Abstract: An f-.theta. lens is disclosed which is particularly suitable for use with a color laser printer in which beams of different wavelengths are combined into a single combined beam. The combined beam is scanned by a rotating polygon onto a receiving medium. The f-.theta. is adapted to operate with optics for shaping the beam in a scan direction prior to the polygon and a cylindrical element after the f-.theta. lens to image the beam in a cross-scan direction onto the receiving medium. In order to provide an f-.theta. lens which is color corrected, the lens includes means for correcting in a scan direction for lateral color aberrations in each of the beams, and means for correcting in a cross-scan direction for axial color aberrations in each of the beams.

Abstract: A gradient filter is disclosed which is adapted to compensate for the variation of beam divergence of diode lasers. The gradient filter comprises a substrate having a transmission density distribution along at least one axis which is inversely proportional to a Gaussian intensity distribution along the axis. Such a gradient filter has a transmission profile which is transparent, or nearly so, at the center of the beam and which falls gradually to zero transmission in an area spaced from the center.

Abstract: A thermal printer is disclosed which is particularly suitable for making slide transparencies. The printer includes a laser which provides the necessary thermal energy to effect a transfer of dye from a donor element to a receiver element. A beam from the laser passes through suitable optics and is scanned onto the receiver element by a galvonometer. In order to insure the transfer of dye from the donor at a suitable resolution and with sufficient speed, a relatively high-powered single transverse mode coherent laser is used.

Abstract: A mount for an optical element is disclosed in which an optical element can be adjusted to a plurality of positions to change the position of an output beam. In order to provide a mount which can be adjusted to precisely position the output beam in orthogonal directions, the optical element is mounted in a holder which is rotatable about a first axis, and the holder is mounted on a support which is rotatable about a second axis. When the optical element is rotated about the first axis, the output beam is adjusted along an arc in an X direction; and when the support with the holder thereon is rotated about the second axis, the output beam is adjusted along an arc in a Y direction.

Abstract: An image sensor is disclosed which is adapted to sense a color image and comprises three channels, one for each of the primary colors. Each channel is identical except for the color of the filter associated therewith. In order to provide the optimum exposure time for each of the colors, the integration time for each of the channels is controlled independently. The line readout time for each of the channels is maintained the same, however, so that the three channels can be read out in parallel.

Abstract: A linear light source for a film scanner is disclosed which includes an elongated light integrating cavity having diffusely reflective walls. Light is introduced into the cavity through an input port, and an output beam of diffuse illumination is produced through a slot which is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the integrating cavity. A baffle is disposed in the cavity along the longitudinal axis to prevent light from passing directly from the input port to the output slot. In order to provide a light source which can be positioned closely adjacent the film in a film scanner, the surfaces of the integrating cavity walls adjacent the output slot are generally linear and are disposed at an angle to the optical axis of the output beam.

Abstract: Scanner apparatus is disclosed for providing relative movement between a receiving medium and a recording device. The scanner apparatus comprises an elongated bar which supports the receiving medium. The bar is mounted for movement in a pair of support blocks. A movable support block is adapted to grip the bar and move the bar through a series of small steps of a fixed distance. The movable support block releases the bar at the completion of each step and returns to a starting position. When the movable support block releases the bar after each step, a fixed support block clamps the bar in position. In the operation of apparatus such as a laser printer, the fixed support block holds the receiving medium in a fixed position during the scan of one line of data, and the movable support block moves the carriage one step between line scans.

Abstract: A film scanner is disclosed which comprises a dynamic film gate. The gate includes a pair of rollers for supporting the film at an imaging station and a pair of drive belts which clamp the film against the rollers. The belts are driven to advance the film through the imaging station. An integrating cylinder located above the film gate produces a line of light on the film, and light transmitted through the film in imaged onto a linear CCD image sensor. In order to insure that the end of the film is held flat at the imaging station, movable guides are provided to selectively engage the film adjacent the line of light on the film.

Abstract: A thermal printer is disclosed which is particularly suitable for making slide transparencies. The printer includes a laser which provides the necessary energy to effect a transfer of dye from a donor element to a receiver element. In order to insure the transfer of dye from the donor at a suitable resolution and with sufficient speed, two relatively high-powered single transverse mode lasers are used. The beam from one of the lasers is passed through a half-wave plate, and the beam is then combined with the beam from the other laser by a polarization beam splitter. The combined beam is passed through suitable optics and is scanned onto the receiver element by a galvonometer.

Abstract: An image sensor is disclosed which comprises a plurality of image sensor elements arranged in rows and columns. Each of the image sesnor elements includes a a CCD. In order to provide an image sensor which can be used to image in different image formats, the image sensor includes imaging planes on edge surfaces as well as on a top surface. The top and bottom layers of the sensor are of an increased doping level, and these layers serve to guide charge carriers into CCD's located adjacent the edges of the sensor.

Abstract: A modular image sensor array is disclosed which includes a plurality of tiles each of which has an image sensor mounted thereon. The tiles are mounted on a base plate such that the image sensors form a predetermined pattern. In order to precisely locate the tiles relative to each other and to provide for the replacement of defective tiles, the tiles are assembled in an interlocking pattern on the base plate. The top surface of the tiles is formed by ceramic plates, and electrical conductors for the image sensors are formed on one of the ceramic plates. A transparent cover is mounted over all of the image sensors in the array.

