because the drum has its outer circumferential surface not concentric with its axis or the sensitive recording medium is lifted off the drum.

Abstract: A laser beam emitted from a laser beam generator is modulated by a laser beam modulator depending on an image to be recorded, and then converted into a linearly polarized light beam having a predetermined direction of polarization by a polarization switcher. The linearly polarized light beam is then converted into a circularly polarized light beam by a quarter-wave plate. The circularly polarized light beam is converted by a quarter-wave plate of a rotatable unit into a linearly polarized light beam, which is applied to a polarization beam splitter. If the linearly polarized light beam is an s-polarized light beam, then the laser beam is reflected by the polarization beam splitter toward a recording medium. If the linearly polarized light beam is a p-polarized light beam, then the laser beam passes through the polarization beam splitter. The laser beam passes through a quarter-wave plate and is reflected by a convex mirror and then by the polarization beam splitter toward the recording medium.

Abstract: A single laser crystal is driven with multiple pumping sources to obtain discrete, collimated outputs without substantial thermal crosstalk, so that the action of one pumping source does not adversely interfere with the action of another source driving the same crystal; that is, an imaging output emanating from one crystal region will neither defeat nor spuriously cause an imaging output in another region.

Abstract: An image read/write head (A) includes: a substrate (4) having a first widthwise side portion (4c), a second widthwise side portion (4d), and an upper surface carrying a row of light-receiving elements (2) longitudinally of the substrate; an elongate case (1) mounted to the upper surface of the substrate (4) to enclose the light-receiving elements (2); a transparent cover (19) mounted to an upper surface of the case (1) for contact with a document to be fed; a light source (3) disposed in the case for illuminating the document; a lens (5) disposed in the case for causing an image of the document (D) illuminated by the light source (3) to be formed on the light-receiving elements (2); and a row of printing elements (8) carried by the an upper surface of the substrate at an excess portion which is provided by extending the first side portion (4c) beyond a lower edge of the case (1) by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An exposure unit includes a luminescent device array including a pair of electrodes and an organic compound layer disposed between the electrodes, and a microlens array arranged corresponding to the luminescent device array. The exposure unit is used in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system.

Abstract: An exposing apparatus is provided with a first laser beam source for being directly modulated in terms of light amount and for emitting a first laser beam having a first wavelength; a second laser beam source for emitting a second laser beam having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; and an audio-optical modulation element for modulating the second laser beam in terms of light amount.

Abstract: A photolithography system and method for providing a pattern to a subject such as a wafer is provided. The system includes a pixel panel, such as a digital mirror device or a liquid crystal display, for generating for creating a plurality of pixel elements of the pattern. The pixel elements are simultaneously directed to a first site of the subject by a lense system. The system also includes a manipulator for moving the pixel elements, relative to the subject, to a second site of the subject so that a portion of the second site overlaps a portion of the first site.

Abstract: Power scaling by multiplexing multiple fiber gain sources with different wave-lengths is useful in printing applications requiring higher optical powers to perform the printing function, such as through thermal inducement in thermal ablation, thermal fusion, thermal diffusion or thermal transfer. A marking system is disclosed using a plurality of laser sources operating at different wavelengths with their respective outputs coupled into a respective single mode fiber. At least one WDM combiner is coupled to receive and combine the laser source outputs into a single output. The combined power single output provides sufficient power intensity to induce thermal marking on a marking medium.

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 spots form a plurality of tracks.

Abstract: Apparatus for exposing reference calibration patches onto photosensitive medium, includes: a light source; a plurality of optical fibers, one fiber for each element to be exposed; a light collector having an input port for receiving light emitted by the light source and an output port for delivering light to one end of the optical fibers; a plurality of light attenuators located with respect to the optical fiber for individually attenuating the light transmitted by each fiber; a projection print head located at the other end of the optical fibers for directing light from the fiber onto the photosensitive medium; and a controller connected to the light source for measuring and controlling the light output of the light collector.

