Digital masking system, pattern imaging apparatus and digital masking method

Abstract

A digital masking system includes a supporting structure for supporting a material, and a pattern imaging apparatus. The pattern imaging apparatus includes a light source device, multiple imaging devices that convert light from the light source device into a plurality of light beams each representing an image, and a combiner that combines the light beams into a single light beam which is projected toward a material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A digital masking system for forming an image pattern on at least one layer of a material comprising:
 a supporting structure for supporting the at least one layer of the material; and   a pattern imaging apparatus that includes:
 a light source device, and configured to provide a group of light components; 
 a group of imaging devices, and disposed to respectively receive and convert the light components into a group of light beams each representing an image; and 
 a combiner disposed to receive and combine the light beams into a single light beam output that is projected toward the at least one layer of the material supported by said supporting structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The digital masking system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said imaging devices has a maximum power input limit;
 wherein power of each of the light components is smaller than or equal to the maximum power input limit; and   wherein a sum of the power of the light components is greater than the maximum power input limit.   
     
     
         3 . The digital masking system of  claim 2 , wherein the light components have substantially the same wavelength spectrum. 
     
     
         4 . The digital masking system of  claim 1 , wherein the images represented by the light beams are identical, and the images represented by the light beams that are combined into the single light beam output completely overlap each other on the at least one layer of the material. 
     
     
         5 . The digital masking system of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging devices are configured such that at least some of the images represented by the light beams overlap each other except for edge portions thereof on the material. 
     
     
         6 . The digital masking system of  claim 1 , wherein the light components have substantially the same wavelength spectrum. 
     
     
         7 . The digital masking system of  claim 1 , wherein said combiner has a plurality of combiner elements, each having a pair of connection surfaces opposite to each other, and a plurality mount surfaces each of which connects the connection surfaces;
 wherein for each of said combiner elements, one of said connection surfaces thereof is connected to one of said connection surfaces of another one of said combiner elements, and said combiner elements are connected in series; and   wherein said imaging devices are disposed such that each of the light beams is provided into said combiner through an individual one of said mount surfaces of said combiner elements, and said combiner outputs the single light beam output from a terminal one of said connection surfaces of said combiner elements that are connected in series.   
     
     
         8 . The digital masking system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the light components have substantially different wavelength spectrums. 
     
     
         9 . The digital masking system of  claim 1 , wherein said light source device is further configured to provide at least one additional group of light components;
 wherein said pattern imaging apparatus includes at least one additional group of imaging devices, said imaging devices of the at least one additional group of imaging devices being configured to respectively receive and convert the light components of the at least one additional group of light components into a plurality of additional light beams each representing an image and cooperatively constituting at least one additional group of light beams;   wherein said pattern imaging apparatus includes at least one additional combiner disposed to receive and combine the light beams of the at least one additional group of light beams into at least one additional single light beam output that is projected toward the at least one layer of the material, the single light beam output and the at least one additional single light beam output being projected onto the at least one layer of the material at substantially different positions.   
     
     
         10 . The digital masking system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said imaging devices are realized using different imaging technologies. 
     
     
         11 . A pattern imaging apparatus for patterning a material, comprising:
 a light source device configured to provide a plurality of light components;   a plurality of imaging devices disposed to respectively receive and convert the light components into a plurality of light beams each representing an image; and   a combiner disposed to receive and combine the light beams into a single light beam output that is projected toward the material.   
     
     
         12 . The pattern imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a housing on which said light source device, said imaging devices and said combiner are mounted, wherein said combiner is disposed to project the single light beam output outward of said housing. 
     
     
         13 . The pattern imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each of said imaging devices has a maximum power input limit;
 wherein power of each of the light components is smaller than or equal to the maximum power input limit; and   wherein a sum of the powers of the light components is greater than the maximum power input limit.   
     
     
         14 . The pattern imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said imaging devices are configured such that at least some of the images represented by the light beams overlap each other except for edge portions thereof on the material. 
     
     
         15 . The pattern imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said combiner has a plurality of combiner elements, each having a pair of connection surfaces opposite to each other, and a plurality mount surfaces each of which connects the connection surfaces;
 wherein for each of said combiner elements, one of said connection surfaces thereof is connected to one of said connection surfaces of another one of said combiner elements, and said combiner elements are connected in series; and   wherein said imaging devices are disposed such that each of the light beams is provided into said combiner through an individual one of said mount surfaces of said combiner elements, and said combiner outputs the single light beam output from a terminal one of said connection surfaces of said combiner elements that are connected in series.   
     
     
         16 . A digital masking method, comprising:
 providing a plurality of light components;   receiving and converting the light components into a plurality of light beams each representing an image;   receiving and combining the light beams into a single light beam output; and   projecting the single light beam output toward a material.   
     
     
         17 . The digital masking method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the imaging devices has a maximum power input limit;
 wherein power of each of the light components is smaller than or equal to the maximum power input limit; and   wherein a sum of the power of the light components is greater than the maximum power input limit.   
     
     
         18 . The digital masking method of  claim 17 , wherein the light components have substantially the same wavelength spectrum. 
     
     
         19 . The digital masking method of  claim 16 , wherein the images represented by the light beams are identical, and the images represented by the light beams that are combined into the single light beam output completely overlap each other on the material. 
     
     
         20 . The digital masking method of  claim 16 , wherein at least some of the images represented by the light beams overlap each other except for edge portions thereof on the material.