HOLOGRAM PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE

Abstract: Apparatus for producing dot matrix holograms through laser ablation utilizing only two two-axis, low-inertia beam deflectors to control the maximum holographic direction, and the holographic coloration of the individual pixels of the holograms, and the method of utilizing that apparatus.

Description: HOLOGRAM PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE BACKGROUND The present invention relates to techniques for producing holograms, including both the apparatus for doing so and the method of utilizing that apparatus. Various techniques for producing holograms are known. These generally involve creating interference patterns or gratings in a surface which, when viewed, give rise to holographic visual effects. The conventional way to make these interference patterns is to selectively expose to illumination regions of a photosensitive material (photo-resist) which becomes insoluble in these exposed regions. The unexposed regions are then dissolved away, leaving behind the desired pattern. This pattern can then be regarded as the final holographic image. More commonly, however, it is used as a "master" to mechanically impress an equivalent pattern into a separate surface which then provides the desired holographic effect. Various auxihary operations are also commonly performed. For example, the master can be metalized to strengthen its surface before using it to make the separate mechanical impression or impressions. The final holographic surface can also be metalized to provide increased light reflectivity to the viewer. Also, the pattern of illumination exposure can be reversed, provided the photosensitive material is one which becomes soluble through exposure, rather than the reverse. More recently, an additional feature has been added to these conventional techniques. This feature involves treating the overall holographic image as an IHP-PT004WO -2- aggregation of tiny, separate areas, called pixels. The illumination of the photosensitive material is then performed one pixel at a time until the whole image area has been covered in this manner. By illuminating each pixel with appropriately directed interfering light beams, the holographic properties of individual pixels are determined. In turn, this pixel-by pixel treatment has led to the use of computer programs to control both the interfering directionality of the iUumination and the locations of the individual pixels. This enables the production of holograms which are more susceptible to design variations through adjustment of the computer programming so as to create pixel arrays with various holographic characteristics. Such a computerized technique is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,822,092. The resulting hologram, which consists of an array of holographic pixels, or dots, is sometimes referred to as a "dot matrix" hologram. Although this prior art technique has some desirable features, it is far from ideal in several respects. First and foremost, it still relies on the process of polymerization of the photosensitive material in creating the interference pattern, or grating at each pixel location. This is inherently time consuming and must, of course, be followed by separate processes for removing the unpolymerized portions of the material. Such removal typically involves so-called "wet chemistry", which is another drawback. In addition, the technique requires the iUumination to dwell on each pixel long enough for the polymerization process to become effective. That is not necessary if the iUurnination is IHP-PT004WO -3- performed, as was previously done, over large areas, or even over the whole image area at the same time. The relatively time-consuming nature of this prior technique tended to discourage the creation of large-area holograms, and also the use of the initiaUy created hologram as the final end product. Rather, it encouraged converting the initial creation into a master, for use in reproduction in the same manner as in prior non-pixel techniques. Thus, any potential benefits of the computer-controlled pixel-by-pixel technique are to a large extent negated. A major improvement over the technique described above is disclosed in prior U.S. Patent Apphcation No. 09/021,281, filed February 10, 1998, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference as if fuUy set forth. In essence, this improvement resides in discarding the use of photosensitive material, which must be illuminated to polymerize selected areas, in forming the desired interference patterns. Instead, a laser is used to ablate a workpiece so as to directly form each pixel of the desired overaU holographic image. No exposure of photosensitive material is required and no post-exposure treatment is needed to produce the desired pattern. However, even this improved technique of the prior application can be still further improved. The above-identified prior application teaches the use of an interferometer head, which splits the laser beam into at least two parts, and then uses a set of