Abstract: A position sensor includes a light-source-and-light-emitting structure that emits light from each of an emitter plurality of light emitters. Light from the light emitters is received by light collectors in the lateral surfaces of two light collecting optical fibers or other light-collector structures, each in a parallel but spaced-apart relation to the light-source-and-light-emitting structure and axially spaced apart from each other. The light emitting structure and the light collectors are preferably optical fibers. An opaque light shield lies between and moves parallel relative to the light-source-and-light-emitting structure and the light collectors. A sensor readout receives the light outputs from each of the light collectors, and provides a responsive sensor output indicative of the position of the light shield.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented for processing a set of image data points representing an image and being detected by a detector array having array elements wherein each array element is responsive to only one of a first or a second color.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for electronically sensing a negative and a positive in a novel integral film structure of the instant development type using light of different wavelengths so as to produce reflected light from the negative and the positive which are indicative of the luminance characteristics and the chrominance characteristics of the image. The novel integral film structure has a filter which allows the negative to be scanned. Specifically, the filter transmits incident infrared radiation to which silver halide emulsion layers are sensitive and blocks the transmission of radiation in the range of wavelengths to which the silver halide emulsion layers are sensitive.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided which can control an intensity level of an exposing device so that a desired pixel density is consistently disposed on a correct location on an image recording medium. Specifically, within a printing apparatus, even channel circuitry controls the intensity level of the exposing device during exposure of even numbered pixels on the image recording medium and an odd channel circuitry controls the intensity level of the exposing device during the exposure of odd numbered pixels on the image recording medium.

Abstract: A photographic film image carrying element is housed in a cartridge having a strip wound around a spool in the cartridge, where the strip includes a leader protruding from the cartridge, the image carrying element, a leader barrier for physically and chemically separating the leader from the image carrying element, a first reagent laden web, a first barrier for physically and chemically separating the image carrying element from the first reagent laden web, a second reagent laden web, and a second barrier for physically and chemically separating the first reagent laden web from the second reagent laden web. The second reagent laden web is attached to the spool.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for electronically sensing a negative and a positive in a novel integral film structure of the instant development type using light of different wavelengths so as to produce reflected light from the negative and the positive which are indicative of the luminance characteristics and the chrominance characteristics of the image. The novel integral film structure has a filter which allows the negative to be scanned. Specifically, the filter transmits incident radiation in the range of wavelengths other than a select range of wavelengths to which silver halide emulsion layers are sensitive and blocks the transmission of radiation in the range of wavelengths to which the silver halide emulsion layers are sensitive.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus improves the physical and electrical soldering bond between two electronic components by fluctuating the pressure of a non-oxidizing gas in a chamber which houses the two electronic components throughout a period when the solder has been made molten. This results in the solder effectively filling all crevices and grooves present on the surfaces being soldered. The method is particularly advantageous for soldering a ridge wave-guide laser diode P-side down to a heat sink to improve power capability, longevity and performance of the laser diode.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a novel index-guided laser or laser array by MOCVD in a single growth step. A ridge or a number of ridges are first fabricated by dry or wet etching on a GaAs wafer; and n-and p-type epitaxial layers including cladding layers and an active layer are then grown on the entire wafer surface, forming the laser structure. One or more current blocking layers are incorporated into an upper cladding layer which is grown after the active layer. Due to migration-enhanced dopant incorporation and dopant diffusion during the growth, the current blocking layer is rendered ineffective in the vicinity of the ridges, thus forming a laterally restricted current path for carrier injection. The laser is index-guided on the ridges. This laser structure is extremely simple to produce since it requires no further photolithographic masking steps after growth, only metallization.

Abstract: A scanning system includes a scanner mirror driven in a substantially linear pivoting movement by a galvanometer excited with a substantially sawtooth current waveform, the mirror directing a pilot beam in a scanning movement along a photographic film located upon a diffraction grid which forms a part of a holder of the film. The film is transparent to the pilot beam, and is encircled by a frame defining a window for viewing the film. The grid is composed of a repeating sequence of groups of rulings oriented in different directions resulting in correspondingly different directions of the diffracted beam, upon illumination of the grid by the pilot beam. An array of detectors detects the direction of the diffracted beam, which is employed as a feedback signal to accurately locate the pilot beam, to provide fine position data of the pilot beam.

Abstract: Novel solid state gain mediums provide monolithic lasers with short cavity lengths and with the ability to efficiently lase in the lowest order TEM.sub.00 mode. Unoptimized optical power conversion efficiency of 35% has been achieved with the novel solid state gain mediums in monolithic lasers that have a cavity length as short as 0.5 mm. With proper values for the output mirror reflectivity and low loss host crystals, the optical power conversion efficiency is approximately 50%. Moreover, when in optical contact with a frequency doubling optically non linear crystal, the novel solid state gain mediums in the monolithic lasers can produce coherent visible light.