Abstract: An optical printer performs optical writing on a film and includes a print head with a luminous source and a plurality of filters selectively set to the luminous source by moving toward a predetermined direction with respect to the luminous source, and a moving unit for allowing the print head to be reciprocated in the predetermined direction. A transfer unit is disposed the print head to allow the filters to be moved by a regular amount, i.e., a predetermined pitch(“c” to “e”), thereby setting a desired filter to the luminous source. The transfer unit is operated to by the regular amount from one end side of the moving region of the print head. Further, a reset unit is disposed to the print head and is operated when the print head is moved more than the moving region from one end side ad of the moving region of the print head, forcing the moved filter to return to the original position.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus having a laser beam source which emits a laser beam, and an incident angle changing device for changing an incident angle, in a sub scanning direction of the laser beam emitted from the laser beam source, onto a light sensitive material. The incident angle changing device changes the incident angle of the laser beam emitted from the laser beam source on the light sensitive material from &thgr;1 to &thgr;2. The incident angle &thgr;1, an incident angle &thgr;1′ at which the laser beam is incident at the incident angle &thgr;1 on the light sensitive material, is incident in the light sensitive material. The incident angle &thgr;2, an incident angle &thgr;2′ at which the laser beam is incident at the incident angle &thgr;2 on the light sensitive material, is incident in the light sensitive material. One of integers N satisfies the following formula: (N+0.5−(0.7/&ggr;))<(2nh/&lgr;)(cos &thgr;1′−cos &thgr;2′)<(N+0.5+(0.

Abstract: A six sided refractive / reflective optical element controls the separation between four parallel laser beams. Two beams will be reflected off the optical element and two beams will be refracted within the optical element with each reflection and refraction being off a different side of the optical element to form four closely spaced parallel light beams.

Abstract: An apparatus for laser marking indicia on a moving photosensitive web by impinging laser energy upon the moving web with a laser printer device. The laser printer device is provided with a nozzle element that concentrates beams of radiation onto the web with substantially reduced incidences of fog spots on the web. The nozzle element extends circumferentially, substantially around a laser beam tube and the predetermined optical path defined by laser beams emanating from the laser beam tube.

Abstract: The exposure head includes at least one light source of a broad area type, an optical waveguide gradually broadening in a broad area direction of the light source toward a traveling direction of light emitted from the light source, a member collimating the light traveling in a perpendicular direction to the broad area direction, the light being emitted from the optical waveguide and a light modulating device including a plurality of modulation units arrayed in the broad area direction. The image recording apparatus includes the above exposure head an optical system for focusing on a predetermined position the light emitted from the exposure head and a scanner for allowing the exposure head and a photosensitive material to move relatively, while regulating the photosensitive material at the predetermined position.

Abstract: An optical print head of the present invention includes a light emitting element array having of a plurality of light emitting elements. A rod lens array has a plurality of rod lenses for focusing light output from the rod lenses on an image carrier in the form of beam spots. The rod lenses each have a conjugate length greater than a distance between the light emitting element array, which forms a x1 image, and the image carrier. The head of the present invention reduces the diameter of a beam spot and positions a beam waist close to the image carrier to thereby increase resolution. An image forming apparatus using the above head is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-beam exposer unit 1 includes 1 ∑ i = 1 M

Abstract: A light beam emitted from a light source is divided into a plurality of light beams depending on the resolution of an image to be recorded by the light beam, and the light beams are focused on a recording medium by an optical focusing system. Recorded intervals on the recording medium in an auxiliary scanning direction are controlled depending on the resolution, so that an image depending on the resolution can be recorded on the recording medium.

Abstract: An optical scanning device according to the present invention includes a lens to convert divergent rays from a laser diode to parallel or convergent rays, a slit to regulate luminous energy of the parallel or convergent rays, a before deflection optical system having lenses with different power for main-scanning and sub-scanning, optical scanning means to scan objects to be scanned with the parallel or convergent rays, and an imaging optical system for imaging on the objects to be scanned by passing the scanned rays with the optical scanning means, the slit of the before deflection optical system has an opening with a larger diameter than a 13.5% diameter of the optical intensity of the rays in at least one direction of the main-scanning and the sub-scanning directions. Thereby, it may be possible to reduce the sidelobe, and to control density irregularities of exposed images.

Abstract: An apparatus for laser marking indicia on a moving photosensitive web substantially reduces fog spots on the web caused by impinging laser energy. A nozzle element configured to conform to the outlet end of the laser beam tube enables reduction of fog spots on photosensitive web.

Abstract: A reflection case is attached to respective LEDs of an exposure head. An inner wall of the reflection case is formed with a first low-reflection area (reflectance is 0.1), a high-reflection area (reflectance is 0.9), and a second low-reflection area (reflectance is 0.1). These reflection areas are formed in an optical-axis direction from a side of the LED. The reflection case is disposed such that a middle point between the LED and a photosensitive surface of an instant film is positioned within the high-reflection area. The light emitted from the LED is reflected on the inner wall of the reflection case to be applied to the photosensitive surface of the instant film without dispersion. Owing to this, the effective exposure head may be produced.

