Grating matrix recording system

Not Applicable A dot matrix system, which uses an electronic display panel as a diffractive optical device to produce two laser beams. The interference pattern of these two beams, at the focal plane of a lens, forms a grating spot with a shape and beam profile determined by the wavefronts diffracted by the electronic display device. The invention uniquely combines aspects of the interfering beam prior art and the prior art using an imaging display. Instead of simply reducing a diffraction image on a display device as in the imaging display prior art, the invention puts two different Fourier transforms on the display, the laser beam interacts with these Fourier transforms, and a lens focuses the two beams on the recording medium, with the two beams interfering with each other to produce the desired grating pattern. Because multiple orders of the wavefront will be produced by the display device, a light blocking element is used, with an aperture to pass only the desired order(s) of the beams.