angled rnirrors to reunite these parts at the surface of the workpiece on which the desired IHP-PT004WO -4- interference patterns are formed through ablation. The azimuthal orientations at which the two beam parts reach the workpiece surface determine the direction of viewing at which the strongest holographic effect is perceived. The included angle between the beam parts reaching the workpiece determines the perceived holographic coloration. In order to produce different effects at different pixel locations, the azimuthal orientation of the whole interferometer head relative to the workplace surface has had to be changed intermittently and so did the angular orientation of the individual mirrors which form part of this interferometer head. For example, if the viewing direction at which the strongest holographic effect from a given pixel is perceived (hereafter called the "maximum holographic direction") was to be changed by 90°, from one pixel to the next, then the whole interferometer also had to be reoriented in azimuth by 90°. It is desired to make such changes very rapidly so as to enable the rapid formation of different holographic effects at consecutive pixel locations. This rapidity is especially crucial in the production of large-area holograms by means of the pixel-by-pixel technique, since these require the formation of many individual pixels and therefore also potentiaUy many changes in interferometer head orientation. An interferometer head such as described above has substantial mass and inertia and is therefore difficult to reorient with the desired rapidity. Moreover, the mechanical movements which are involved require precise location control and stability. As a practical matter, this limits the acceleration and deceleration rates for any head movement. Thus, the rate of creation of the different pixels which, in the aggregate, IHP-PT004WO -5- constitute the overall holographic imagery, becomes limited by the speed of reorientation movement of the interferometer head and its constituents and therefore cannot exploit the capability of the ablating laser itself to perform this pixel creation at a much higher rate. Also, any vibration involved in these re-orientations can detract from the extremely high positional accuracy which is desired in order to yield "good" holographic imagery. It is desirable to overcome one or more of these shortcomings. SUMMARY Briefly stated, the present invention uses a laser beam to ablate a workpiece at predetermined locations so as to form holographic interference patterns in that workpiece. The laser beam preferably originates from a pulsed laser operating typically in the ultraviolet region. To create the desired interference patterns, the laser beam is split into halves. These halves are directed by optics so as to become reunited at the surface of the workpiece which is to be ablated to form each holographic pixel. They arrive at each such reuniting location from controllable azimuthal directions and with controllable included angles. Thus they produce pixels with controllable maximum holographic direction and controllable coloration. In accordance with the present invention, the only optical components which are involved in providing this control of direction and coloration, and which do not remain IHP-PT004WO -6- stationary while that is being done, are two two-axis low-inertia beam deflectors, such as the electronically controllable mirrors of a pair of two-axis galvanometers. These beam deflectors are computer controlled to produce the desired holographic effect at each pixel location. The beam deflectors used in accordance with this invention have an inertia which is very low and may even be close to zero. Therefore, the holographic effects produced at different pixels can be changed much more rapidly than was possible with the prior art technique using high-inertia interferometer heads. Also, in the present invention, the danger of optics misalignment which existed in the prior art is greatly reduced. For further details, reference is made to the description which follows, in light of the accompanying drawings wherein: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a simplified block diagram of an over all system embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of an embodiment of the optics of the system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partly isometric view of a portion of these optics, which diagrammaticaUy illustrates how the laser beam halves are controUed to reach the workpiece at controllable azimuths and at controUable included angles; IHP-PT004WO -7- Figure 4 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the controls for the system of the invention; Figure 5 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a two-axis beam deflecting means usable in the system of the present invention; and Figure 6 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of a two-axis beam deflecting means usable in the system of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words "right," "left," "lower", "upper", "vertical and "horizontal" designate directions in the drawings to which reference is being made and are intended only to aid in the description of the preferred embodiments . The terminology includes the words specifically noted above as well as derivatives thereof and words of similar import. Additionally, the words "a" and "one" are understood to mean one or more of the designated item unless specifically noted, and the term "only" is intended to be limiting with respect to the designated quantity or item referenced. Referring to Figure 1, the overall system 8 for producing holograms in accordance with the present invention includes a system controller, such as a PC 10, which is supplied with prograrmning from at least one of several possible sources. These sources may include a keyboard 11, a CD-ROM 12, an on-line connection 13, and/or a digital electronic camera 14, or any others known to those skilled in the art. In response to such IHP-PT004WO -8- programining, the PC 10 supplies control signals to the controllable elements of the system of Figure 1. The major elements of this system 8 include a pulsed laser 15, a beam splitter 16 for the beam from laser 15, a pair of two-axis galvanometers 17, 18, a split beam recombiner 19 and a workpiece 20 located on a workpiece positioner 21. Preferably, the laser 15 is a pulsed neodymium-yag laser, and the fourth harmonic of the basic frequency of such a neodymium-yag laser is utilized to ablate the surface of workpiece 20. However, it will be recognized by those sltilled in the art from the present disclosure that other types of lasers may be used, depending on the type of surface to be ablated. It is noted that some of the connections between elements in Figure 1 are shown in solid lines, while others are shown in broken lines. The former represent electrical connections, and the latter represent a laser beam or laser beam halves traveling between elements. This same symbology is also used in the other figures of drawings. Turning now to Figure 2, this shows an elevation of a currently preferred arrangement of the optics for the system 8 of Figure 1. In Figure 2, the beam 22 from the pulsed laser 15 is shown directed to the beam splitter 16, which may consist of a conventional dichroic beam splitter positioned so as to direct a first split half of the beam 22 toward the left along path 24 in Figure 2, whUe perr tting the second half of the beam 22 to continue on to a mirror 26. Mirror 26 then directs the second half beam toward the right along line 27 in Figure 2. From the present disclosure it will be understood by those skUled in the art that the reference to a "split half of the beam" or IHP-PT004WO -9- "beam half is not intended to indicate that the beam is precisely equally divided, but is intended only to identify the two split components of the beam. The magnitude or intensity relationship between the two beam halves can deviate from equality, the effect being a progressive dilution of the produced holographic effect. The path 24 leads to a mirror 28, which directs the first beam half into a path 29, preferably at right angles to path 24. On the opposite side, path 27 leads to a mirror 30 which directs the second beam half into a path 31, preferably at right angles to path 27 and parallel to path 29. Path 29 leads to a first electronically controllable X, Y galvanometer 17 (see Figure 1) while path 31 leads to a second electronically controllable X, Y galvanometer 18 (see Figure 1). By "X, Y galvanometer" is meant a galvanometer whose mirrors are so constructed and positioned that they can be driven by appropriate electrical control signals, to controllably deflect an exiting beam of tight in two mutually perpendicular directions. For convenient reference in the description which follows, these mutually perpendicular directions are designated herein as "X" and " Y" respectively (see also Figure 3), and the galvanometers themselves are correspondingly designated in Figure 1 as X, Y galvanometers 17, 18. Such currently preferred galvanometers are available under Model No. 6800 HP from Cambridge Technology of Cambridge, Massachusetts. However, other suitable galvanometers may be utilized, if desired. In the preferred embodiment, the paths of the beam halves 34 and 38 exiting from the X, Y galvanometers 17, 18 are generally perpendicular to their respective arrival paths 29, 31 and are directed oppositely to each other. In the embodiment of Figure 2, IHP-PT004WO -10- the X, Y galvanometers 17, 18 are mounted with what might be called "complementary orientations." By this is meant the following. Assume that the two galvanometers are subjected to the same deflection control signals, in their respective X and Y directions. Their resultant exiting beams 34 and 38 will then be deflected in mirror-image fashion. This is evident in Figure 2, where beam (half) 34 exiting from galvanometer 17 is shown deflected upwardly and beam (half) 38 exiting from galvanometer 18 is also shown deflected upwardly. Since Figure 2 is two-dimensional, deflections in the transverse directions cannot be illustrated in that