Abstract: An optical scanner is disclosed for scanning a light beam onto a receiving medium. The scanner includes a rotatable polygon for receiving a light beam from a source and for scanning the beam through a predetermined angle, and optical elements between the polygon and receiving medium for directing the beam to the receiving medium. In order to provide a very high resolution scanner which can be used to generate half-tone images, the optical elements include a first lens element having two spherical surfaces, a second lens element which has orthogonal cylindrical surfaces, and a cylindrical mirror.

Abstract: A fiber optic array is disclosed for use in an optical scanning device. The array includes a substrate and a plurality of optical fibers arranged on the substrate to form a linear array of the fibers. Each of the fibers is received in grooves in the substrate to precisely space the fibers relative to each other. Each of the fibers is adapted to receive light from a source such as a laser diode. In order to increase the packing density of the fibers in the array, the ends of the fibers are etched to decrease the cladding diameter, and the fiber ends of reduced diameter are mounted in closely-spaced parallel grooves.

Abstract: A charge-coupled device (CCD) of the two-phase type is disclosed. The CCD comprises two polysilicon levels which are electrically connected to form one clock phase. In order to provide a CCD of improved transfer efficiency, two implanted regions of different dopant levels are provided under each polysilicon level. When the CCD is clocked, a four-tier potential profile is produced.

Abstract: An axial magnet actuator is disclosed in which a member formed of a magnetic material is movable relative to a frame along an axis. Electromagnets are positioned along the axis at spaced locations. In order to keep the mass of the movable member as small as possible, no magnetic elements are located on the member. An annular permanent magnet is located along the axis between the electromagnets and functions with the electromagnets to move the member, keep the member suspended in an axial direction, and hold the member in a selected position when the electromagnets are not energized.

Abstract: A method of scanning is disclosed in which an array of light sources is used to record an image on a light-sensitive recording medium. Each of the light sources is modulated in accordance with an information signal. Multiple passes of the array are made relative to the recording medium, and a set of raster lines is recorded in each pass. The raster lines of successive sets are interleaved to space the raster lines closer together than the spacing of the light sources in the array. In order to provide precise spacing of the raster lines, the array of light sources is advanced a constant distance between successive sets of raster lines.

Abstract: A method of making a hermetic seal for a solid-state device is disclosed. The device includes a ceramic housing having a cavity for an element such as an image sensor. A cover formed of a transparent material is sealed to the housing to close the cavity. A metallization support is formed on the cover and on the housing. In order to form a hermetic seal at a relative low temperature, a layer of indium is coated on the metallization support of either the cover or the housing, and a layer of tin is coated on the support of the other of the two parts. The cover is then placed on the housing, and the parts are placed in a furnace where a temperature under the melting temperature of the composite alloy of tin and indium is maintained for a period long enough to diffuse the tin and indium together. The temperature is then raised to a temperature sufficient to melt the alloy, and the device is then slowly cooled to ambient temperature.

Abstract: Laser apparatus is disclosed which comprises a compact pulsed dye laser for high pulse repetition frequency operation. The pulsed dye laser includes a resonator cell having a passageway through which dye solution is circulated and a pump laser for optically pumping the resonator. In order to provide laser apparatus which is capable of very high performance, the dye solution is circulated through a narrow passageway at high flow rate and the pump laser is operated at a high pulse repetition frequency.

Abstract: An exposure control device is disclosed in which a member formed of a magnetic material is movable relative to a frame along a predetermined path to control the passage of light along an optical axis. Electromagnets are located on the frame at opposite ends of the path. In order to keep the mass of the movable member as small as possible, no magnetic elements are located on the member. Permanent magnets are located on opposite sides of the path and function with the electromagnets to move the member, keep the member suspended in a direction transverse to the direction of movement, and hold the member in one of two positions when the electromagnets are not energized.

Abstract: A mount for an optical element is disclosed in which an optical element can be adjusted to a plurality of positions relative to an optical axis. The element is mounted in a holder which can be moved about a plurality of axes. In order to provide a mount which is capable of very fine adjustment, the optical element is mounted such that an operative surface is at a small angle to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and the optical element is rotated about the optical axis to provide the desired adjustment.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a fiber optic array for use in an optical scanning device. The array includes a substrate and a plurality of optical fibers arranged on the substrate to form a linear array of the fibers. Each of the fibers is received in grooves formed in the substrate to precisely space the fibers relative to each other. Each fiber is adapted to receive light from a source such as a laser diode. In order to increase the packing density of the fibers in the array, the fibers are closely spaced relative to each other on the substrate. The fibers are arranged in aligned sets of grooves which are spaced apart by planar areas on the substrate, and the pitch of the grooves in successive sets decreases as the fibers approach an output end of the array to draw the fibers closer together at this end.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a fiber optic array for use in an optical scanning device. The array includes a substrate and a plurality of optical fibers arranged on the substrate to form a linear array of the fibers. Each of the fibers is received in grooves in the substrate to precisely space the fibers relative to each other. Each of the fibers is adapted to receive light from a source such as a laser diode. In order to increase the packing density of the fibers in the array, the fibers are mounted in sets of parallel grooves which are spaced to draw the fibers closer together at an output end. Further, the ends of the fibers are etched to decrease the cladding diameter and thereby permit the fiber ends to be more closely spaced relative to each other.

