Laser sensitometer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical apparatus, comprising:
- a polarized light source adapted to provide a Gaussian beam of light directed along an optical axis;
a rotatable polarizer disposed in the optical axis adapted to continuously vary an intensity of the beam of light, the polarizer being rotatable about the optical axis; and
a rotatable polygon disposed in the optical axis, the polygon being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the optical axis.
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Abstract
An optical apparatus. More particularly, a laser sensitometer. The apparatus comprises: a polarized light source adapted to provide a Gaussian beam of light directed along an optical axis; a rotatable polarizer disposed in the optical axis adapted to vary an intensity of the beam of light, the polarizer being rotatable about the optical axis; and a rotatable polygon disposed in the optical axis, the polygon being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the optical axis.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An optical apparatus, comprising:
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a polarized light source adapted to provide a Gaussian beam of light directed along an optical axis;
a rotatable polarizer disposed in the optical axis adapted to continuously vary an intensity of the beam of light, the polarizer being rotatable about the optical axis; and
a rotatable polygon disposed in the optical axis, the polygon being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An optical apparatus, comprising:
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a polarized light source adapted to provide a Gaussian beam of light directed along an ontical axis;
a rotatable polarizer disposed in the optical axis adapted to vary an intensity of the beam of light, the polarizer being rotatable about the optical axis;
a rotatable polygon disposed in the optical axis, the polygon being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the optical axis; and
beam shaping optics comprising a telescope and a convex lens. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. An optical apparatus, comprising:
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a polarized light source adapted to provide a Gaussian beam of light directed along an optical axis;
a laser emitting a beam of light having a wavelength different than the beam of light from the light source;
a beam splitter disposed in the optical axis to direct the beam of light from the laser along the optical axis;
a rotatable polarizer disposed in the optical axis adapted to vary an intensity of the beam of light, the polarizer being rotatable about the optical axis; and
a rotatable polygon disposed in the optical axis, the polygon being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An optical apparatus for exposing a sample of light sensitive material to provide a graded series of exposures of different intensity levels, comprising;
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a light source adapted to provide a polarized Gaussian beam of light directed along an optical axis toward the sample;
a rotatable polygon disposed in the optical axis, the polygon being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the optical axis;
a rotatable polarizer disposed in the optical path intermediate the light source and the polygon and adapted to vary an intensity level of the beam of light, the polarizer being rotatable about the optical axis; and
a displacement device adapted to displace the sample in a direction transverse to the optical axis.
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15. A method for exposing a sample of light sensitive material to provide a graded series of exposures of different intensity levels, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a polarized Gaussian beam of light directed along an optical axis toward the sample of light sensitive material;
(b) directing the polarized beam of light through a polarizer rotating about the optical axis to vary an intensity level of the beam of light;
(c) directing the polarized beam of light through a polygon rotating about an axis perpendicular to the optical axis to generate a rotating beam of light;
(d) projecting the rotating beam of light on the sample;
(e) displacing the sample in a plane transverse to the optical axis; and
(f) repeating steps (b) through (e) until an exposure area with a desired dimension is obtained on the sample. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification