Abstract: A heating element adjusts the curvature of a cylindrical wobble correction mirror to compensate and correct the scan line bow for an optical scanner. A current applied through the heating element along one side of the mirror will cause the mirror to bend vertically for a horizontal beam to adjust the scan line bow for a single beam and approximately equalize the scan line bow for multiple beams.

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 recording apparatus in which multi-channel acousto-optic modulator (1-10) is provided on the optical path in such a way that the individual channels thereof are arranged substantially horizontally.

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 optical system is disclosed that minimizes drop-off problems associated with the process of imaging a small light source to a line. In one embodiment, a singly-curved primary mirror is used to maintain a substantially constant magnification factor of the optical system. In another embodiment, the small light source projects radiation through a cylindrical optical component that partially collimates the light, prior to the light impinging upon a doubly-curved primary mirror. Additional embodiments are shown that combine the cylindrical lens with a Schmidt plate, include an optional aperture stop, and include an optional spatial light modulator, as well as embodiments which vary the positioning of the elements in the optical system along the optical path.

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 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 apparatus for optically scanning a surface to be scanned at a constant velocity includes a light source for emitting a light flux, a first optical lens system for coupling the light flux emitted by the light source to a subsequent optical lens system, a second optical lens system for forming the light flux received from the first optical lens system into a line image extending in a direction corresponding to a main scanning direction for the surface to be scanned, an optical deflector for deflecting the light flux formed as the line image via a deflecting reflective plane thereof, which is located near where the line image is formed, and a third optical lens system for condensing the deflected light flux as an optical beam spot on the surface to be scanned.

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 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: A multiple light beam scanning optical system includes a plurality of light sources, driving circuits, collimator lenses, cylindrical lenses for focusing light beams emitted from the collimator lens in sub-scanning directions, a beam splitter, and a deflector. The deflector has a deflection surface disposed near a point at which a light beam emitted from the beam splitter is focused by the cylindrical lens. A scanning lens, a synchronizing detector, and a sensor unit enable detection of position information of sub-scanning directions of the plurality of light beams. A control circuit drives and controls a cylindrical lens by processing an output signal from the sensor unit, and a light path correction mechanism moves a cylindrical lens on the basis of a control signal from the control circuit.

Abstract: A scanning optical device to be used for an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer and a digital copying machine comprises a light source such as a semiconductor laser, an optical deflector such as a rotary polygon mirror, a first optical system for leading the light beam emitted from the light source to the optical deflector, and a second optical system for focussing the light beam deflected by the optical deflector onto a surface to be scanned. The first optical system is adapted to make the light beam strike a deflection surface of the optical deflector with a width greater than that of the deflection surface in the main-scanning direction. The second optical system has an optical element provided on at least an optical surface thereof with an anti-reflection film having a film thickness so adapted as to maximize its light transmittance for the angle of incidence of the most off-axis ray of the light beam deflected by the optical deflector and striking the optical surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of composing an image with a high accuracy on an image receiving member with use of a plurality of light signal emitting heads. The image forming apparatus, which is used for forming an image on the image receiving member such as a photographic paper or a electrophotographic photosensitive member. Each light signal emitting head turns on and off a plurality of light signal emitting elements extending in a main scanning direction in accordance with image data. The image receiving member is guided by a cylindrical guide roller with being adhered to the curving section of the guide roller at an exposure position. The light emergent from each light signal emitting head is changed its optical path at a dichroic prism or a half mirror and exposes the image receiving member linearly.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a laser unit formed by integrating a semiconductor laser and collimator lens, an incident optical system for making a light beam emerging from the laser unit strike an optical deflector while keeping the light beam wider than the width of a deflecting surface of the optical deflector in the main scanning direction, and an imaging optical system for forming the light beam reflected/deflected by the optical deflector into an image on a scanned surface. The laser unit is shifted by a shift adjusting means in a predetermined direction with respect to the optical axis of the incident optical system so as to make an illuminance distribution of scanning lines on the scanned surface become substantially symmetrical about the scanning central axis.