figure. But it can be stated that such transverse deflections would also be in the same directions, either both into the plane of the paper, or both outward from that plane in Figure 2. This is again due to the mounting of the galvanometers with the above-mentioned "complementary orientations". Referring still to Figure 2, the beam 34, as deflected by galvanometer 17, passes through a first coUimating lens 35 to a first prism 36 where it is redirected into a path 37 at right angles to its arrival path from coUimating lens 35. The beam half 38, as deflected by galvanometer 18, passes through a second coUimating lens 39 to a second prism 40 where it is redirected into a path 41, which parallels the redirected path 37 from the first prism 36. Paths 37 and 41 are directed toward a condensing lens system 42, (which corresponds to the recombiner 19 of Figure 1) and may be comprised of one or more separate lenses directing the first and second beam halves from paths 37 and 41 to a common focal point 43. This focal point 43 constitutes the location of a pixel forming IHP-PT004WO -11- part of the hologram produced by the inventive technique. In Figure 2, this is diagrammatically indicated by showing focal point 43 located on a surface 44, which corresponds to the surface of workpiece 20 (Figure 1) on which the desired holographic imagery is formed, one pixel at a time. Preferably, the beam splitter 16, the first, second and third mirrors 26, 28 and 30, the X, Y galvanometers 17, 18, the first and second coUimating lenses 35 and 39 and the first and second prisms 36 and 40 are all mounted on a common support frame (not shown), in order to maintain accurately the positions of these optical components. These components may be fixed mounted or, preferably, mounted in adjustable holders so that the optical components can be initiaUy aligned after first assembly. However, once these components have been aligned, they can then remain stationary, notwithstanding changes in the azimuthal directionality of the beam halves re-united at pixel location 43, or their included angle. These changes are aU created by the deflection of beam halves 34 and 38, through electronic control of the X, Y galvanometers 17, 18. Figure 3, to which reference may now be had, illustrates more fully how the optical components of the invention cooperate to produce holographic pixels with controllable maximum viewing directions and colorations. In Figure 3, there are shown some of the same optical components as in Figure 2, namely coUimating lenses 35 and 39, prisms 36 and 40, and condensing lens system 42, but drawn to a somewhat different scale and in a quasi-three dimensional (isometric) presentation. IHP-PT004WO -12- In addition to the above, Figure 3 shows a set of dotted-line semi-circles 45 through 48. Each of these semi-circles represents the potential virtual locus of one of the beams halves 34, 38, as deflected by the respective X, Y galvanometer 17, 18, during passage through one of the above-listed optical components. More specificaUy, by applying appropriate electronic control signals to X, Y galvanometers 17, beam half 34 can be deflected so that it passes through coUimating lens 35 at any desired point on locus 45. Beam half 38, on the other hand, can be correspondingly deflected so that it passes through collimating lens 39 at any desired point on locus 46. Because of the previously described complementary relationship between the two X, Y galvanometers, these points on loci 45 and 46 will be at mirror image locations, provided only that the electronic deflection control signals applied to both galvanometers are the same. Each so-deflected beam half then continues toward the nearest prism (prism 36 for one continuing beam half and prism 40 for the other). These continuing beam halves are designated in Figure 3 by reference numerals 50 and 51, respectively. Due to the collimating nature of lenses 35 and 39, those continuing beam halves 50 and 51 maintain the same mirror image relationships as they had when passing through the collimating lenses 35, 39. Each of the two prisms 36 and 40 functions to redirect by 90° the respective beam halves 50, 51. The resulting beam halves exiting these prisms are designated in Figure 3 by reference numerals 37 and 41, respectively. LHP-PT004WO -13- In arriving at condensing lens system 42, these redirected beam halves 37 and 41 can again be located at various points on semi-circular virtual locus 47 and 48, respectively, depending upon the deflections previously imparted to beam halves 34, 38 by X, Y galvanometers 17, 18 in response to apphed electronic control signals. However, semi-circular loci 45 and 46 are in parallel, laterally spread-apart planes and have their curvatures in the same direction. In contrast, semi-circular loci 47 and 48 are in a common plane and have their curvatures in opposite directions. In fact, by reasonably careful implementation and adjustment of the optical components discussed so far, these semi-circular loci 47 and 48 can be positioned close enough to each other so that they resemble the