Abstract: A robot system useful in manufacturing environments for diverse applications. The system is characterized by an elongate robot arm operable to selectively position an end effector. The robot arm is configured for movement by a CPU based control system and/or by physical manipulation by a human operator.

Abstract: A robot system characterized by an elongate robot arm formed of multiple joint modules for selectively positioning an end effector carried by the arm's distal end and a computer based control system capable of being programmed by physical manipulation of the arm by a human operator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for exposing photosensitive material to form high quality continuous tone and/or color images thereon. The preferred apparatus includes an imaging head comprised of square pixel image generators, e.g., fiber optic tubes mounted to form a rectangular array. The pixel image generators are inclined at an angle of 45 degrees to the scan direction. As the print head scans, each fiber optic tube can expose a pixel image onto the photosensitive material. The exposure levels of the pixel images are preferably specified in a digital file representing an image to be printed. As a result of being inclined at 45 degrees, the pixel images exposed onto the photosensitive material are diamond shaped. Each pixel image overlaps its neighbor by substantially 50% of the center to center distance between pixel images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for normalizing the output of multiple light sources used to expose a photosensitive material to print high quality continuous tone and/or color images. Each of the multiple light sources is driven by a different signal weighted to cause all of the light sources to output light of intensity appropriate to produce a uniform image density over a wide range of image densities. In a preferred embodiment, each light source is driven by a different digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and/or timer circuit. A control processor supplies a multibit correction value tog each DAC and/or timer circuit to supply a drive signal to its associated light source weighted to cause all of the light sources to output light of substantially uniform intensity at a certain intensity level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the linear movement between first and second substantially planar surfaces and is useful, for example, in an automatic focusing system of a photographic enlarging or printing machine. The linear movement between a first plane, e.g., a lens plane and a second plane, e.g., a film or print plane, at a single point, e.g., the lens optical center, is determined by measuring the linear movement of two diametrically opposed points proximate to the lens plane equidistant from the lens optical center. The two measured distances are then averaged to yield a distance measurement at the lens optical center corrected for any deflection of the lens plane.