LIGHT BEAM GENERATION AND FOCUSING DEVICE

摘要

An improved light beam generation and focusing device (15, 50) is disclosed. The device has a light source (16, 51) constructed and arranged to emit at least one beam of light (20), and a lens assembly (17, 19, 56) constructed and arranged to focus the at least one beam of light on a surface plane. The device is constructed and arranged to sequentially direct the at least one beam of light to at least two spaced locations (21, 21') on the surface plane. The lens assembly comprises a collimating lens (17), and a spaced focusing lens (19). The collimating lens may comprise a micro-lens, and more preferably a cylindrical micro-lens mounted on the light source. In a first embodiment, the device is provided with a beam steering device (28) having a beam steering optical element (29), and a drive assembly (31) for actuating the beam steering optical element such that the at least one beam of light is directed to the at least two spaced locations on the surface plane. In a second embodiment, the device is provided with a plurality of light sources mounted to a mounting block (52), each light source emitting a separate beam of light to separate focal points, respectively, on the surface plane.