Light deflection apparatus

Claim 2

In light deflecting apparatus in which a linearly polarized light beam is provided by source means in either one of two mutually orthogonal states for selective deflection in astigmatic aberration free form to one of two relatively adjustable locations in a common focal plane, the improvement comprising first deflecting means disposed in the path of the incident light beam for deflecting the incident light beam into a first or a second optical transmission path dependent on the polarization state of the beams, said first path being totally external of the first deflecting means, and second deflecting means positioned in both said first and second transmission paths for providing a redeflected output at one of said selected locations in the common focal plane dependent on the polarization state of the incident beam, each of said first and second deflecting means comprising birefringent means having an incident face and another face and isotropic means in juxtaposed position with the other face of the birefringent means, the birefringent means of the first deflecting means being disposed to encounter the incident light beam for deflecting a beam at its incident face into said first path when the beam has one of said mutually orthogonal polarization states and for transmitting a beam to the juxtaposed isotropic means for deflection into said second path when the beam has the other of said mutually orthogonal polarization states, the birefringent means of the second deflecting means being arranged in both of the first and second paths for transmitting the beam in the first path for redeflection by the juxtaposed isotropic means to one of said selected locations and for redeflecting the beam in the second path at its incident face to the other of said selected locations, the birefringent means and isotropic means of at least one of said deflecting means being relatively adjustable with respect to one another, whereby deflection occurs to one of said two relatively adjustable locations in the common focal plane.

Claim 3

In the apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of said isotropic means is movably adjustable with respect to the juxtaposed birefringent means and the spacing between said adjustable locations is determined by the difference between the distances of the incident faces of birefringent means and the respective juxtaposed isotropic means, said spacing being limited only by the diffraction of said beams provided to said locations.

Claim 4

In the apparatus of claim 2, and further comprising optical means disposed in said second path for compensating for pathlength differences traversed by the two beams to said selected locations.

Claim 5

In the apparatus of claim 1, wherein both of said isotropic means are adjustable with respect to the respective juxtaposed birefringent means so that the distance between the incident face of both of the birefringent means and the respective juxtaposed isotropic means are substantially equal and the spacing between said adjustable locations is determined by said distance.

Claim 6

A light deflection system for interposition between a source of a beam of lineArly polarized light and a target to deflect selectively the beam to a location in a common focal plane on the target, comprising a plurality of optically aligned cascaded beam deflecting stages, each stage comprising in the order of the incoming beam of light, means for rotating the state of polarization of the incident beam into one of two mutually orthogonal states, first deflecting means for deflecting the beam provided by the rotating means into a first or second optical transmission path dependent on the polarization state of the beam, said first path being totally external of the first deflecting means, and second deflecting means positioned in both said first and second transmission paths for redeflecting a beam provided in either transmission path so that the redeflected beams are provided in a common focal plane, each of said first and second deflecting means of each of said deflecting stages comprising birefringent means having an incident face and another face and isotropic means in juxtaposed position with the other face of the birefringent means, the birefringent means of the first deflecting means being disposed to encounter first the incident light beam from the polarization rotation means of that stage for deflecting a beam at its incident face into said first path when the beam has one of said mutually orthogonal polarization states and for transmitting a beam to the juxtaposed isotropic means for deflection into said second path when the beam has the other of said mutually orthogonal polarization states, the birefringent means of the second deflecting means being arranged in both of the first and second paths for transmitting the beam in the first path for redeflection by the juxtaposed isotropic means to said common focal plane and for redeflecting the beam in the second path at its incident face to said common focal plane, the birefringent means and isotropic means of at least one of said deflecting means being relatively adjustable with respect to the other, whereby deflection occurs to one of a plurality of relatively adjustable locations in the common focal plane.

