Patent · US Expired

Large-format plotter using segmented raster-scanning

US5274397A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
6References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 14, 1991
Grant dateDec 28, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 14, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2215/00974
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A large-format plotting device is provided for transferring an image to a relatively large sized medium. A data processing device is used to divide the surface of the medium into a plurality of relatively narrow segments. A beam sweeping device, which can include a high energy beam such as a laser beam, is provided for sweeping the beam the width of the segment. The data processing device causes the beam to turn on and off to define a portion of the desired image. A movement mechanism is included to either move the beam generating device or the support for the medium at a desired velocity so that each sweep of the beam will produce a raster line whereby the entire segment will be swept forming a plurality of parallel raster lines covering the entire segment. The movement mechanism also includes placement mechanism for laterally moving the medium support or beam generating device to the next adjacent segment in sequence until the surface of the entire medium has been imaged. Alignment features can be provided so that the corresponding raster lines in each segment can be aligned so that they coincide and so that the beam will not overlap at the contiguous edges of the segments. Senso…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.