Abstract: A mount for an optical device is disclosed in which a circular mirror can be adjusted relative to an optical axis. The mirror is supported along the optical axis in a holder which can be moved about orthogonal axes to provide adjustment in two rotational degrees of freedom. In order to provide a mount which can be easily adjusted and can be securely held in an adjusted position, independent support means are provided for each rotational degree of freedom, and the support means are adjustable to position an output beam from the mirror within the confines of a square cone.

Abstract: A magnetic actuator is disclosed in which a member formed of a magnetic material is movable relative to a frame along a predetermined path. Magnets are located on the frame at opposite ends of the path. In order to keep the mass of the movable member as small as possible, no magnetic elements are located on the member. Permanent magnets function with the magnets at opposite ends of the path to move the member, support the member along one degree of freedom, and hold the member in a rest position.

Abstract: An infrared sensitive photodiode having a relatively large optically active area and relatively low capacitance comprises a stripe diode adjacent an optically active area having a thick infrared transparent field oxide over a lightly doped channel stop. The low capacitance photodiode is particularly useful in a range finder device of the type having means for projecting a beam of light to illuminate a spot on an object in a scene, and a linear array of photosensors for detecting the apparent location of the spot in the scene to determine the distance to the object. An improved range finder of this type has an infrared LED with a long narrow beam cross section and an array of stripe photodiodes having shapes similar to the shape of the beam cross section.

Abstract: An optical device is disclosed for rotating the polarization of a light beam, in particular a laser beam. In one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a prism which is adapted to rotate the polarization of a linearly-polarized beam of radiation by 90.degree. and to change the direction of the beam. In a second embodiment, an optical device comprising a plurality of prismatic surfaces is adapted to receive a linearly-polarized input beam and to produce a linearly-polarized output beam which is collinear with the input beam and which is polarized orthogonally to the polarization of the input beam.

Abstract: A battery charger is disclosed which is adapted to receive batteries of different sizes for charging. The charger comprises a separate support for each of the batteries, and different sizes of batteries are supported at different levels in the charger. A charge current is supplied to the batteries by a circuit which includes a timer for regulating the charge time. In order to insure that only batteries having known electrical characteristics are mounted in the charger, means are provided to lock out batteries not having a predetermined feature, for example, a positive terminal of a particular size. The charging time is regulated in accordance with the size of the battery, and a detector is provided to sense the size of batteries in the charger.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus is disclosed for exposing a recording medium to produce an image in accordance with information contained in an electrical signal. The apparatus comprises a light source, optical means for imaging light onto the recording medium, and a light-valve array to control the light reaching selected areas of the recording medium. In order to provide an improved means for controlling the light, the light-valve array is comprised of a plurality of electrostatically deflectable elements each of which contains a transmitter waveguide for transmitting light from the source to a receptor waveguide. The elements can be deflected from a first position in which the transmitter and receptor waveguides are axially aligned for transmitting light therethrough to a second position in which no light can be transmitted from the transmitter waveguides to the receptor waveguides; each of the elements is selectively deflectable in response to an information signal.

Abstract: An optical scanner is disclosed for scanning a light beam onto a receiving medium. The scanner includes a rotatable polygon for receiving a light beam from a source and for scanning the beam through a predetermined angle, and optical means between the polygon and receiving medium for directing the beam to the receiving medium. In order to provide an optical system which produces the desired results at the image plane and is relatively simple to manufacture, two spherical lenses and a cylindrical mirror are interposed between the polygon and receiving medium.

Abstract: An exposure control is disclosed for controlling the amount of light admitted to a light-responsive medium in photographic apparatus such as a camera. The control is adapted to generate a plurality of shutter-aperture options in response to measurements of subject distance and ambient light. The exposure control contains a means for selecting one of the options to produce a suitable exposure. In order to maximize the overall picture quality, the exposure control comprises means for selecting the shutter-aperture option with the optimum depth of field to blur diameter ratio.