Spot grid array scanning system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for scanning a surface, comprising:
- a beam generator which generates an array of beams;
beam optics having an optical axis, which are adapted to focus the array of beams so as to irradiate a region of the surface intercepted by the optical axis, wherein each beam irradiates a portion of a respective sub-region within the region;
a surface translator for moving at least one of the array and the surface so as to cause a surface velocity relative to the optical axis in a first direction; and
an array scanner, which, during said moving, is adapted to scan each of the beams over the respective sub-region in a second direction, which is different from the first direction, said scanning defining an array of raster patterns, each raster pattern covering a respective sub-region and comprising rows that are perpendicular to said first direction; and
said scanning comprising;
scanning a predetermined number of said rows, and then jumping in a direction substantially opposite to the first direction, so as to repeat said raster pattern over a new region of the surface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for scanning a surface, consisting of focusing an array of beams using optics having an axis, so as to irradiate a region of the surface intercepted by the axis, such that each beam irradiates a portion of a respective sub-region within the region. The method further includes moving at least one of the array and the surface so as to cause a translation of the surface relative to the axis in a first direction. During the translation in the first direction, each of the beams is scanned over the respective sub-region in a second direction, which is different from the first direction.
91 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for scanning a surface, comprising:
-
a beam generator which generates an array of beams; beam optics having an optical axis, which are adapted to focus the array of beams so as to irradiate a region of the surface intercepted by the optical axis, wherein each beam irradiates a portion of a respective sub-region within the region; a surface translator for moving at least one of the array and the surface so as to cause a surface velocity relative to the optical axis in a first direction; and an array scanner, which, during said moving, is adapted to scan each of the beams over the respective sub-region in a second direction, which is different from the first direction, said scanning defining an array of raster patterns, each raster pattern covering a respective sub-region and comprising rows that are perpendicular to said first direction; and
said scanning comprising;scanning a predetermined number of said rows, and then jumping in a direction substantially opposite to the first direction, so as to repeat said raster pattern over a new region of the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13)
-
-
11. A method for scanning a surface, comprising:
-
focusing an array of beams using optics having an optical axis, so as to irradiate a region of the surface intercepted by the optical axis, wherein each beam irradiates a portion of a respective sub-region within the region; moving at least one of the array and the surface so as to cause a surface velocity relative to the optical axis in a first direction; and during said moving, scanning the array of beams over the region in a second direction, which is different from the first direction, said scanning defining an array of raster patterns, each said raster pattern covering a respective sub-region and comprising rows that are perpendicular to said first direction and said scanning comprising; scanning a predetermined number of said rows, and then jumping in a direction substantially opposite to the first direction, so as to repeat said raster pattern over a new region of the surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification