Patent ID: 8670172

Claim:
A method for generating a substantially one-dimensional scan line image in response to received image data, the method comprising: generating homogenous light such that the homogenous light forms one or more substantially uniform two-dimensional homogenous light fields; separating the received image data into two or more portions such that a first image data portion of the image data corresponds to a first scan line portion of the scan line image, and a second image data portion of the image data corresponds to a first scan line portion of the scan line image; controlling first and second pluralities of modulating elements using the first and second image data portions, each of the first and second pluralities of modulating elements being disposed in a two-dimensional array in the one or more homogenous light fields, wherein each modulating element of the first plurality of modulating elements is individually controlled by the first image data portion to generate first modulated light forming a first two-dimensional modulated light field, and wherein each modulating element of the second plurality of modulating elements is individually controlled by the second image data portion to generate second modulated light forming a second two-dimensional modulated light field; and anamorphically imaging and concentrating the first modulated light portions and the second modulated light portions such that the anamorphically imaged and concentrated first modulated light portions generate a first scan line portion and the anamorphically imaged and concentrated second modulated light portions generate a second scan line portion, and such that the first and second scan line portions collectively form at least a portion of said substantially one-dimensional scan line image, wherein the first plurality of light modulating elements are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein each said column includes an associated group of said first plurality of light modulating elements, wherein controlling the first plurality of modulating elements comprises adjusting each modulating element of the first plurality of modulating elements into one of a first modulated state, in which said each modulating element modulates an associated received homogenous light portion of said homogenous light such that an associated modulated light portion is directed in a corresponding predetermined direction, and a second modulated state in which said each modulating element modulates the associated received homogenous light portion such that the associated modulated light portion is prevented from passing along said corresponding predetermined direction, and wherein anamorphically concentrating the first modulated ht portions comprises concentrating said first modulated light portions received from each associated group of said first plurality of light modulating elements of each said column onto an associated imaging region of said first scan line portion.