Scanning system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A scanning system which includes a rotatable multifaceted polygon having an angle .
phi.
between adjacent facet edges, the faceted surfaces of which are optically reflective; a recording means spaced-apart from the said polygon and adapted to move in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the polygon; light generating means for generating at least 2 light beams, directing means for directing the 2 light beams at different angles onto the faceted surface and in contact with each other at said faceted surface in a non-overlapping relationship; modulating means for modulating the said at least two light beams; and first focussing means interposed between the said polygon and the said recording means for focussing said two light beams reflected from the said polygon onto the said recording means to produce two complete scans of the recording means for a single angle rotation .
phi.
of the polygon.
2.
A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light generating means include lasing means for generating at least one light beam; second focussing means for focussing each light beam onto an associated aperture of the modulating means; collimating means for collimating each of the modulating light beams; said directing means comprising beam splitting means for splitting each of the collimated light beams into two light beams, one light beam of each pair being applied directly onto the faceted surface, and deflection means for deflecting the other light beam onto the faceted surface.
3.
A scanning system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the light generating means include lasing means for generating at least one light beam capable of being sequentially switched in a linear manner; focussing means for focussing each of the sequentially switched light beams onto an associated aperture of the modulating means; collimating means for collimating the sequentially switched modulated light beams; beam splitting means adapted to divide each of the sequentially switched, collimated light beams into two light beams