Method and apparatus for printing high resolution images using multiple reflective spatial light modulators

• Main Authors: RODDY JAMES E, KESSLER DAVID, RAMANUJAN SUJATHA
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 20.02.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ADVERTISING; ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICESUSING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING; DISPLAY; EDUCATION; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; LINING MACHINES; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION; PRINTING; SEALS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS; STAMPS; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF; TRANSPORTING; TYPEWRITERS

An apparatus and method of printing images onto a photosensitive media (140) using multiple reflective spatial light modulators (87, 88, 89, 90, 95, 97). In the apparatus and method, illumination optics uniformize and image light from at least one light source (20) through polarization beamsplitting elements (60, 63). The polarization beamsplitting elements (60, 63) divide the illumination light into two polarization states. One polarization state of the illumination light illuminates the reflective spatial light modulators (87, 88, 89, 90, 95, 97) in a telecentric manner. The reflective spatial light modulators (87, 88, 89, 90, 95, 97) are addressed with image data signals. The reflective spatial light modulators (87, 88, 89, 90, 95, 97) modulate the polarized illumination light on a site by site basis and reflect the modulated light back through the polarization beamsplitting elements. The modulated light beams are combined to form an image, which is directed through a print lens assembly (110) to expose a photosensitive media (140). The position of the spatial light modulators (87, 88, 89, 90, 95, 97) can be changed, and a new image can be printed.