Non-systolic time delay and integration printing

• US 6,061,075 A
• Filed: 06/09/1994
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Sampsell, Jeffrey B., Boysel, Robert Mark, Nelson, William E., Urbanus, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US08/257,232
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: 346/107 R, 346/160, 358/456, 347/134, 347/234, 347/239, 347/243
• US Class Current: 347/134
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1252 using an array of light modulators, e.g. a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0082 characterised by the exposure method of radiation-sensitive masks

Abstract

A method for printing or exposing photosensitive media is disclosed herein. The method uses standard spatial light modulators with standard addressing circuitry. The data is written to the device for the first row, the photosensitive media is exposed to the light reflected from the device, and the device is turned off. The data from the first row is then written to the second line of the device, and new data is loaded into the first line of the device. The media is again exposed. This is repeated until the entire region of the drum is completely exposed. The device can be repositioned to cover a different region of the drum and the process would be repeated.

Claims

1. A method of printing using at least one spatial light modulator, each said modulator comprised of an array of individually addressable cells and corresponding addressing circuitry, said method comprising the steps of:

a. printing lines of data, said printing step comprising the steps of;

i. writing image data to said addressing circuitry of said modulator;

ii. illuminating said modulator with light from a light source;

iii. reflecting said light to a photosensitive media with said modulator such that said reflected light forms an image on said photosensitive media;

iv. writing new data to the addressing circuitry of the entire modulator such that each line of data previously written to said addressing circuitry is written to a row of said addressing circuitry adjacent said line'"'"'s previous position;

b. repeating steps i. through iv. of said printing step until a predetermined region on said photosensitive media has been completely exposed; and

c. repositioning said at least one modulator to expose a different region on said photosensitive media.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said spatial light modulator is a digital micromirror device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said photosensitive media is a negative.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said negative is for a printed circuit board.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said negative is for an offset printing plate.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said photosensitive media is a finished photographic product.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said photographic product is a printed circuit board.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said photographic product is an offset printing plate.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said photographic product is a film positive.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein said photographic product is a paper positive.

11. A method of printing using at least one spatial light modulator, each said modulator comprised of an array of individually adressable cells and corresponding addressing circuitry, said method comprising the steps of:

a. printing lines of data, said printing step comprising the steps of;

i. writing image data to said addressing circuitry of said modulator;

ii. illuminating said modulator with light from a light source;

iii. reflecting said light to a photosensitive media with said modulator such that said reflected light forms an image on said photosensitive media;

iv. writing new data to the addressing circuitry such that each line of data previously written to said addressing circuitry is written to a row of said addressing circuitry adjacent the previous position of said line; and

b. repeating said printing step until a predetermined region on said photosensitive media has been completely exposed.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said spatial light modulator is a digital micromirror device.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said photosensitive media is a negative.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said negative is for a printed circuit board.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said negative is for an offset printing plate.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said photosensitive media is a finished photographic product.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said photographic product is a printed circuit board.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said photographic product is an offset printing plate.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said photographic product is a film positive.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said photographic product is a paper positive.