Abstract: A precision printing system uses multiple scan beams that an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) separately modulates. An array of optical elements such as dove prisms separately rotates each of the beams about a central ray of the beam to eliminate blurred edges, skew, and variations in line thickness caused by the direction of propagation of acoustic waves in the AOM being at an angle to a scan direction. In particular, the amount of rotation is selected so that in the final image the direction in which illumination progresses across a cross-section of a beam is in a direction opposite the scan direction. A method of making the array includes attaching rods to a flat, grinding or polishing the combination of the rods and flat to form three planar regions that correspond to facets on prisms. Removing the rods/prisms from the flat. Using photolithography and etching to form grooves in a substrate, and a mounting the rods/prisms in the grooves on the substrate.

Abstract: A scanning optical device includes a light source having a plurality of light emitting points, a deflector for deflecting a plurality of light beams emitted from the light source, and an optical system for guiding the plurality of light beams emitted from the light source onto a surface to be scanned. In the scanning optical device, a predetermined condition is satisfied among a light emitting interval between the plurality of light emitting points, a tilt angle of the plurality of light emitting points, juxtaposed in the main scanning direction, and inclined in the sub scanning direction about the optical axis as the center, the beam interval of the plurality of light beams on the surface to be scanned, and imaging magnifications of the optical system in the main and sub scanning directions.

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 optical printer head capable of minimizing production of a ghost by incidence of light reflected on a filter holding hole. Light emitted from a light source is reflected out of a maximum allowable incident angle to minimize generation of a ghost due to incidence of reflected light on a selfoc lens array while reducing a size of a filter holding hole for holding each of filters therein. Also, a peripheral surface of the filter holding hole may be rendered rough, to thereby provide a scattering surface, resulting in preventing repeated reflection of light emitted from the light source on the peripheral surface of the filter holding hole.

Abstract: This invention provides an image formation device at low cost, which can be miniaturized, of which the quality of an image is uniform, which can form a high resolution of color image at high speed wherein even if the relative mounting position of a light source and an optical element is dislocated, the deterioration of color registration can be reduced. Laser beams for each color sequentially emitted from each laser element of a laser array pass an imaging optical system and are split into the side of photoconductor drums and into the side of a deflecting optical system by a splitting optical system. Laser beams incident on the deflecting optical system are reflected by optical mirrors so that principal rays of the laser beams respectively converge on photodetectors and are incident on approximately the same position of each photodetector. The photodetectors individually detect the luminous energy of laser beams from each laser element.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image on an image recording medium, comprises a laser head for exposing the recording medium to laser light to record the image thereon, a laser light source for emitting the laser light, and an optical fiber connected between the laser light source and the laser head for guiding the laser light emitted from the laser light source to the laser head, the optical fiber having a core portion formed into a substantially rectangular shape in section, wherein a refractive index of the core portion along a first sectional axis is substantially constant and a refractive index along a second sectional axis perpendicular to the first sectional axis is gradually changed.

Abstract: An optical printer head capable of preventing catching between a filter holder and a luminous tube to prevent production of dust and attaining replacement of the luminous tube without exposing filters to an ambient atmosphere. A filter holder is arranged separately from a light source and an selfoc lens array, to thereby prevent production of dust from the filter holder due to contact of the filter holder with the light source and selfoc lens array. A base is arranged so as to receive only the filter holder therein, to thereby prevent the filters held on the filter holder from being exposed to an ambient atmosphere, resulting in dust being kept from adhering to the filters. A pair of light passages are formed on a light path and closed with a light-permeable cover to sealedly close the base, to thereby prevent dust from intruding into the base during replacement of the light source.

Abstract: An image exposing apparatus for imagewise exposing on a light-sensitive material, consists of: a plurality of light emitting element rows; a light mixing device for mixing light emitted from the plurality of light emitting element rows to form emergent light in a line in which rays of light are mixed on the same line; and a moving device for moving at least one of the light-sensitive material and the light mixing device, so that an exposure line that is formed when the light-sensitive material is exposed to the emergent light in a line is moved in a direction having a directional component perpendicular to the exposure line.

