Abstract: An optical system is disclosed wherein an illumination device is used to project colored light into a lens and focus through a spatial light modulator onto a photosensitive medium wherein the illumination device is configured so as to produce a uniform light distribution through the use of an aperture stop, a symmetrical placement of solid state light sources such as LEDs, or by LEDs fabricated such that the top surface emitting the colored light is not obstructed by an electrode or contacts connecting the light-emitting diode to a current source. Such a configuration is accomplished by providing a substantially transparent attachment layer that may include an opaque conductive material, but preferably includes transparent conductive particles that, in combination, attach and electrically connect the LED to a first electrode disposed upon a substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser print head, suitable for use with a recording medium, comprising a print head base comprising a plurality of mounting surfaces, one or more optical radiation source removably affixed to a first base mounting surface, at least one collimating lens, at least one focusing lens affixed to a second base mounting surface, a pre-objective lens affixed to a third base mounting surface; an objective lens, and one or more optional mirror facets.

Abstract: A bouncing ball scanner is described which is a ball driven in a reciprocal motion for reflecting image-bearing light onto a photosensitive medium. The image-bearing light can be dictated by a computer, in which case the photosensitive medium may be film for a printed output, or the image-bearing light may be reflected from a subject having an image imprinted thereon, and the photosensitive medium may be a charge coupled device where the image is being read into a computer. The bouncing ball scanner comprises a ball being driven in a reciprocal motion by electromagnetic forces acting thereon. The motion of the bouncing ball is substantially linear in each direction so as to allow ease of calculation of ball position thereby ease of knowledge of pixel position on the photosensitive medium.

Abstract: An illumination device configured so as to produce a uniform illumination distribution incorporating one or more LEDs fabricated such that the top surface emitting the colored light is not obstructed by an electrode or by contacts connecting the LED to a current source. Such a configuration is accomplished by providing a substantially transparent attachment layer that may include an opaque conductive material, but preferably includes transparent conductive particles that, in combination, attach and electrically connect the LED to an electrode disposed upon a substrate.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator for use in a optical printer where the spatial light modulator includes a plurality of cells, having a shape that is defined to decrease artifacts in an image produced on a recording medium by the optical printer. The shape of the plurality of cells merges a portion of the optical radiation passing through an individual cell of the spatial light modulator with optical radiation from that of adjacent cell to form a pixel on the recording medium. In one implementation each of the cells of the spatial light modulator independently modulate the optical radiation so as to print horizontally-displaced pixels. When LEDs are used as the colored light source, the light is either first diffused to minimize shadows from electrical contacts on the LEDs, thus removing linear artifacts in the image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for color and brightness variations in a white-light printer is described where the white-light printer automatically adjusts exposure of a photosensitive medium to optimize a printed image thereon. The white-light printer generates compensation factors used by the white-light printer to individually correct for primary colors within an image by monitoring chromatic transmission through the same or equivalent color filters as are being used to expose the photosensitive medium. A method is disclosed where the video output is set at maximum and brightness, or Luma, is varied and measured in foot-Lamberts. The Luma that gives "white", a film table is recorded, and that Luma is fixed such that proper white, black, and grays are attained. A similar procedure is repeated for each primary color, thereby compensating for color and brightness variations due to differing CRTs and the warm-up state of each CRT.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for converting frequency-coefficient matrices between a configuration in which the matrices are transforms of unoverlapped image-data matrices and a configuration in which the matrices are transforms of overlapped image-data matrices, the image-data matrices comprising image-data terms corresponding to pixels from an original image, the method comprising the steps of: deriving a conversion matrix; transposing the conversion matrix; matrix multiplying a first frequency-coefficient matrix of one configuration by the conversion matrix; matrix multiplying a second frequency-coefficient matrix of the same configuration by the transpose conversion matrix; and combining the product results to form a matrix formatted in the other configuration.

Abstract: An image sensing device comprising active pixels is disclosed, each pixel having a charge accumulation region for collecting charges generated by a photosensitive element such as a photodiode. Fixed pattern noise is minimized by utilizing a reference current to reset the pixels and to generate an output current signal.

Abstract: An electronic stack module is disclosed comprising two or more substrates having upper and lower surfaces with one or more electronic components disposed on the surfaces and electrically connected to connector pads disposed in a predetermined pattern at the substrate edges. A plurality of clip leads are electrically attached to the connector pads, where each clip lead comprises a clip section, a standoff section of specified length, and a mounting section, the clip section configured to frictionally engage both upper and lower substrate surfaces. Stacking of substrates is accomplished by aligning and bonding clip sections of one substrate to corresponding mating sections of the adjacent substrate.