Abstract: A crystalline material for use in a solid state tunable laser is YAG:Mn wherein the Mn is predominantly trivalent. The laser is tunable in the yellow-orange range (0.59-0.63 .mu.m) and the near infrared range (1.04-1.2 .mu.m).

Abstract: An electrooptic assembly for a light modulator, suitable for use in a printer, is constructed as a sequence of film-type layers of electrooptic material, particularly PLZT, supported upon a transparent substrate and having comb-electrode structures disposed as electrode layers at all of the interfaces between the layers of electrooptic material. The electrooptic layers and the electrode layers are readily fabricated by photolithography. A polarizer and an analyzer with crossed polarization axes are disposed on opposite sides of the electrooptic assembly along an optical path to provide, with the electrooptic assembly, an electrooptic modulator. Light passes via the optical path through the modulator upon energization of electrodes with an electric field transverse to a common direction of the electrodes.

Abstract: A dispenser of film units is operative with a film processing apparatus enclosed within a housing. The housing includes a front sidewall having an exit slot for the delivery of film units, the dispenser including a film ejection device located behind the slot for ejecting film units out of the housing via the slot. The ejection device may include rotating pressure rolls which may also serve a function in the film processing. The dispenser includes a catcher constructed of a four-bar mechanical linkage, and includes a spring urging the catcher from an extended state away from the sidewall to a retracted state contiguous to the sidewall. The catcher is supported pivotally by a strut assembly which pivots from the sidewall and connects to pivots on both the catcher and the sidewall. A flap interconnects the tray with the sidewall. An articulation pivot permits a folding of the flap against the tray during retraction of the catcher.

Abstract: Improved digital image processing circuitry for sharpening edges and details of a recorded image digitally while minimizing the amplification of noise in the input recorded image provides an output recorded image which is the sum of chrominance signals processed by color processing circuitry and luminance signals processed by color processing circuitry and sharpness circuitry. Input recorded images are provided for concurrent parallel processing by both the color processing circuitry and the sharpening circuitry in a manner whereby the color processing circuitry generates low spatial frequency luminance signals and the sharpness circuitry generates high spatial frequency luminance signals both of which are subsequently combined to provide an output signal in which the amplitude of the high spatial frequency noise component associated therewith is minimized.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for rendering scene information in images having a large dynamic range, i.e. sunny and shady areas. The method takes particular advantage of image segmentation and computations employed in compression of images for electronic still photography. In distinguishing large areas, the method selectively adjusts the brightness of all portions of the area without necessarily preserving contrast which avoids halo artifacts. Those portions in areas of intermediate size are subjected to a smoothing feature which avoids the production of artifacts in the form of a line at the boundary.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a process for manufacturing an optical fiber coupler of the invention utilizes a rotating drum that has a sloted portion or stacking slot for receiving multiple lengths of fiber in a stack. A support for the input ends of the fibers is in the form of a block which is secured to the surface of the drum in spaced relation with the slot. The block has a plurality of shallow, parallel spaced apart grooves in parallel alignment with the stacking slot. An end of the fiber is initially threaded preferably into the stacking slot and then sequentially located alternately in vacant grooves in the support. As the drum is rotated, a positioner operates to move the fiber transversely in the direction parallel to the drum axis so as to align the fiber in each respective one of the grooves and the slot for each rotation of the drum. The process continues until all the grooves are all occupied and the stacking slot is filled with a corresponding number of fiber lengths.

Abstract: A method for processing a field of image data samples to provide for one or more of the functions of decimation, interpolation, and sharpening is accomplished by use of an array transform processor such as that employed in a JPEG compression system. Blocks of data samples are transformed by the discrete even cosine transform (DECT) in both the decimation and interpolation processes, after which the number of frequency terms is altered. In the case of decimation, the number of frequency terms is reduced, this being followed by inverse transformation to produce a reduced-size matrix of sample points representing the original block of data. In the case of interpolation, additional frequency components of zero value are inserted into the array of frequency components after which inverse transformation produces an enlarged data sampling set without an increase in spectral bandwidth.

Abstract: An up converting method and apparatus includes a crystalline structure responsive to light emitted from pump light for producing visible and/or ultraviolet light therefrom which is of a shorter wavelength than the pump light. This crystalline structure comprises a composition containing active ions of trivalent rare earth elements and a host material of either anhydrous rare earth halides or rare earth oxysulfides. This crystalline structure is represented by the atomic formula M.sub.(1-x) R.sub.x Z.sub.3 or M.sub.2(1-x) R.sub.2x O.sub.2 S where M comprises at least one rare earth element selected from the group comprising cerium, gadolinium, yttrium, lanthanum, and mixtures thereof, R is a dopant selected from the group comprising neodymium, thulium, erbium, holmium, samarium, and mixtures thereof, x is a value in the range from 0.005 to 1.0, and Z is a halogen selected from the group comprising chlorine, bromine, and iodine.