two halves of a complete circle. Assuming again that the same control signals are applied to X, Y galvanometers 17, 18, it can be shown that beam halves 37, 41 will arrive at condensing lens system 42 at diametrically opposite locations on the two loci 47 and 48. Moreover, this diametrically opposite relationship will persist, even if the control signals for galvanometers 17, 18 are changed so that azimuthal locations of beam halves 37 and 41 are displaced along their respective loci 47, 48, provided that these changes are also equal. Beam halves 37, 41 pass through condensing lens system 42, becoming beam halves 54, 55 which converge at pixel location 43. This pixel will therefore have a maximum holographic direction determined by the azimuthal locations on loci 47 and 48 from which these converging beam halves 54, 55 originate. IHP-PT004WO -14- It is believed to be apparent that the locations on loci 47 and 48 at which beam halves 37, 41 arrive at the condensing lens system 42 can be changed at will by the simple expedient of appropriately adjusting the electronic control signals applied to X, Y galvanometers 17, 18. In turn, such changes wiU change the azimuthal directions from which beam halves 54 and 55 reach pixel location 43 and therefore also the maximum holographic direction of that pixel. As for pixel coloration, it is also believed to be apparent that the radii of semicircular loci 47 and 48 can also be changed at will, by appropriately adjusting the values of the electronic control signals applied to X, Y galvanometers 17, 18. In turn, such changes will change the included angle between beam halves 54 and 55 reaching pixel location 43, and thereby also the holographic coloration of that pixel. Thus, the invention enables the complete control of both of these pixel parameters, using as the only non-stationary elements the low-inertia mirrors of the two X, Y galvanometers 17, 18. That the inventive technique is much freer from the problem of high inertia than the prior art is believed to be self-evident, since galvanometers are inherently low inertia devices. However, this is also empirically confirmed. Using the prior art interferometer head, the production by the dot matrix techniques of a hologram with a surface area of, say, about 40 x 40 inches typically required at least about 72 hours. In striking contrast, such production using the inventive technique can be accomplished in as little as 3 hours : a 24 to 1 improvement in the speed of hologram production. IHP-PT004WO -15- It will be understood that, during production of a hologram using the inventive technique, the workpiece is displaced relative to the optics, or vice versa, and the X, Y galvanometers are electrically controlled so that the desired holographic pixels are produced at locations determined by this relative displacement. In order to prevent impairment of the holographic effect produced by the invention, it is desirable to prevent defocusing of the reunited beam halves due to small, unintended variations in the optimum distance between the condensing lens system 42 and the surface 44 on which the holographic pixels are to be formed through ablation by these beam halves. Such variations can stem from simple irregularities in the surface of the workpiece. Therefore, means are preferably provided to maintain that distance constant. This can consist of a "follower", (not shown) riding on the surface of the workpiece 20 and detecting any distance variation, plus means for moving the lens system 42 toward or away from the surface 44 in a compensating manner. However, such distance compensating movement does not determine either the maximum holographic direction, or the coloration of the pixels. Therefore, the statement made previously in this application stiU applies, namely that the only non-stationary elements which determine those parameters are the low-inertia X, Y galvanometers 17, 18. To form each pixel in accordance with the present invention, the material of workpiece 20 is ablated by means of the two interfering laser beam halves of sufficient power, impinging on that workpiece 20 at the desired pixel locations. IHP-PT004WO -16- This laser beam ablation at different pixel locations is readily achieved by displacing the workpiece 20 in mutually orthogonal directions relative to the focal point 43 (Figures 2 and 3) e.g by so moving the target positioner 21 (see Figure 1). These movements are coordinated under the control of PC 10 and with control of the X, Y galvanometer with the illumination of the workpiece by laser 15, to produce the holographic pixels in the desired locations. Alternatively, the workpiece 20 can be cylindrical and rotated about the cylinder axis while moving it along that axis. In each case, what is needed is relative displacement of focal point 43 and workpiece 20. This relative displacement can alternatively be accomplished by appropriately moving the whole optics assembly shown in Figures 2 and 3. However, moving the workpiece 20 is preferred. Referring now to Figure 4, this shows a more detailed block diagram of the