Holographic high resolution contact printer

Abstract

A holograph high resolution contact printer for use in transferring high resolution information, which is in the form of a pattern on a transparency, from the transparency to the light-sensitive photoresist material front surface of a light-recording medium having a light insensitive substrate rear surface, in which the light-sensitive photoresist surface previously has been exposed to a preselected diffraction grating, but the recording medium has not been developed. The contact printing apparatus, in its most basic and generic preferred embodiment, includes: a light emitting source, in which the emitted light need not be coherent; a light-impervious member, disposed forward of the emitted light, having a circular aperture through which passes a portion of the emitted light; a double convex lens forward of, and in optical alignment with, the aperture of the light-impervious member, with the passed portion of the emitted light impinging upon the lens; a selectively rotatable diffuser, positioned forward of and in optical alignment with the lens, with light transmitted by the lens impinging upon the rotating diffuser and, in turn, being transmitted by the diffuser; and, appropriate component(s), forward of and in optical alignment with the diffuser, for holding and supporting the transparency and the light-sensitive recircling medium in abutting contact, with the accomplishment of the desired result of transferring the information pattern that is on the transparency to the light-sensitive recording medium, when the diffused light impinges upon, and is transmitted through, the transparency. After development of the recording medium, a relief forms on the photoresist. This relief records, in the depth of the material etched away, the high resolution now stored in and on the recording medium. Unlike the prior art, this contact printer permits the storage, the display, and the duplication of high resolution information on frames as large as 9-inches by 9-inches, or in the format of 9-inch continuous web data.