Abstract: A fixture containing a plurality of parallel optical fibers is aligned using a solder circuit that is itself mounted on the surface. The fixture is positioned on the circuit so as to be in contact with a quantity of solder. With the solder in the molten state, the fixture is aligned with respect to an element receiving light output from the optical fibers, and the alignment is secured by allowing the solder to solidify with the fixture immobilized.

Abstract: An image reading/writing head (1) includes an integrated circuit for reading (10) provided with a plurality of light receiving elements for reading an image on a document (D) by receiving, via optical lenses (12), light reflected by the document placed on an image reading surface provided in a surface of a casing (2); a plurality of heating elements (9) disposed in a surface different from the reading surface in the casing (2) for forming an image on recording paper by heat; and an integrated circuit for writing (11) for controlling these heating elements (9). The integrated circuit for reading (10), the heating elements (9) and the integrated circuit for writing (11) are provided in a main surface of a substrate (7) held by the casing (2), and light reflecting member (13) is provided for making the light after passing the optical lenses (12) enter the light receiving elements.

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: A recording apparatus locates a photo detector at a predetermined position on an optical base, stopping the rotation of a resist master disk, activating a focusing laser, and optimally positioning a head by means of a head slider control circuit. The resist master disk then starts to rotate, followed by the starting of a focus servo circuit. A focus fine adjust circuit effects a fine movement of the photo detector using positioning data to achieve optimum focusing. A differential amplifier serves to cause a recording lens to adjust to nullify the error signal. Display information is compared with the focusing position data and, when the numerical information coincides with the focusing position data, the above-mentioned focusing data is used as optimum focusing position data for the initial setting of the optimum focusing position. The use of optimum focusing position data in the form of numerical values permits easy initial setting of the optimum focusing position for different types of resist master disks.

Abstract: Even if light beams are caused to obliquely become incident on a light deflector, an optical scanner will be constructed of one F&thgr; lens without bending the center line of the lens. The optical scanner has a deflection part on which light beams are incident from a light source to incline their optical axes by a predetermined angle in a slow scan direction, and a scanning optical system for scanning an optical spot at a substantially constant velocity, and focusing incident light beams on a surface to be scanned. The scanning optical system is preferably constructed of a single lens, both sides of which are aspherical, this lens is caused to refract, on a first refractive surface, to reduce a change in an incident angle of the light beams in the slow scan direction, which change in response to an deflection angle, and is caused to refract, on a second refractive surface, such that the light beams after emission are emitted in a substantially coincided orientation in the slow scan direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source unit for emitting a light beam, an image-forming lens for imaging the light beam in a main-scanning direction, a beam deflector for reflecting and deflecting a line image produced by the image-forming lens, a reflective optical system including a plurality of reflecting mirrors for reflecting a deflected light beam incident on the reflective optical system a plurality of times, wherein reflecting surfaces of the plurality of reflecting mirrors are tilted with respect to a system axis of the optical scanning apparatus, the reflective optical system includes an image-forming mirror for converging the deflected light beam to form a beam spot for scanning a scanned surface at a constant velocity, and the image-forming mirror has an anamorphic configuration obtained by rotating a curve drawn with a first radius on a main-scanning plane, around an axis residing on the main-scanning plane and parallel with the main-scanning direction, maintaining a second radius.

Abstract: In a laser marking method, wherein a liquid crystal mask having thereon a desired pattern to be marked is scanned with a laser beam to mark an object with the pattern by the laser beam passed through the liquid crystal mask, the liquid crystal mask is maintained in a predetermined condition of a temperature higher than the room temperature, a marking operation being carried out by using a laser beam in such a high-temperature condition, thus enabling a speed of response of the liquid crystal element, and a working efficiency concerning the laser marking operation to be improved.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning optical apparatus employs a beam pitch adjusting system in which the position of a first beam is detected by using a beam position detecting system composed of a knife edge shaped plate and one photo sensor, and in which the optical path of the second beam is corrected so that the position of the second beam may be at a specified distance from the position of the first beam. A further embodiment of the beam pitch adjusting systems includes a beam position detecting system using a line position sensor by CCD or PSD. A yet further embodiment of the beam pitch adjusting system includes a position detecting system utilizing the power of a beam efficiently by disposing a focusing lens on an optical path of the beam. Hence, beam pitch adjustment is facilitated, the pitch adjustment precision is enhanced, the range of pitch adjustment is optimized, the number of parts is reduced, and space is saved.

