LASER SYSTEM FOR GENERATING SEGMENTED LINE BEAM

A laser system for generating a segmented line beam includes a laser module emitting an input laser beam, and a one-dimensional array of prisms, or mirrors, that splits the input laser beam into a respective plurality of output laser beams propagating in a common plane but diverging from each other, in the common plane, when propagating away from the array of prisms. A field lens, or mirror, projects the output laser beams onto a target plane to form a segmented line beam at the target plane. The laser system is energy efficient by splitting rather than masking the input laser beam. The laser system is capable of achieving superior segment-to-segment consistency and can be configured to produce each segment with a top-hat intensity distribution. Furthermore, the laser system can be reconfigured with relative ease to meet different requirements in terms of segment length and width as well as segment-to-segment spacings.