Abstract: A method for printing a halftone digital image on both a printing press and a color proofer using the same binary digital data which comprises making a printing plate from the binary digital data; making a press sheet using a press with the printing plate; sending the binary digital data to a dot-gain processor for conditioning the binary digital data to introduce a predetermined level of dot-gain; transmitting the conditioned binary digital data to the color proofer; and printing a halftone color proof on the color proofer.

Abstract: A modulator for a high optical power printing includes a transparent crystal and a patterned buffer layer formed over one of the surfaces of the crystal. An electrode array is formed so that each electrode of the electrode array is patterned directly on each portion of the patterned buffer layer. In a further feature of the invention, the crystal substrate can be formed so that opposing endfaces through which high optical power laser light passes are at an angle and are antireflection coated. A transparent and electrically insulating overcoat is provided above the electrodes.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an accompanying method, for use in, e.g., a neural network-based optical character recognition (OCR) system (5) for accurately classifying each individual character extracted from a string of characters, and specifically for generating a highly reliable confidence measure that would be used in deciding whether to accept or reject each classified character. Specifically, a confidence measure, associated with each output of, e.g., a neural classifier (165), is generated through use of all the neural activation output values. Each individual neural activation output provides information for a corresponding atomic hypothesis of an evidence function. This hypothesis is that a pattern belongs to a particular class. Each neural output is transformed (1650) through a pre-defined monotonic function into a degree of support in its associated evidence function.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator array (36). Electrode pairs 50 and 51 are mounted on a substrate (40). A layer of electronic grade glass (60) is deposited by electron beam evaporation on the substrate (40) and electrodes (50) and (51). In an alternate embodiment, an electronic grade of glass 50 is deposited on the PLZT substrate (40) prior to applying electrodes (50) and (51).

Abstract: An apparatus for creating copy restrictive media is disclosed comprising a linear array (20) comprised of at least two spatially distributed light sources (22) and an aperture mask (28) for forming two or more micro-light sources from the light sources (22). An optical element (32) focuses light from the micro-light sources onto a media (40) moving relative to the linear array (20). An encoder (16) turns the light sources (22) on and off at regular intervals relating to movement of the media (40).

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for generating an image signal from incident image light having its higher spatial frequencies limited to reduce undersampling artifacts includes an image sensor for generating the image signal from an array of photosites, and an optical section having a biaxial crystal optical filter interposed in the path of the incident image light so as to output a blurred image upon said photosites. The optical filter has two optical axes along which light can propagate and experience the same index of refraction for any polarization. The optical filter has parallel input and output surfaces; and one of the two optical axes is perpendicular to the input and output surfaces. The optical filter has "X", "Y", and "Z" axes; and the "Z" axis bisects the two optical axes. Preferably, the "Z" axis and the optical axes define the angle .THETA. such that:tan .THETA.=(N.sub.z /N.sub.x)SQRT?(N.sub.y.sup.2 -N.sub.x.sup.2)/(N.sub.z.sup.2 -N.sub.y.sup.2)!.The optical filter has three indices of refraction, N.sub.

Abstract: A scanner having a photosensitive scanning array includes a timing generator having (a) a first state wherein pixel clock signals with a predetermined frequency are produced and (b) a second state wherein a D.C. restore clock signal with a frequency that is "N" times slower than the predetermined frequency is produced. The timing generator controls the rate of sampling the scanning array to acquire image data by producing a series of analog image signals containing (a) a video component which is characteristic of a density pattern of a scanned image and (b) a D.C. offset component which is characteristic of the scanning array. The timing generator also controls the rate of sampling the scanning array to acquire an analog signal containing only the D.C. offset component. A D.C. restore calculates an output signal containing only the video component of the series of analog image signals containing the video component and the D.C. offset component.

Abstract: Apparatus for advancing the cut sheets in an in-track direction to a sheet justification apparatus includes a driven roller and a gimbaled, self-aligning follower associated with the driven roller. The follower is movable between an engaged position, forming a nip with the driven roller, and a disengaged position, spaced from the driven roller. The follower is selectively movable to its engaged position to direct media from to the justification mechanism, to its disengaged position to allow the justification mechanism to justify the sheet, and back to its engaged position without introducing skew or shift as it re-engages the media to direct media from the justification mechanism without introducing skew or linear shift. The driven roller and the follower may be associated such that the media forms a wrap angle partially around the roller.

Abstract: Apparatus for coupling a radiation beam to an optical fiber includes an optical fiber holder, a housing, and a lens positioned in the housing. A flexure provides angular and longitudinal alignment of at least one of the lens and the optical fiber holder relative to the other of the lens and the optical fiber holder for thereby positioning and focusing of the beam on the radiation-receiving end of a received optical fiber. The flexure may be a thin, flat member with a first support region fixed relative to the lens and a second support region fixed relative to the fiber holder. The first and second support regions are circular and co-axial, and the second support region has diameter greater than the first region. The first and second support regions are connected by a plurality of flexible bridge pairs.

Abstract: A small particle toner image is formed on a primary image member (11), such as a photoconductor; electrostatically transferred to an intermediate transfer member (22); and then electrostatically transferred to a receiving sheet. The intermediate transfer member includes a base of a relatively compliant material having an embedded coating of beads with a volume weighted average diameter of less than about 3 microns, and preferably between 0.5 and 1.0 micron. These beads cover at least 40% of the intermediate image member.

Abstract: A color laser printing apparatus that incorporates the use of fiber optics and a flexible beam-combining device to combine two or more lasers having different wavelengths that correspond to the photosensitivities of the image-receiving media. Use of fiber optics on a flexible beam-combining device allows high flexibility in the placement of components associated with a color laser printing apparatus and making the system easier to align. Because the components of the system no longer require placement in close proximity to one another, certain aspects of the system can be made more compact and any adverse effects of heat generation of the components, such as the lasers, can be greatly reduced.

Abstract: A dye donor cartridge (17) for a thermal printer (10) is disclosed. Uniformity of the image intensity in the thermal print head (12) is achieved by carefully controlling an ambient temperature of the print head. This control of ambient temperature is achieved with an air flow arrangement, wherein air is supplied to the dye donor cartridge (17), and through cartridge vents (54) to print head heatsink (15). In one embodiment of the invention, cartridge vents (54) vary in size to provide extra cooling to portions of the printhead assembly (12) to maintain a substantially uniform temperature along its length.

Abstract: An optical system for illuminating a multi-element spatial light modulator from a multi-emitter laser array such that each element of the modulator sees light from all emitters targets the light onto the two or more rows of elements, without putting light into the gap between the rows, and without putting light in the spaces between the elements. The element illumination may match a complex shape of the elements. A beamsplitter/staggerer is adapted to split the line of laser light into plural parallel lines of light, and to split the parallel lines of light into regions such that substantially all of the light from the illumination system falls onto the elements of the rows without impinging between the rows of elements or between the elements in the rows.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an AC charger (10) in which an AC voltage waveform applied to a corona wires (12) has a duty cycle of between 50% and 90%. This increases the efficiency of the charger without increasing the signal-to-noise ratio. In one embodiment, the AC voltage waveform is asymmetric.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a holeless hologon disk includes the steps of relatively positioning a disk assembly and a drive shaft assembly in closely spaced relation with the planar surface of the disk normal to the drive shaft's rotational axis. Adhesive is applied between the assemblies and allowed to fix while the relative assembly positions are maintained. In one construction fabricated by such method, the disk assembly comprises a flanged coupling attached to a planar glass disk with compliant adhesive.

Abstract: A multi-beam laser printer for printing on light-sensitive thermal media where a monolithic array of independently modulated diode lasers is used to reduce the size of the printer. A closely spaced array of printing spots is produced from the separate diode lasers using two lenslet arrays having power in the array direction. To correct for non-straightness of the laser array, an optical arrangement is used to conjugate the far field of the lasers in a direction perpendicular to the array direction of the printing plane so that the laser array produces a straight line of printing spots on the light-sensitive medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing both pictorial image information and text information on a sheet or surface used in the production of a printed page. The original image is scanned at a low resolution to produce density values for each color separation. The original image is then scanned at a second higher resolution to derive signals representative of the density values for the black separation. Scanned data for each color separation is stored and then interpolated to the second higher resolution prior to being printed and the data associated with the black separation is then printed at its original resolution by the printer.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for digitally printing a finely detailed image using pulse width modulation (PWM) with improved productivity over the prior art. Many images, or portions of images, generated by printers utilizing PWM do not require that any of the pixels be exposed for the maximum time possible, but that a maximum exposure can be determined for a selected portion of the image, whether it is for a line, for a paragraph, or for a selected color, that can then be used to speed up the printing of that portion of the image. Thus, a less than full density exposure can be set as the maximum, and the scanning speed increased accordingly to shorten the overall time required for printing that portion of the image.

Abstract: A debarking chain including a closed chain link attached to an open link by a series of translational and rotational movements. A second chain added in a similar fashion with the first chain locking the second chain in place.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a double acting actuator having a piston movable within a cylinder, a main poppet control valve connected to a fluid pressure source, and first and second poppet valves connected in series to a rod side chamber of the cylinder. The piston is extended upon actuation of both first and second poppet valves, while allowing retraction of the piston upon release of either the first or the second poppet valves.