Abstract: A lenticular image printer creates an image on received media having a series of lenticules with parallel axes. The printer includes a transport system adapted to move received media in an in-track direction substantially perpendicular to the axes of the lenticules. An alignment beam generator is arranged to transmit an alignment beam through the lenticules of received media such that the alignment beam is in-track position-modulated by the lenticules. Three position-sensing detectors are aligned in a cross-track direction perpendicular to the in-track direction so as to receive the position-modulated alignment beam whereby the position of the position-modulated alignment beam on the detectors provides an indication of the relative alignment of the axes of the lenticules and the cross-track direction.

Abstract: A laser marking method and an apparatus thereof which realize stamp processing with a beautiful appearance and a high precision, without reducing the manufacturing efficiency. The laser marking method comprises a step of sequentially displaying divisional patterns each corresponding to one scanning line of a first deflector, a step of sequentially scanning the divisional patterns with a laser beam from a laser oscillator by the first deflector, and a step of moving a stamp position on a work surface for every one of scanning transmission beams respectively transmitted through the divisional patterns, in a direction perpendicular to a scanning direction, by a second deflector, thereby to synthesize and stamp the divisional patterns.

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: An image-wise exposure apparatus includes a mirror array device comprising a plurality of small mirrors which are two-dimensionally arrayed in two directions normal to each other and a drive mechanism for changing the orientations of the respective small mirrors independently from each other so that light impinging upon each of the small mirrors is reflected selectively in one of a first direction in which the reflected light impinges upon the photosensitive material and a second direction in which the reflected light does not impinge upon the photosensitive material. A control circuit controls the drive mechanism according to an image signal. In the image-wise exposure apparatus, picture element shifting is carried out. There is provided an antireflective mask which limits the effective aperture of each small mirror to a continuous region not longer than 1.

Abstract: A square laser recording spot, having an energy profile with a very sharp transition between the writing and non-writing area in both dimensions, is created by a shaping the laser energy into a line narrower than the desired spot size and scanning this line to create a square spot. The sharp transition resists changes in the writing process which could vary the size of the mark created by the spot. The square shape of the mark avoids dot gain and eliminates the need for dot gain calibration.

Abstract: There is provided beam diameter control method and device for changing a focused beam diameter of a laser beam, which can increase light utilization without incorporating a complicated and expensive optical or zoom system. In the beam diameter control method and device, an optical path difference equal to or more than a coherence length of the laser beam is applied to a portion of light flux of the laser beam before the laser beam is focused. A transparent plate is provided to apply such an optical path difference. The laser beam is preferably emitted from a longitudinal multimode semiconductor laser the coherence length of which is short. The transparent plate may be a parallel flat plate or ring-like plate placed near the center of the light flux. The transparent plate is preferably placed within the parallel beam portion of the laser beam. The transparent plate may be placed in a divergent beam portion or a convergent beam portion instead.

Abstract: An optical scanner assembly for exposing an image on a scanned surface. The optical scanner assembly includes a laser mechanism for producing a laser beam representative of the image to be exposed on the scanned surface. The laser beam defines an optical path between the laser mechanism and the scanned surface. A laser beam shaping system is positioned along the optical path for focusing and shaping the laser beam onto the scanned surface. A scanning and directing system is provided for directing the laser beam to the scanned surface and scanning the laser beam across the scanned surface in an image-wise pattern. A unibody attenuation mechanism is positioned along the optical path for power attenuation of the laser beam, wherein the unibody variable density power attenuation mechanism is a linear density wedge.