Claim 7

A light deflection system for interposition between a source of a beam of lineArly polarized light and a target to deflect selectively the beam to a location in a common focal plane on the target, comprising a plurality of optically aligned cascaded beam deflecting stages, each stage comprising in the order of the incoming beam of light, means for rotating the state of polarization of the incident beam into one of two mutually orthogonal states, first deflecting means for deflecting the beam provided by the rotating means into a first or second optical transmission path dependent on the polarization state of the beam, said first path being totally external of the first deflecting means, and second deflecting means positioned in both said first and second transmission paths for redeflecting a beam provided in either transmission path so that the redeflected beams are provided in a common focal plane, each of said first and second deflecting means of each of said deflecting stages comprising birefringent means having an incident face and another face and isotropic means in juxtaposed position with the other face of the birefringent means, the birefringent means of the first deflecting means being disposed to encounter first the incident light beam from the polarization rotation means of that stage for deflecting a beam at its incident face into said first path when the beam has one of said mutually orthogonal polarization states and for transmitting a beam to the juxtaposed isotropic means for deflection into said second path when the beam has the other of said mutually orthogonal polarization states, the birefringent means of the second deflecting means being arranged in both of the first and second paths for transmitting the beam in the first path for redeflection by the juxtaposed isotropic means to said common focal plane and for redeflecting the beam in the second path at its incident face to said common focal plane, the birefringent means and isotropic means of at least one of said deflecting means being relatively adjustable with respect to the other, whereby deflection occurs to one of a plurality of relatively adjustable locations in the common focal plane.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5, wherein a first plurality of said stages include first and second deflecting means having orientations providing deflections along a first common coordinate, and a second plurality of said stages include first and second deflecting means having orientations providing deflections along a second common coordinate orthogonal to the first coordinate.

Claim 9

The system of claim 5, wherein one of said isotropic means is adjustable with respect to the juxtaposed birefringent means and the spacing between the output beams in the common plane from each stage is determined by the difference between the distances of the incident faces of the birefringent means and the respective juxtaposed isotropic means, said spacing being limited only by the diffraction of said beams.

Claim 10

The system of claim 7, and further comprising optical means disposed in the second path of each stage for compensating for pathlength differences traversed by the two beams to the common plane at the output of said stage.

Claim 11

The system of claim 5, wherein both of said isotropic means are adjustable with respect to the respective juxtaposed birefringent means of each stage so that the distance between the incident face of both of the birefringent means and the respective juxtaposed isotropic means of each stage are substantially equal and the spacing between the output beams in the common plane is determined by said distance.

Claim 12

A high resolution character projection system for projecting in astigmatic aberration free form a beam of linearly polarized light in the form of a desired character from a font of characters laterally spaced from each other to a desired location on a target comprising a first light deflection means optically aligned with said font of characters for collapsing the font to a predetermined defined aperture on a cOmmon axis in anastigmatic form, a second light deflection means optically aligned with said first deflection means for deflecting the desired character within the defined aperture to position the character at the desired location in anastigmatic form, each of said deflection means being formed of plural light deflection stages, each stage being adjustable at least in part for controlling the relative output positioning of the possible beams deflected by that stage, and telescopic lens means disposed at least between said first and second deflecting means for relaying the field of the projected character between successive light deflection means with a predetermined magnification so that said projected character is within said defined aperture.

Claim 13

A high resolution character projection system for projecting in astigmatic aberration free form a beam of linearly polarized light in the form of a desired character from a font of characters laterally spaced from each other to a desired location on a target comprising a first light deflection means optically aligned with said font of characters for collapsing the font to a predetermined defined aperture on a cOmmon axis in anastigmatic form, a second light deflection means optically aligned with said first deflection means for deflecting the desired character within the defined aperture to position the character at the desired location in anastigmatic form, each of said deflection means being formed of plural light deflection stages, each stage being adjustable at least in part for controlling the relative output positioning of the possible beams deflected by that stage, and telescopic lens means disposed at least between said first and second deflecting means for relaying the field of the projected character between successive light deflection means with a predetermined magnification so that said projected character is within said defined aperture.

Claim 14

The system of claim 10, wherein each of said light deflection stages is pathlength compensated and said lens means are arranged as pairs of telescoping lenses between groups of said stages, so that the images of said characters are provided at said target free of image degradation.