Spatial light modulator printer and method of operation
First Claim
1. A printing system having an exposure unit and a contact reproductive unit, said contact reproductive unit operative in response to presentation of images for representing said images on a print transfer medium and for subsequently transferring said represented image to a final printed surface, said exposure unit comprisinga source of light;
- an array of spatial light modulator elements arranged in a line and in a same plane as, but opposed to said light source;
at least one lens for focusing light from said light source onto said array;
an imager lens for accepting light imagers modulated from selected ones of said modulator elements of said array and for presenting said accepted light images to said contact reproductive unit said imager lens being on a same side of said array as is said light source;
circuitry for controlling said individual array elements such that light is modulated to said imager lens from certain of said elements and unmodulated to said imager lens from others of said elements;
said light source and lenses arranged to create an optical axis for said modulated and unmodulated light so as to take advantage of a dark field effect with respect to light modulated from said array; and
a light baffle constructed between said array of spatial light modulator elements and said imager lens, said light baffle having a plurality of concentric, sloped walls for changing an angle of said light which said spatial light modulator elements do not modulate to said imager lens, said walls constructed perpendicular to said optical axis of said modulated and unmodulated light, said walls interconnected by a series of sloping steps, the slope of which is substantially parallel to said optical axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A printing system and method which uses an unmodulated light focused on a spatial light modulator (SLM) device. The light modulator device, in one embodiment, can be a deformable set of mirrors monolithically integrated onto a semiconductor substrate which act, under control of data signals, to selectively modulate light onto a focusing lens which in turn images the light to the drum of the xerographic printing process. The deformable mirrors are formed in one or more parallel rows and the selective timing of the rows is controllable in order to compensate for variations in xerographic process speed. A stepped light baffle removes the unmodulated light further enhancing the dark field effect.
123 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A printing system having an exposure unit and a contact reproductive unit, said contact reproductive unit operative in response to presentation of images for representing said images on a print transfer medium and for subsequently transferring said represented image to a final printed surface, said exposure unit comprising
a source of light; -
an array of spatial light modulator elements arranged in a line and in a same plane as, but opposed to said light source; at least one lens for focusing light from said light source onto said array; an imager lens for accepting light imagers modulated from selected ones of said modulator elements of said array and for presenting said accepted light images to said contact reproductive unit said imager lens being on a same side of said array as is said light source; circuitry for controlling said individual array elements such that light is modulated to said imager lens from certain of said elements and unmodulated to said imager lens from others of said elements; said light source and lenses arranged to create an optical axis for said modulated and unmodulated light so as to take advantage of a dark field effect with respect to light modulated from said array; and a light baffle constructed between said array of spatial light modulator elements and said imager lens, said light baffle having a plurality of concentric, sloped walls for changing an angle of said light which said spatial light modulator elements do not modulate to said imager lens, said walls constructed perpendicular to said optical axis of said modulated and unmodulated light, said walls interconnected by a series of sloping steps, the slope of which is substantially parallel to said optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An exposure unit for use in generating optical images, said images comprising a plurality of individual bits each controlled by an off/on data signal, said exposure unit comprising:
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a source of light; an exit for passing light out of said exposure unit; an array of spatial light modulator elements positioned opposite to, but in a same plane as, said light source a focusing lens such that light from said source travels in a substantially horizontal plane and falls on said array elements; imaging lens for accepting light selectively modulated from selected ones of said array elements and for communicating said modulated light to said exit; circuitry for selecting said array elements in accordance with said on/off data signals; and a sloped light baffle interposed between said array and said imaging lens, said light baffle sloped in a plane at an angle to said horizontal plane, said sloped plane substantially parallel to an optical axis formed by said spatial light modulator and said imaging lens mounted at an end of said light baffle in said sloped plane. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A printing system having an exposure unit, a contact reproductive unit and a paper feeder unit, said paper feeder unit operative to supply paper surfaces for contact with said contact reproductive unit, said contact reproductive unit operative in response to presentation of images for representing said images on a print transfer medium and for subsequently transferring said represented image to a supplied paper surface, said exposure unit comprising:
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a source of light; an exit for passing light out of said exposure unit; an array of spatial light modulator elements positioned opposite to, but in a same plane as, said light source and a focusing lens such that light from said source travels in a substantially horizontal plane and falls on said array elements; imaging lens for accepting light selectively modulated from selected ones of said array elements and for communicating said modulated light to said exit; circuitry for selecting said array elements in accordance with said on/off data signals; and a sloped light baffle interposed between said array and said imaging lens, said light baffle sloped in a plane at an angle to said horizontal plane, said sloped plane substantially parallel to optical axis formed by said spatial light modulator, said imaging lens mounted at an end of said light baffle in said sloped plane. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A printing method having an exposure process and a contact reproductive process, said contact reproductive process operative in response to presentation of images for representing said images on a print transfer medium and for subsequently transferring said represented image to a final printed surface, said printing method comprising the steps of:
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accepting light from a light source; focusing light from said light source onto an array of spatial light modulator elements; selectively accepting through an imager lens images modulated from said array, presenting said accepted light images to said contact reproductive process; controlling said individual array elements such that light is modulated to said imager lens in one mode and not modulated to said imager lens in a second mode; and said controlling step further including the step of bouncing the light from said second mode away from said imager lens by using a series of sloping steps, a wall of each step being constructed substantially perpendicular to the path of said second mode light.
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23. A ticket printing system comprising:
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a printer remote from a central computer, said printer adapted to receive transmitted event information from said central computer through said transmission circuitry, a source of coupon stock, internal to said printer; said printer arranged to print said received event information on said coupon stock, said printer including; a xerographic system wherein said printing is created on said coupon in response to a series of electrical signals representative of said printing information, said electrical signals operative for modulating light energy through a deformable mirror device spatial light modulator array into a series of modulated light pulses representative of said printing, said light pulses in turn operative for presentation to a drum of said xerographic system, said printer further including; a reproductive unit for accepting said light pulses and for converting said light pulses to said printing by said drum; a light modulation unit for accepting said electrical signals and for converting unmodulated light from a light source into modulated light pulses in accordance with said accepted electrical signals by a deformable mirror device spatial light modulator array; and a positioning device for mating said reproductive unit and said modulation unit together so as to effect alignment between said modulated light pulses and said drum. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification