Low Cost, PC-Based Diffractive Optical Element Mask Generator and Frabricator

Diffractive Optical Elements (DOEs) are finding applications in areas of Artifical Intelligence, optical computing, interferometry, holographic optical elements and mask and lens fabrication. However, research and development has been hampered by the lack of an affordable and practical method of printing computer generated DOEs. Silhouette Technology has developed a new technology to make a low cost, reliable, PC based, DOE film printer offering a high space-bandwidth product. The device offers performance which exceeds the capability of existing systems such as electron beam recorders and laser printers. It will be able to print with a resolution of 2 microns and a positioning accuracy of less than 1 micron. The system output will be directly to film and provide hard copy and photoresist printing. A complete system is proposed that offers software to print and generate computer generated DOEs.