Combination specular-diffuse projection device and method

Claim 3

In a method of exposing a photosensitive material to an original that may contain defects by first, second and third color illumination, said photosensitive material being less responsive to illumination by said first color than to illumination by said second and third color, the improvement comprising in any order the steps of: exposing said photosensitive material to said original by means of substantially specular illumination of said first color to reduce required exposure time; and exposing said photosensitive material to said original by means of substantially diffuse illumination of said second and third colors to suppress any defect in said original.

Claim 4

In a method of exposing a photosensitive material to an original that may contain defects by first, second and third color illumination, said photosensitive material being less responsive to illumination by said first color than to illumination by said second and third color, the improvement comprising in any order the steps of: exposing said photosensitive material to said original by means of substantially specular illumination of said first color to reduce required exposure time; and exposing said photosensitive material to said original by means of substantially diffuse illumination of said second and third colors to suppress any defect in said original.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 wherein said first, second and third colors comprise blue, red and green colors, respectively, and said photosensitive material is blue speed-limited and less responsive to illumination by blue light than to red and green light.

Claim 6

In a projection device for projecting sequentially first, second and third color separation images of an original which may contain defects along a projection axis onto a photosensitive surface whicH is less photosensitive to said first color separation image than to said second and third color separation images, the improvement in apparatus for shortening the overall projection time while suppressing such defects comprising: a source of specular light; movable means for supporting first, second and third color separation filters; movable diffuser means mounted in optical alignment with said second and third color separation filters only; and means for moving said filter support means and said diffuser means into the projection axis between said source of specular light and said original to bring sequentially said first color separation filter into the projection axis to project a substantially specular first color separation image of said original onto the photosensitive surface to decrease exposure time of said photosensitive surface to said first color separation image and said second and third color separation filters and said diffuser means mounted in optical alignment therewith into the projection axis to project.

Claim 7

In a projection device for projecting sequentially first, second and third color separation images of an original which may contain defects along a projection axis onto a photosensitive surface whicH is less photosensitive to said first color separation image than to said second and third color separation images, the improvement in apparatus for shortening the overall projection time while suppressing such defects comprising: a source of specular light; movable means for supporting first, second and third color separation filters; movable diffuser means mounted in optical alignment with said second and third color separation filters only; and means for moving said filter support means and said diffuser means into the projection axis between said source of specular light and said original to bring sequentially said first color separation filter into the projection axis to project a substantially specular first color separation image of said original onto the photosensitive surface to decrease exposure time of said photosensitive surface to said first color separation image and said second and third color separation filters and said diffuser means mounted in optical alignment therewith into the projection axis to project.

Claim 8

The improvement in the projection device, as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said filter supporting means includes a first rotatable disc having said first, second and third color separation filters mounted therein in spaced positions therearound for sequential alignment with said projection axis upon rotation of said disc; said diffuser means includes a second disc having first, second and third openings aligned with said first, second and third color separation filters, respectively, said first opening and said first color separation filter providing substantially specular light of said first color in said projection axis and said second and third openings each having a diffuser therein for providing with said second and third color separation filters, respectively, substantially diffuse light of said second and third colors, respectively, in said projection axis; and said moving means includes a shaft interconnecting said disc and said diffuser means for rotating them simultaneously.

Claim 9

The improvement in the projection device, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first, second and third colors comprise blue, red and green colors, respectively; said photosensitive surface is blue speed-limited and less responsive to illumination by blue light than to red and green light; and said first, second and third color separation filters comprise blue, red and green separation filters, respectively.