Abstract: An optical memory head for guiding beams of light to an optical memory to be recorded using beams of light. The optical memory head guides beams to an optical memory and includes light sources for emitting beams with different wavelengths. The optical memory head further includes a prism, a collimator lens and a solid immersion lens.

Abstract: An method of and apparatus (10) for performing laser thermal processing (LTP) of a workpiece (74) having one or more workpiece fields (78). The apparatus includes a pulsed, solid state laser light source (14) having more than 1000 spatial modes (M) and capable of emitting one or more pulses of radiation with a temporal pulse length between 1 nanosecond and 1 microsecond, a workpiece stage (70) for supporting the workpiece, and an illumination optical system having an exposure field (64). The system is arranged between the laser light source and the workpiece stage so as to illuminate within the exposure field at least one of the one or more workpiece fields with the one or more pulses of radiation, with an irradiance uniformity of less than ±5%. The method and apparatus is particularly well-suited for LTP processing of workpieces which require a single pulse or only a few pulses of high-irradiance radiation.

Abstract: The optical scanning device comprises a deflector 22 for deflecting plural laser beams in batch, first and second f&thgr; lenses 24, 25 for converting the laser beams from the deflector 22 into uniform speed linear motion, reflection mirrors 23a to 23g for reflecting the laser beams from the first and second f&thgr; lenses 24, 25, photoreceptor drums 2a , 2b , 2c , 2d on which latent images are formed by laser beams, and third f&thgr; lenses 26a to 26d for focusing the laser beams reflected by the reflection mirrors 23a to 23g and guiding onto the photoreceptor drums 2a , 2b , 2c , 2d. The laser beam 9a reflected by the reflection mirror 23 remotest from the deflector 23 is the laser beam for forming a yellow image.

Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes incident optical system for causing at least one light beam emitted from a light source to be incident on a deflection device and image formation optical system including at least one refractive optical element and at least one diffraction optical element for imaging said at least one light beam reflected and deflected by the deflection device on a surface to be scanned. The diffraction optical element has at least one of an incident surface having a convex shape in a sub-scanning cross-section facing the deflection device and an exit surface having a convex shape in the sub-scanning cross-section facing the surface to be scanned.

Abstract: An apparatus for rapidly determining and correcting the position of a scanning light beam. The apparatus includes a linear position sensor that senses the position of the scan line and a circuit that produces a position signal from the sensed scan line position. A closed loop scan line control system further includes a scan line correction mechanism that adjusts the position of the scan line such that the position of the scan line is corrected for each individual polygon facet. Beneficially, the closed loop scan line correction mechanism includes a mover that moves an optical element, such as a mirror or lens, that adjusts the scan line position.

Abstract: A device determines the positional deviation of n points (P) from their reference positions using a source of electromagnetic radiation (1), imaging optics (2, 4, 9), and a photosensitive detector (10), which converts the positional information into information on intensity. Simultaneous or concurrent in time n signals are produced by the detector (10), each of the n signals being uniquely assigned to one of the reflection points (P). The generated signals can be used to control an autofocusing device or to control the intensity of light sources in devices for imaging printing forms.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical scanning device for color image formation in which color aberration depending on the variation in the image formation position on the scanned surface caused by the angle change of the optical system.

Abstract: A device for producing a printing form, including at least one radiation source directed towards a material whereon an image is to be formed, and a device for positioning the radiation source in a direction parallel to the surface of the material, includes a slide movable parallel to the surface of the material between the at least one radiation source and the material whereon the image is to be formed, the slide being formed with at least one opening and, when an image is being formed on the material, being positionable for allowing free passage through the at least one opening to a beam from the at least one radiation source, and, when no image is being formed on the material, being positionable as a shield between the material and the at least one radiation source.

Abstract: An exposure device in which an image forming lens is disposed in such a posture that the center line of an image forming is out of axial alignment with the center of beam intensity distribution of the light emitting diode output (the center of beam intensity distribution) so as to reduce possible incidence of stray light when local part of the light output from the light emitting diode array reflects on said wires. As a result, the stray light does not strikes the circumference surface of the image supporting body and the vivid image can be formed.