preferred arrangement for the PC control of the X, Y galvanometers 17, 18, the laser 15, the workpiece positioner 21 and the condensing lens system 42. The PC 10 generates an X, Y galvanometer control signal, as shown by block 10a, which is transmitted to the galvanometer drivers 17a, 18a. The galvanometer drivers output the control signals for the desired X, Y beam deflections (Figure 3). The PC 10 also generates a workpiece positioner control signal, as shown by block 10b, for the positioner 21 (Figure l) to place the workpiece 20 such that the focal point 43 (Figure 3) for a given pixel is in the desired location. This can be done utilizing a separate motion control card in the PC 10 or via a driver program. This signal is transmitted to an auxiliary controUer 60 which drives IHP-PT004WO -17- two indexers 61, 62 for the mutually perpendicular motion control of the workpiece positioner 21. The indexers 61, 62 drive two positioning motors 63, 64, respectively. The position signals for motors 63, 64 are also used to activate the laser 15 when these motors are stopped with the workpiece at a desired pixel location, as determined by the timing input output signal in block 10c. The previously mentioned control of distance between the condensing lens 42 and the workpiece 20 is also preferably provided by the PC 10. This controls a motor 65 to move the position of the condensing lens 42 in the direction toward or away from the workpiece 20, as appropriate. It should be noted that control of this distance may also be accomplished by manual adjustment when the distance from the condensing lens 42 to the workpiece remains constant, such as when the workpiece, or series of workpieces, are small flat sheets upon which holograms are to be formed. In that case the motor 65 could be omitted. It will be understood that numerous changes may be made in the implementation of the inventive technique, without departing from its basic concepts. For example, in place of the X, Y galvanometers 17, 18 there may be used other low-inertia two-axis beam deflectors. Figure 5, to which reference may now be made, shows another embodiment of such a beam deflector designated by reference numeral 70. Two such deflectors 70 are provided in accordance with the invention. One is used in place of galvanometer 17 and the other is used in place of galvanometer 18 for controllably deflecting the beam halves IHP-PT004WO -18- 29 and 31 onto the collimating lenses 35, 39. These beam deflectors 70 comprise acousto-optic crystals 71, 72 in an X-Y configuration, which deflect the beam halves arriving along paths 29 and 31, respectively, in the same manner as galvanometers 17, 18 in response to control signals from PC 10. Such deflectors 70 are available from NEOS Technologies Inc. of Melbourne, Florida 32904. Still another embodiment of a suitable two-axis beam deflector is shown in Figure 6, designated by reference numeral 80. Two such beam deflectors 80 are provided. One is used in place of galvanometer 17 and the other in place of galvanometer 18 for controllably deflecting beam halves 29 and 31 onto the collimating lenses 35, 39, respectively. These beam deflectors 80 comprise two piezo-electronic transducers 81, 82, which are used to tilt a rnirror 83 in two mutuaUy perpendicular directions. These piezo-electronic transducers are controUed by the PC 10 so as to properly position the mirror 83. Such deflectors 80 are available from Kinetic Ceramics, Inc. Hayward, California 94595. Still other possible modifications involve replacing prisms 36 and 40 with a single prism (not shown) having a reflective coating on its outer surface, or with face coated mirrors, or with other types of reflectors to achieve the 90° redirection of the two rnirror image beam halves 50, 51 which has been previously described. Also galvanometers 17, 18 could be placed at different locations, such as at the locations of mirrors 28 and 30, provided that t he beam halves continue to be deflected and recombined to form the required interference pattern at the pixel location 43. IHP-PT004WO -19- As previously explained, by controlling both of the beam deflecting means, such as X, Y galvanometers 17, 18 by the same signals, the beam halves 54, 55 which are reunited at the pixel locations wiU arrive there from diametrically opposite orientations. However, it is also possible to use control signals which are different from each other at the beam deflecting means. This will cause the reuniting beam halves 54, 55 to arrive from orientations which are no longer diametrically opposite to each other. Of course, the resulting maximum holographic directions of a given pixel will still be at orientations which bisect the angles between the orientations of the reuniting beam halves 54, 55. StiU other modifications could be made by those skiUed in the art without departing from the present inventive concept. It is understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims: IHP-PT004WO -20- What is claimed is: 1. A system for ablating a workpiece with a laser beam to produce holographic pixels with contioUable maximum holographic directions and colorations, said system including: a plurality of system components which collectively determine said maximum holographic directions and colorations, only two of said components having properties which are contioUable to vary said directions or colorations for different pixels. