Pixel intensity control in electro-optic modulators
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the intensity of a pixel or group of pixels at an image plane, said method comprising the step of adjusting the potential of at least one gating electrode of an electro-optic modulator, wherein said adjustment is accomplished by biasing counter-electrodes individually or by groups.
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Abstract
A laser imager comprises a modulator with an array of electrodes to control picture elements individually or by groups to produce images on a recording plane. The light intensity of each picture element or group of elements is determined by electrical potential applied between sets of controlling electrodes. These levels can be manually set or automatically exercised during a balancing routine through a feed-back loop using a photodetector to monitor and detect elements producing a light intensity higher than a set value. Control means assign to these elements a “correction voltage” to lower the density of elements they control. These correction values obtained after one or repeated balancing routines are stored in a memory and are used during the imaging cycle to produce images of substantially equal intensity on the recording medium. Different electrode arrangements to control the intensity of picture elements can be applied to different kinds of modulators and for different power levels of radiated energy.
24 Citations
31 Claims
- 1. A method for controlling the intensity of a pixel or group of pixels at an image plane, said method comprising the step of adjusting the potential of at least one gating electrode of an electro-optic modulator, wherein said adjustment is accomplished by biasing counter-electrodes individually or by groups.
- 15. An apparatus for controlling the intensity of a pixel or group of pixels at an image plane, comprising adjustment means for adjusting the potential of at least one gating electrode of an electro-optic modulator, wherein said adjustment means comprises bias means for biasing counter-electrodes individually or by groups.
Specification