Agfa Corporation

Other

Bryan Comeau

Philip A Rombult

Jeffrey S Knox

Roy D Allen

David Joel Romano

Dwayne Bailey

An alignment detection system is disclosed for determining whether a modulated illumination field in an imaging system employing an illumination modulator is mis-aligned. The alignment detection system includes a modulator adjustment unit for providing a test pattern on the illumination modulator, a detector for receiving a modulated illumination field from the illumination modulator, a sampling unit for determining at least two sample values (A and C) for each of two areas of the modulated illumination field respectively, and an evaluation unit for determining whether the value |A&#x2212;C| is greater than a threshold value.

System and method for determining the alignment quality in an illumination system that includes an illumination modulator

A modulation quality detection system is disclosed for determining the modulation quality of an illumination modulator in an imaging system. The modulation quality detection system includes a modulator adjustment unit for providing a test pattern on the illumination modulator, a detector for receiving a modulated illumination field from the illumination modulator, a sampling unit for determining at least three sample values (A, B and C) for each of three areas of the modulated illumination field respectively, and an evaluation unit for determining whether the valueis greater than a threshold value.

System and method for determining the modulation quality of an illumination modulator in an imaging system

A calibration system for a platesetter or imagesetter is applicable to systems that have a media drum and a carriage, including a light source and a spatial light modulator for selectively exposing the media that is held against the drum. The invention can be applied to internal or external drum systems. The calibration system comprises a calibration sensor that is scanned relative to the spatial light modulator. The controller then analyzes the response of the calibration sensor to generate calibration information that is used to configure the spatial light modulator. The use of this calibration sensor allows for job-to-job calibration of the spatial light modulator, in one example, that ensures; the generation of a high quality images, without banding, for example, on the media. This calibration system is also used to detect a best focus position for projection optics by measuring a contrast ratio between exposure and dark levels for various focus settings. It selects the best focus position in response to the contrast ratio.

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Atkinson, NH, United States of America

Bryan Comeau