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said only two components are a pair of low- inertia, two-axis beam deflecting means. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said components other than said only two components do not have properties which are controllable to vary said directions or colorations for different pixels. 4. The system of claim2, wherein said only two components are apair of two- axis galvanometers having mirrors which are moveable to contioUably deflect said laser beam. IHP-PT004WO -21- 5. The system of claim 4, wherein means are provided to produce electronic control signals which, when applied to said galvanometers, contioUably move their mirrors to deflect said laser beam. 6. The system of claim 3, further comprising means for dividing said laser beam into halves and utilizing said beam deflecting means to direct said halves toward each other from opposite directions and means for electronically controlling said deflecting means to deflect said opposite direction beam halves. 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising means for reuniting said beam halves after having been directed toward each other by said beam deflecting means. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said reuniting means include means for causing said directed beam halves to follow parallel paths; and means for causing said parallel beam halves to converge at the pixel locations. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein said paralleling means is constructed and arranged to parallel said beam halves after they have been directed by such deflecting means. IHP-PT004WO -22- 10. The system of claim 9, comprising means for redirecting said oppositely directed beam halves towards said converging means. 11.' The system of claim 10, wherein said redirecting means is constructed and arranged to preserve the azimuthal relationship and spacing between said deflected and paralleled beam halves. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein said paralleling means includes a collimating lens means in each path followed by the beam half from the respective deflecting means; and said redirecting means include means for turning each said coUimated beam half by 90° and into the same direction. 13. The method of ablating a workpiece using the system of claim 1. 14. In a system for forming interference patterns in a workpiece surface through laser ablation of the surface: means for dividing the beam from said laser into separate halves; means for guiding said halves along different paths toward said surface; and means for reuniting said halves at said surface with sufficient power to ablate said surface; IHP-PT004WO -23- said guiding means including beam half deflecting means stationed at predetermined locations along each path, said locations being unvarying in azimuthal orientation relative to said surface; and at least one of said guiding means including low-inertia means for contioUably deflecting its guided beam half in directions deviating from its said path. 15. The system of claim 14 wherein said deflection directions are mutually perpendicular. 16. The system of claim 14 wherein said separate beam halves are reunited at said surface arriving from different azimuthal orientations relative to said surface. 17. The system of claim 3 wherein said low-inertia deflecting means are constructed and arranged to determine the azimuthal orientations from which the beam halves deflected by said low inertia means arrive at said surface. 18. The system of claim 16 further comprising second low inertia means for contioUably deflecting the other guided beam half from its said path. 19. The system of claim 18 wherein said controllable deflecting means are so constructed and arranged that they respond to equal control signals to deflect their IHP-PT004WO -24- respective guided beam portions by essentially the same amounts in mutually perpendicular directions, respectively. 20. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for directing said contioUably deflected beam portions to reunite at said surface arriving from said different azimuthal orientations, respectively. 21. The system of claim 14 wherein said low-inertia means is a two-axis galvanometer. 22. The system of claim 18 wherein said second low-inertia means is also a two-axis galvanometer. 23. The system of claim 14 wherein said low inertia means is a two-axis piezoelectric beam deflector. 24. The system of claim 14 wherein said low inertia is a two-axis acousto-optic beam deflector.

Inventors: HEATH ANTHONY W, MONAGHAN BRIAN J, HEATH, ANTHONY, W., MONAGHAN, BRIAN, J.
Applicants: PENNSYLVANIA PULP & PAPER CO, PENNSYLVANIA PULP & PAPER CO.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: G03H1
IPC codes: G03H1