Abstract: A holder for a thermal print medium is disclosed. The holder is adapted to be used in a thermal printer in which a donor element in a thermal print medium transfers dye to a receiver element upon receipt of a sufficient amount of thermal energy. The printer includes a plurality of diode lasers which can be individually modulated to supply energy to selected dots on the medium in accordance with an information signal. The print head of the printer includes a fiber optic array having a plurality of optical fibers coupled to the diode lasers. The holder for the thermal print medium includes a rotatable vacuum drum, and the fiber optic array is movable relative to the drum. The vacuum drum includes separate vacuum supplies for the donor sheet and for the receiver sheet so that the sheets can be independently handled.

Abstract: A charge-coupled imager includes in a substrate of a semiconductor material a plurality of spaced photodetectors arranged in a line. The photodetectors are each of a type that can be completely depleted. A suitable photodetector is a pinned photodiode. A separate accumulation region is contiguous with one side of each of the photodetectors. A potential is applied to each accumulation region which forms an accumulation well therein which is lower than that in its respective photodiode so that charge carriers generated in the photodiode will continuously flow into the accumulation region. An anti-blooming drain is provided adjacent each accumulation region with the potential barrier between the anti-blooming drain and the accumulation region being below the potential well in the photodiode so that when the accumulation region fills with charge carriers to the level of the potential barrier any additional charge carriers will overflow into the anti-blooming drain.

Abstract: A solid-state imager comprising a substrate of a semiconductor material of one conductivity type having a major surface. A plurality of photodetectors are in the substrate and are arranged in an array of rows and columns. A separate CCD shift register is in the substrate along each column of the photodetectors and between adjacent columns of the photodetectors. Each shift register includes gates which can be operated to selectively transfer charge carriers from the photoconductors in the column at one side thereof into the shift register. A separate drain is adjacent each photodetector and the shift register adjacent the other side of the column of photodetectors. An anti-blooming barrier is provided between each drain and its adjacent photodetector. An exposure control barrier is provided between each drain and the shift register at the opposite side of the column of photodetectors.

Abstract: An image sensor is disclosed which comprises an imaging region and horizontal shift registers which receive charge carriers generated in the imaging region and transfer them to an output circuit for processing. In order to facilitate the transfer of charge carriers out of the sensor and to provide an image sensor which has a simplified structure, dual horizontal transfer registers are used and transfer of charge carriers between the two registers is accomplished without a separate transfer gate electrode. Transfer regions are disposed between alternate storage regions of the registers such that charge carriers in one-half of the storage regions in one register can be transferred to storage regions in the other register. The two registers can then be clocked out in parallel to read out a single line.

Abstract: A film clamp is disclosed which comprises a platen having an aperture in a flat working surface of the platen. A proximal gripping member is positioned to grip one edge of a film supported on the platen, and a distal gripping member is positioned to grip an opposite edge of the film. A bell crank is adapted to press the proximal gripping member into contact with a film on the platen and to press the distal gripping member into contact with the film and away from the proximal gripping member to place the clamped film in tension across the aperture. In order to provide a means for advancing the film relative to the aperture in the platen, a motor-driven endless belt is mounted on the platen adjacent the proximal gripping member, and the proximal gripping member bears against the belt to grip the film.

Abstract: A beam position sensor for a beam scanner is disclosed for use in a laser printer. The printer comprises three diode lasers each of which emits at a different wavelength. The beams from the three lasers are combined by the use of dichroic plates to form one combined beam. The combined beam is scanned onto a receiving medium by a polygon. The beam position sensor of the present invention is adapted to sense the position of the polygon in order to provide a synchronizing signal which will insure that each raster line in the printer is started at the proper position. The beam position sensor includes a diode laser and optics for projecting a beam from the laser onto the polygon. The beam is reflected back from the polygon into a photodetector which effects the start of a new raster line at the appropriate time.

Abstract: A laser printer is disclosed which is adapted to be used for color imaging. The printer comprises three diode lasers, each of which emits a light beam at a different wavelength. Each of the light beams passes along a separate channel to a pair of dichroic plates which combine the three beams into a single combined beam. The combined beam is scanned by a polygon onto a receiving medium which is sensitive to the infrared. Two cylindrical lenses in each channel are used to focus the beam in the channel at a registration plane located after the beam combining means. An optical relay is used to transfer the combined beam from the registration plane to the polygon and to focus the beam in a cross-scan direction on the polygon. The polygon is optically conjugated to the image plane in order to achieve cross-scan error correction.

Abstract: An illumination system for a film scanner is disclosed which comprises a light source and optics for providing a line of light on a film. Light transmitted through the film is imaged onto photosensor elements such as CCD arays. In order to obtain a high quality electronic image, a xenon light source is used, color filters are included in the system to control the spectral content of the light provided to the film gate, and an integrating cylinder is used to provide a line of diffuse light on the film.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a fiber optic array for use in an optical scanning device. The array includes a substrate and rows of optical fibers stacked on the substrate. The optical fibers are all of a predetermined diameter. In order to precisely space the fibers relative to each other, the fibers in the first row are arranged in grooves in the substrate, and each succeeding row of fibers is disposed on the fibers of the preceding row.