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EP0263774A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

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Assignee: Scitex Corp Ltd
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Filing: 1987-10-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-10-06
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Abstract

Abstract A laser beam scanner comprising a laser source, apparatus for producing a scanning beam and a reference beam which are generally parallel, apparatus for directing the scanning beam onto a surface to be scanned, and apparatus for determining the position of the scanning beam in real time in two dimensions by sensing the position of the reference beam, and wherein the apparatus for sensing the position of the reference beam comprises a grating disposed along a scan axis and defining a multiplicity of first grating lines along the scan axis, which permit the definition of the position of the reference beam in a first dimension, a second grating line disposed across the multiplicity of first grating lines and first and second sensors disposed at respective sides of the second grating line, for sensing the relative amount of light impinging above and below the second grating line, for permitting the definition of the reference beam in a second dimension, whereby the position of the reference beam may be determined both along the scan axis and perpendicular thereto at every location along the scan axis.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shmuel Succari
  • 👤 Shalev Gilad
  • 👤 Michael Nagler
  • 👤 Avigdor Beiber
  • 👤 Dov Berman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 05:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/024; H04N1/028; H04N1/02815; H04N1/0282; H04N1/0283; H04N1/0281; H04N1/04; H04N1/047; H04N1/113; H04N1/1135; H04N1/12; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/04; H04N2201/047; H04N2201/04701; H04N2201/0471; H04N2201/04712; H04N2201/04729; H04N2201/04731; H04N2201/04734; H04N2201/04744; H04N2201/04746

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 178 words
A laser beam scanner comprising: a laser source; means for producing a scanning beam and a reference beam which are generally parallel; means for directing the scanning beam onto a surface to be scanned; and means for determining the position of the scanning beam in real time in two dimensions by sensing the position of the reference beam, and wherein said means for sensing the position of the reference beam comprises a grating disposed along a scan axis and defining a multiplicity of periodic patterns along the scan axis, which permit the definition of the position of the reference beam in a first dimension, a grating line disposed across the multiplicity of periodic patterns and first and second sensors disposed at respective sides of the grating line for sensing the relative amount of light impinging above and below the grating line, for permitting the definition of the reference beam in a second dimension, whereby the position of the reference beam may be determined both along the scan axis and perpendicular thereto at every location along the scan axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 178 words
A laser beam scanner comprising: a laser source; means for producing a scanning beam and a reference beam which are generally parallel; means for directing the scanning beam onto a surface to be scanned; and means for determining the position of the scanning beam in real time in two dimensions by sensing the position of the reference beam, and wherein said means for sensing the position of the reference beam comprises a grating disposed along a scan axis and defining a multiplicity of periodic patterns along the scan axis, which permit the definition of the position of the reference beam in a first dimension, a grating line disposed across the multiplicity of periodic patterns and first and second sensors disposed at respective sides of the grating line for sensing the relative amount of light impinging above and below the grating line, for permitting the definition of the reference beam in a second dimension, whereby the position of the reference beam may be determined both along the scan axis and perpendicular thereto at every location along the scan axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 120 words
Apparatus for sensing the position of a laser beam in two dimensions in real time comprising: a grating disposed along a scan axis and defining a multiplicity of periodic patterns along the scan axis, which permit the definition of the position of the beam in a first dimension; a grating line disposed across the multiplicity of periodic patterns; and first and second sensors disposed at respective sides of the grating line for sensing the relative amount of light impinging above and below the grating line, for permitting the definition of the beam in a second dimension, whereby the position of the beam may be determined both along the scan axis and perpendicular thereto at every location along the scan axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 120 words
Apparatus for sensing the position of a laser beam in two dimensions in real time comprising: a grating disposed along a scan axis and defining a multiplicity of periodic patterns along the scan axis, which permit the definition of the position of the beam in a first dimension; a grating line disposed across the multiplicity of periodic patterns; and first and second sensors disposed at respective sides of the grating line for sensing the relative amount of light impinging above and below the grating line, for permitting the definition of the beam in a second dimension, whereby the position of the beam may be determined both along the scan axis and perpendicular thereto at every location along the scan axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 105 words
A laser beam scanner comprising: a laser source; means for producing a scanning beam and a reference beam which are generally parallel; means for directing the scanning beam onto a surface to be scanned; and means for receiving light reflected from the surface to be scanned and comprising a light guide arranged in light receiving relationship with the surface to be scanned alongside the scan line at one side thereof and a cylindrical mirror arranged in light receiving relationship with the surface to be scanned alongside the scan line at an opposite side thereof for reflecting light received from the surface into the light guide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 105 words
A laser beam scanner comprising: a laser source; means for producing a scanning beam and a reference beam which are generally parallel; means for directing the scanning beam onto a surface to be scanned; and means for receiving light reflected from the surface to be scanned and comprising a light guide arranged in light receiving relationship with the surface to be scanned alongside the scan line at one side thereof and a cylindrical mirror arranged in light receiving relationship with the surface to be scanned alongside the scan line at an opposite side thereof for reflecting light received from the surface into the light guide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 70 words
Apparatus for receiving light reflected from the surface to be scanned and comprising a light guide arranged in light receiving relationship with the surface to be scanned alongside the scan line at one side thereof and a cylindrical mirror arranged in light receiving relationship with the surface to be scanned alongside the scan line at an opposite side thereof for reflecting light received from the surface into the light guide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 70 words
Apparatus for receiving light reflected from the surface to be scanned and comprising a light guide arranged in light receiving relationship with the surface to be scanned alongside the scan line at one side thereof and a cylindrical mirror arranged in light receiving relationship with the surface to be scanned alongside the scan line at an opposite side thereof for reflecting light received from the surface into the light guide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 53 words
Apparatus according to either of claims 3 and 4 and wherein said light guide comprises an elongate portion which is arranged parallel to the scan line and a light pipe which causes light passing along the light guide to pass axially therethrough so as to exit the light guide adjacent axial ends thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 54 words
A light guide comprising an elongate portion and a light pipe which causes light passing along the light guide to pass axially therethrough so as to exit the light guide adjacent axial ends thereof, and photodetectors disposed adjacent the axial ends of the light guide for receiving the light passing through the light guide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 54 words
A light guide comprising an elongate portion and a light pipe which causes light passing along the light guide to pass axially therethrough so as to exit the light guide adjacent axial ends thereof, and photodetectors disposed adjacent the axial ends of the light guide for receiving the light passing through the light guide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 31 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 3 - 6 and also comprising photodetectors disposed adjacent the axial ends of the light guide for receiving the light passing through the light guide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus as in claims 3-7, but wherein the light guide is made of fluorescent materials as to optimize light collection efficiency.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 31 words
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and also comprising means for adjusting the intensity of the scanning beam as a function of its relative position along the scan axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 23 words
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and also comprising means for synchronizing data flow with the position of the scanning beam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 33 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 and also comprising means for providing precise repositioning of the scanning beam relative to the surface to be scanned in the event of an interruption of data flow.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 39 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 and wherein said means for providing precise repositioning comprises means for effecting repositioning at precisely the same velocity as that employed in the original scan so as to prevent striping in the reproduced result.

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