Character imaging system
US4707711A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 1986 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K2101/007
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In a character imaging system, a selected one of a plurality of different characters (letters, numerals, symbols etc.) arrayed as windows in an otherwise opaque mask, is projected optically onto a selected location on a working surface. In this manner, laser light can be used to burn an impression into a workpiece, with successive characters spelling out words and sentences. Alternatively, the system can be used to project non-coherent light onto photographic film or onto a screen. The improvement in this type of system provided by the invention resides in the avoidance of a need to move the mask, or the working surface, or the final lens that projects the light beam onto such surface. And yet the improved system nevertheless enables sequential selection of different characters in the mask, as necessary to build up words and sentences on the working surface. This improvement is achieved by scanning a light beam that is projected onto an imaging element (concave mirror or lens), while synchronously scanning mirrors that receive the imaged beam in such a manner that the final beam is projected onto the workpiece at a desired location regardless of which character-defining window in t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.