Abstract: In a scanning optical system in which image-surface curvature in the traverse direction is corrected properly without degrading imaging performance in the scanning direction and in which the transverse magnification is approximately uniform irrespective of the deflection angle, the influence of form errors in the imaging lens upon the image is substantially suppressed so as not to degrade the quality of the image. The scanning optical system is provided with a aspherical lens having a refractive power only in the traverse direction and having a TSL shape whose curvature radius increases as the distance in the scanning direction from the center of the lens (the position in which the curvature radius in the traverse direction is smallest) increases. The aspherical lens is disposed in such a way that the line of symmetry that passes through its center is parallel to and at a distance from the optical axis of a first lens unit on the upstream side of a scanning path in the scanning direction.

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 compact optical system for and method of forming an image on an intermediate image-forming surface such as a photoreceptor drum at a high speed. An image-forming light source such as a laser light source is placed between an image-focusing element such as a focusing mirror and an image-scanning unit such as a polygon mirror. According to one preferred embodiment, the image-forming light source is placed in a scanning area defined by a predetermined scanning angle of the image scanning unit.

Abstract: A grating modulator array (40) is comprised of a plurality of modulator sites (41). Each modulator site (41) is comprised of a plurality of first poled regions (50) and a plurality of second poled regions (51) alternating with said first poled regions. A first electrode (48a) is attached to a first end of each of the modulator sites and a second electrode (48b) is attached to a second end of each of the modulator sites and each of the electrode pairs establishes a field in the poled regions of the modulator sites which causes a phase shift in polarized light incident on the modulator.

Abstract: A dual resolution printer for printing images on an associated print medium includes: a light source providing a light beam and a focusing lens focusing the light beam and creating a converging light beam having at least one beam waist of at least one wavelength at a first beam waist location. The printer also includes an optical unit movable in and out of the converging light beam and having a corresponding first and second position, respectively. This optical unit, in the second position, reimages the beam waist of the converging light beam created by the focusing lens to a different size second beam waist, at a location substantially the same as the first beam waist location.

Abstract: A multi-focusing laser beam recorder and a multi-focusing method includes first and second light sources for generating a Kr laser beam for recording light and an He--Ne laser beam for focusing. A fixed optical system modulates the Kr laser beam for recording light and divides the beam into a main beam and a sub beam on each of different paths. An optical divider divides the main beam or the sub beam incident through a shutter of the fixed optical system and the He--Ne laser beam incident from the second light source. A focus servo focuses either the main beam or the sub beam from the optical divider and the He--Ne laser beam on a predetermined area of the glass substrate. First, second and third position sensor controllers control the focus servo to focus the He--Ne laser beam on the glass substrate in response to the pit width of the glass substrate by sensing the laser beam for focusing reflected upon the glass substrate.

Abstract: An aperture and a field lens are positioned between the collimator and the rotating polygon mirror of a multiple reflection, multiple beam raster output scanner to eliminate differential scan line bow. The aperture and the field lens will be positioned where the multiple beams cross the optical axis of the raster output scanner optical system. The multiple beams are telecentric.

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 laser processing method comprises at least one of a laser light source, a beam shaping optical system for shaping laser beams, a mask having specific patterns corresponding to the processing configuration of a work, an illumination optical system for illuminating the mask, and a projection optical system for focusing the pattern images of the mask on the processing surface of the work by a specific magnification. This mask is provided with an extinct portion smaller than the quotient of the resolution and specific magnification of the projection optical system. With the method thus arranged, a work can be processed to provide complicated three-dimensional grooves having irregularities in the direction of laser irradiation by one-time processing. Also, the extinct portions make it possible to easily and finely adjust the extinction so that the precision of work processing is enhanced.

Abstract: A laser pattern generator for semiconductor mask making or direct writing of features on a semiconductor wafer uses a pulsed laser source to achieve high power and short wavelength (e.g. 263 nm or less) radiation, for writing very small-sized features. The laser pulse frequency is either synchronous or asynchronous to the writing grid of the features being written, in various embodiments.

Abstract: A transparent substrate and a method of producing the same suitable especially for an optical system for an optical data recording medium using a linearly polarized light as a data reading light such as magneto-optical recording medium drive unit and an optical data recording medium for reading data using a linearly polarized light.