Abstract: A hologon scanner system in which a pair of laser beams which are collinear with each other are deflected by a common hologon scanner. The beams are initially linearly polarized in orthogonal directions and are combined in a polarization sensitive beam combiner so that they are collinear. The combined beams are passed through a quarter-wave plate (the laser beams both being of the same wavelength) so as to circularly polarize them in opposite hands. The combined circularly polarized beams may be modulated to change their intensity. Such modulation may be provided by an acousto-optic diffraction grating modulator. The modulated beams are then directed to the hologon deflector and are scanned across the image surface. The modulator is also part of a closed loop feedback system with a detector which responds to positional variations of the image surface due to its transport system and deflects the beam to compensate for such position variations.

Abstract: An integrated laser scanning system for scanning a modulated beam across an image surface, which may be a receptor on which the image is scanned, is provided by a rigid housing having a central plate and walls which define a plurality of cells on opposite sides of the central plate, some of which may extend through the central plate. A deflector, preferably having a rotatable hologon, a laser and optical components, including an assembly of components for processing and modulating the laser beam, are mounted in different ones of the cells and define a beam path which is folded and extends in one direction over the central plate and in an opposite direction out of the housing toward the image surface.

Abstract: A raster output scanner having a recording member, a laser, a total internal reflection type modulator having an array of independently addressable electrodes, optical means cooperable with the laser to provide a sheetlike beam of high intensity radiation at the modulator, the array of electrodes being pulsed in succession with each image pixel to provide wave after wave of imaging or non-imaging beams, a scanning polygon for scanning the imaging beams from the modulator across the recording member line by line, and means for pulsing the modulator electrodes at a speed equal to the speed of the scanning polygon and in a direction opposite to the polygon scanning direction to obviate image blur.

Abstract: A unitary assembly of a hologon scanner disc or spinner, a motor for rotating the disc and a lens for focusing the deflected laser beam on an image surface. A housing including a base plate and a cover removably mounted on the base plate, encloses the hologon disc. The base plate has a surface with respect to which the position of the hologon disc and lens is referenced. The cover has a platform on which lenses are interchangably mounted, such that, each lens has the correct position and orientation with respect to the entrance pupil of the scanner system. The hologon disc is also removably mounted on the shaft of the motor and referenced against a shoulder of the shaft which is precisely spaced with respect to the reference surface of the base plate of the housing. The hologon deflector facets of different discs which are mounted on the shaft always have the same alignment with respect to the lens and the laser beam which is incident thereon.

Abstract: A hologon scanner system in which a laser beam is scanned across a receptor surface with an essentially bow-free scan. A focusing lens comprised of symmetrical, nonanamorphic optical elements is positioned in the scanned beam between the hologon deflector and the image plane. The focusing lens is provided with barrel or pincushion distortion and is tilted with respect to the scanned beam and bends the beam to correct for the bow introduced by the hologon deflector.

Abstract: A microdeflector facet tracker comprised of a flexible finger supported for bending movement on a base, the finger having a conductive highly reflective coating on the outside thereof to reflect a beam of high intensity light against the facets of a rotating scanning element, the finger progressively deflecting in response to the application of progressively increasing electrical potentials applied with each facet so that the beam is tracked with each facet as the facet moves past thereby maintaining the point at which the beam impinges against the facets substantially constant, the electrical potential being removed between each scan line to permit the finger to return to an undeflected position preparatory to the next scan line.

Abstract: A fluorescent-activated spatially quantitative light detector for sensing light reflected from an information bearing surface, said light detector comprising a generally cylindrical rod containing a fluorescent dye dispersed throughout a generally transparent medium and a photosensor at one end of, and in operative association therewith. The reflected light incident on the light detector is absorbed by said dye and reradiated at the fluorescent wavelength, a portion of this reradiated light reaching the photosensor causing an output signal to be generated.

Abstract: A holographic spinner is mounted to a drive motor via a center drive hub containing a self-aligning bearing. Rotational drive is coupled through to the spinner by one or more drive pins. This arrangement permits centrifugal forces of the spinner to perpendicularly align the spinner to the rotor axis while simultaneously maintaining disc centration and positive drive about the axis.

