Method and apparatus for multibeam scanning

摘要

A rotating multibeam imaging unit (140) contains a plurality of image sources fixed within it such that the radiation emitted from the sources is shaped and directed to a writing surface (114) fixed inside a beam-scanning imagesetter (100), without the crossing of the projected multiple beams (150). Control of the rotating multibeam imaging unit (140) and of the radiation emitted by the image sources makes use of a communication link (182) which can be used for transmission to the unit of power, control information, and beam modulation data, and can be bi-directional to provide status information for closed loop operation. The rotating multibeam imaging unit (140) can include an internal power source such as a battery and/or a generator driven by the rotation of the unit. The communication link (182) can be implemented with or without physical contact between the stationary and rotating elements, employing for example a fiber optic carrier which emits energy to a photo-detector receiver attached to the rotating multibeam imaging unit (140). <IMAGE>