Patent ID: 7898710
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A high precision refractive scanner, comprising: a light source that generates a light beam when activated; a stationary plano-concave lens; a movably mounted plano-convex lens; a thin film-covered panel; an F-theta scan lens that focuses said light beam from said light source that passes through the plano-concave lens and the plano-convex lens onto said thin film-covered panel; said plano-concave lens and said F-theta scan lens sharing a common optical axis; said plano-convex lens having an initial position where a first edge thereof is in refracting relation to said light beam; said plano-convex lens having an final position where a second edge, opposite to said first edge, is in refracting relation to said light beam; said plano-convex lens having a neutral position where an optical axis of said plano-convex lens is coincident with said common optical axis; said plano-convex lens element mounted for rotation about a pivot point that is the origin of the respective radii of curvatures of said plano-concave and plano-convex lenses with a nominal air gap between said two lenses, said plano-concave and plano-convex lenses when in an unrotated, neutral position being placed at an entrance pupil of said F-theta lens at a location having a distance from said F-theta lens that is greater than twice said respective radii of curvatures; said rotation of said plano-convex lens causing said light beam from said light source to be refracted as if the light were passing through an adjustable optical wedge, said light being refracted over a predetermined scan angle as said plano-convex lens is rotated; said light beam passing in sequence through said plano-concave lens element, said plano-convex lens element, and said F-theta scanning lens and forming a focal spot on said thin film-covered panel to thereby form a scribe when said focal spot travels from a first edge of said thin film-covered panel to a second edge of said thin film-covered panel.