Abstract: A triple function image processing system incorporating, for operation in a first COPY mode, a light/lens imaging system for imaging originals at a viewing station or platen to produce latent electrostatic images thereof on a photoconductive surface. The electrostatic images are developed and transferred to a copy substrate material as in conventional xerographic systems. A flying spot light beam is provided in a second WRITE mode, the flying spot beam writing images on the photoconductive surface in response to image signals input thereto. In this mode of operation, the beam impinges on the photoconductive surface at a location upstream of the developing device. And, in a third READ mode, the beam is impinged on the photoconductive surface downstream of the developing device to scan images developed on the photoconductive surface. The scattered light is collected and converted to image signals representative of the image scanned.

Abstract: A light collector for collecting light reflected from an information bearing surface and scanned by a flying spot scanner. The collector comprises an integrating cavity having at least one photodetector therein with at least one slit like aperture for receiving light reflected from the information bearing surface. In a first embodiment, a scan beam passes through the cavity via a first and second slit to scan essentially normal to the surface. Reflected light is directed back into the cavity and is apodized to improve signal level uniformity at the photodetector. The cavity construction is also designed to provide start and end of scan signals.

Abstract: A light collector is provided for collecting light reflected from an information-bearing surface. In one embodiment, used in a flying spot scanning system, a generally cylindrical rod is placed adjacent the information bearing surface, the rod having photodetectors placed at the ends thereof. The rod is of glass construction with a longitudinally-extending portion thereof fabricated as a variable period diffraction grating. This grating is located proximate to the scanned surface so that incident light reflected from the surface strikes the grating and is coupled into the rod via diffraction. The grating periods are selected in conjunction with the light incidence angles as to optimize the amount of light collected by the photodetectors.

Abstract: A holographic scanning system includes a reflective type holographic spinner having a plurality of diffraction gratings on its surface. A reconstruction wavefront incident on a non-grating surface of the spinner is reflected into a corrective optical element which displaces and redirects the wavefront so that it is incident at the grating at an angle corrected for the effects of spinner wobble.

Abstract: An optical scanning system including a spinner containing at least one plane linear diffraction grating. As the spinner is rotated, a plane reconstruction wave of wavelength .lambda..sub.r is directed onto the grating creating a diffracted wavefront which can be focused onto an image plane. The grating is constructed so that the ratio of the reconstruction wavelength .lambda..sub.r to the grating period d is a value lying between the range of 1 and 1.618. The angles of incidence and diffraction of the reconstruction wavefront in a preferred embodiment, approximate 45.degree..

Abstract: A piezo-optical light modulator comprising an interaction medium and a transducer on one face of, and in optical isolation from, the interaction medium. Electrical signals are applied to create a periodic alternating strain field within the transducer. This field is transmitted into the interaction medium to create a shallow strain diffraction grating at a modulating surface. A light beam is projected so as to undergo a total internal reflection at this modulating surface, a portion of the light being selectively diffracted out of the incident beam.

Abstract: A holographic spinner reconstructs a light spot to rapidly scan a narrow line on a suitable "write" surface to generate an image. The geometry of the holographic spinner with respect to the holographic reconstruction light beam is such that the position of the regenerated light spot is insensitive to mechanical wobble which might be present in the spinner mechanism.

Abstract: A holographic spinner reconstructs a light spot to rapidly scan a narrow line on a suitable "write" surface to generate an image. The geometry of the holographic spinner with respect to the holographic reconstruction light beam is such that the position of the regenerated light spot is insensitive to mechanical wobble which might be present in the spinner mechanism.

Abstract: An optical system for strip scanning of an object in both directions of relative reciprocal motion between the object and the optical system. The object is first scanned in one direction, then the optical axis between object and image is effectively rotated 180.degree. for scanning in the reverse direction. Properly oriented images are thus projected onto a photoreceptor during both directions of scan.

Abstract: A holographic spinner reconstructs a light spot to rapidly scan a narrow line on a suitable "write" surface to generate an image. The spinner is flexibly mounted to assume a high degree of uniformity in its perpendicularity relative to the axis of spin to minimize spot wobble. Alternatively, the spinner is itself a flexible material or floppy disk.Method of mounting the disk on a shaft using a setting compound during spinner rotation is also disclosed.