(19)
(11) EP 3 078 499 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
26.07.2017 Bulletin 2017/30

(43) Date of publication A2:
12.10.2016 Bulletin 2016/41

(21) Application number: 16161793.1

(22) Date of filing: 22.03.2016
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B41J 2/45(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME
Designated Validation States:
MA MD

(30) Priority: 08.04.2015 US 201514681957

(71) Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center, Incorporated
Palo Alto, CA 94304 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • STOWE, Timothy David
    Alameda, CA California 94501 (US)
  • BIEGELSEN, David K.
    Portola Valley, CA California 94028 (US)
  • MAEDA, Patrick Y.
    San Jose, CA California 95124 (US)
  • CHUA, Christopher L.
    San Jose, CA California 95123 (US)

(74) Representative: Gill Jennings & Every LLP 
The Broadgate Tower 20 Primrose Street
London EC2A 2ES
London EC2A 2ES (GB)

   


(54) VCSEL-BASED VARIABLE IMAGE OPTICAL LINE GENERATOR


(57) A single-pass imaging system utilizes a two-dimensional (2D) light field generator (e.g., one or more VCSEL devices) to generate a modulated two-dimensional modulated light field in accordance with image data for a single row of pixels, and an anamorphic optical system that concentrates the two-dimensional modulated light field in a process direction such that a one-dimensional scan line image extending in a cross-process direction is generated on an imaging surface. The VCSEL array is configured using a scan line image data group made up of pixel image data portions, with associated groups of light emitting elements aligned in the process direction being configured by each pixel image data portion. Gray scaling is achieved either by turning on some of the light emitting elements of the associated group, or by turning the light emitting elements of the associated group partially on, e.g. using a common drive current.







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