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In scanning devices used for opto-mechanical processing of a substrate covered with a photo-sensitive material, it is highly desirable to be able to achieve accurate control of the carriage utilized for scanning the substrate. To accomplish this, the carriage is moved along a rectilinear guide by us

In scanning devices used for opto-mechanical processing of a substrate covered with a photo-sensitive material, it is highly desirable to be able to achieve accurate control of the carriage utilized for scanning the substrate. To accomplish this, the carriage is moved along a rectilinear guide by use of a linear motor, preferably under computer control. The linear motor includes a winding which is composed of a number of isolated conductors attached to the rectilinear guide orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the guide. The winding is connected to the control computer through a controllable current source. The linear motor also includes a solid-state commutator coupled to magnetically propel the carriage in accordance with current supplied to the winding from the controllable current source based on instructions from the control computer.

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1. An automatic scanning device for the opto-mechanical processing of a substrate covered with photo-sensitive material, by means of optical components supported by a carriage moving along a rectilinear guide, comprising: a light source generating a light beam; optical means mounted on said carr

1. An automatic scanning device for the opto-mechanical processing of a substrate covered with photo-sensitive material, by means of optical components supported by a carriage moving along a rectilinear guide, comprising: a light source generating a light beam; optical means mounted on said carriage for guiding the beam generated by the source onto said substrate; control means; a position measuring device coupled to determine the position of the carriage and to provide such position information to the control means; a magnet coupled to the carriage; and a linear motor comprising a winding, composed of a number of isolated conductors, attached to said rectilinear guide orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of said guide, and connected to said control means through a controllable current source, and a solid-state commutator coupled to magnetically propel the carriage in a controlled fashion in accordance with current supplied to the winding from said controllable current source based on instructions from said control means. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said control means is a control computer. 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said light source is a laser light source, and further comprising means for intensity modulating said laser light source to generate said light beam. 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a drum, rotating about its central axis. 5. A device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one contactless bearing to support said carriage. 6. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a pneumatic carriage support and guidance bearings for said carriage. 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said rectilinear guide is comprised of a soft highly permeable magnetic material, and wherein said linear motor winding is comprised of a two-layer printed circuit board, bearing on both sides a repetitive pattern of S-shaped conductors, attached to said rectilinear guide through a thin layer of isolating material. 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said position measuring device comprises an optical grating with a resolution of the order of 1 micrometer, and a detector transmitting its data to said control means. 9. A device according to claim 2, wherein said light souce is a laser light source, and further comprising means for intensity modulating said laser light source to generate said light beam. 10. A device according to claim 2, wherein said substrate comprises a drum, rotating about its central axis. 11. A device according to claim 2, further comprising at least one contactless bearing to support said carriage. 12. A device according to claim 2, further comprising a pneumatic carriage support and guidance bearings for said carriage. 13. A device according to claim 2, wherein said rectilinear guide is comprised of a soft highly permeable magnetic material, and wherein said linear motor winding is comprised of a two-layer printed circuit board, bearing on bith sides a repetitive pattern of S-shaped conductors, attached to said rectilinear guide through a thin layer of isolating material. 14. A device according to claim 2, wherein said position measuring device comprises an optical grating with a resolution of the order of 1 micrometer, and a detector transmitting its data to said control means. 15. A device according to claim 3, wherein said substrate comprises a drum, rotating about its central axis. 16. A device according to claim 4, further comprising at least one contactless bearing to support said carriage. 17. A device according to claim 16, further comprising a pneumatic carriage support and guidance bearings for said carriage. 18. An automatic scanning device for the opto-mechanical processing of a substrate covered with photo-sensitive material, said substrate comprising a drum rotating about its central axis, said processing being accomplished by means of optical components supported by a carriage moving along a rectilinear guide, comprising: a light source for generating a light beam; optical means mounted on said carriage for guiding the beam generated by the source onto said substrate; a control computer; a position measuring device coupled to determine the position of the carriage and to provide said position information to said control computer, said position measuring device comprising an optical grating and a detector transmitting its data to said control computer; a magnet coupled to said carriage; and a linear motor comprising a winding, composed of a number of isolated conductors, attached to said rectilinear guide orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of said guide, and connected to said control computer through a controllable current source, and a solid-state commutator coupled to magnetically propel the carriage in a controlled fashion in accordance with current supplied to the winding from said controllable current source based on instructions from said control computer, said linear motor winding further comprising a two-layer printed circuit board, bearing on both sides a repetitive pattern of S-shaped conductors, attached to said rectilinear guide through a thin layer of isolating material. 19. A method for controlling and steering the scanning for the opto-mechanical processing of a substrate covered with a photo-sensitive material utilizing an automatic scanning device having optical components supported by a carriage moving along a rectilinear guide, comprising: generating a light beam; guiding the light beam onto said substrate by optical means mounted on said carriage; determining the position of said carriage and providing this positional information to a control means; controlling the movement of the carriage utilizing a linear motor coupled to the control means through a controllable current source, said linear motor comprising a winding, composed of a number of isolated conductors, attached to said rectilinear guide orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of said guide, and connected to said control means through a controllable current source, and a solid-state commutator coupled to magnetically propel the carriage by magnetically coupling to a magnet mounted on said carriage in a controlled fashion in accordance with current supplied to the winding from said controllable current source based on instructions from said control means. 20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the carriage position is determined by using an optical grating with a resolution of the order of 1 micrometer and a detector transmitting its data to said control computer. 21. A method according to claim 19, wherein said conductors disposed orthogonally to the axis of said rectilinear guide are etched as a printed circuit onto a yoke of soft iron disposed on said rectilinear guide. 22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the winding is composed of a repetitive pattern of identical S-shaped curves, connected at their extremities by means of through-plating, so as to form a winding conductor. 23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the conductors of the printed circuit consist of a 70 micrometer metallization of copper or silver. 24. A method according to claim 21, wherein the winding is attached to the rectilinear guide by means of a thin isolating layer. 25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the winding is attached to the rectilinear guide by gluing.