Abstract: A medium suitable for the optical storage and retrieval of information comprising a substrate, an active layer for retention of the data, and an overlying optical layer, or layers for double-sided. The optical layer serves to produce an evanescent field in or adjacent to the active layer in response to an incident beam of radiation. The evanescent field is frustrated or attenuated by the data in the active layer and produces a signal.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device is disclosed which selectively shunts charge accumulation across electrical conductors emplaced within the device housing. A grounding element is provided on the housing surface which maintains electrical contact with the enclosed electrical conductors so as to form a shorting shunt and place the conductors at substantially similar electrical potentials. The grounding element may be reversibly changed from the operative into an inoperative position to remove the grounding element from electrical contact with the electrical conductors.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed wherein an arcuate mirror is used to redirect light in a compact optical printing system in which a cylindrical lens is used to converge light over a predetermined distance so that light transmission through air is enabled.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device is disclosed for use with a semiconductor chip package where the electrostatic discharge protection device establishes electrical connection between connector pins on the semiconductor chip package and ground, thereby creating a short circuit to protect the semiconductor chip package from electrostatic discharge. The electrostatic discharge protection device is manually operable to engage or disengage a ground connection while remaining attached to the semiconductor chip package. The electrostatic discharge protection device is also removable from the semiconductor chip package either prior to or subsequent to mating a semiconductor chip package with a printed circuit board or other receptacle.

Abstract: Method(s) and associated apparatus are provided for the display of three-dimensional still or dynamic images in either monochrome or color. Several embodiments are described and each includes either one or more waveguide arrangements by which images formed in two-dimensional planes can be optically separated in the third dimension by arranging for their selective viewing along paths having different optical path lengths to impart a perception of depth to the image.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor laser device is disclosed in which the device comprises one or more ion-implanted regions as a means to decrease the occurrence of device failures attributable to dark-line defects. The ion-implanted regions, which are formed between the laser gain cavity and the regions of probable dark-line defect origination, serve to modify the electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of the device lattice structure, thus reducing or eliminating the propagation of dark-line defects emanating from constituent defects or bulk material imperfections which may be present in the device.

Abstract: A dark-field imaging system and method that employs photon tunneling to optically encode and decode information at full-field and in real-time or substantially real-time for recording and retrieval purposes. The system is particularly useful for high density information storage in media in which submicron scattering sites are formed. The system comprises an illumination section for illuminating a surface of an optical recording media with an evanescent field. A collecting section is positioned with respect to the illuminated surface to channel radiant energy converted from the evanescent field by the scattering sites to unbound energy propagating away from the surface. Various embodiments of the illumination section are disclosed including the use of a bulk optic prismatic element, the forward aplantic element of a compound microscope objective, diffracting gratings, and optical waveguides.

Abstract: A laser assembly is disclosed comprising a heatsink, a laser device attached to a mounting surface of the heatsink, and a beam-shaping lens attached to an oblique surface of the heatsink, the oblique surface intersecting with the mounting surface to form an obtuse dihedral angle. The beam-shaping lens comprises a canted attachment surface which, when placed against the oblique surface, serves to optimally position the lens in relation to the laser device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing phase controlled evanescent illumination. The phase controlled evanescent illumination is useful for Imaging, metrology, and energy delivery. The light waves comprising the evanescent electromagnetic field are inhomogeneous in that their planes of equal phase are substantially perpendicular to the direction of propagation and to their planes of constant amplitude. The planes of equal phase are therefore normal to the surface to which the evanescent field is adjacent and to a sample surface illuminated by this field as well. Methods and means for dynamic or static phase shifting of inhomogeneous waves comprising the evanescent field are disclosed.

Abstract: A digital motor control is described which is programmable and has dual digital phase with sliding proportionality such that the motor control adaptively alters a speed of a motor by both changing sign and altering motor speed proportionally to an amount of motor speed error.

Abstract: An optical recording and retrieval system and method that employs phase-controlled evanescent field illumination to optically encode and decode information at full-field and in real-time or substantially real-time. The system is particularly useful for high density information storage in media in which submicron optically active sites are formed. The light waves comprising the evanescent electromagnetic field are inhomogeneous in that their planes of equal phase are substantially perpendicular to the direction of propagation and to their planes of constant amplitude. The planes of equal phase are therefore normal to the surface to which the evanescent field is adjacent and to an optical recording media surface illuminated by this field as well. By controlling the phase of the source of illumination and analyzing the output from or beneath the surface, either by phase analysis or phase to amplitude decoding, subwavelength lateral surface feature resolution is enhanced without sacrificing vertical resolution.