Abstract: A resolution-select arrangement is provided for a fiber optic document scanner (or scope) having its exit field coupled to an array of discrete sensors. An initialization procedure provides an address string which associates at least one address of the sensor array with each of many of the positions of a light beam incremented along the axis of the entrance field. Subsets of the longest address string are derived and stored separately in consecutive ROM addresses starting at a corresponding start address. Resolution selection, conveniently under software control, selects the starting address corresponding to the desired resolution and increments through consecutive addresses of ROM where the associated address string is stored.

Abstract: A production initializer for a plurality of document scanners each comprising a fiber optic subassembly and a discrete sensor array is provided by moving a spinning light beam along an axis and positioning the linear entrance field of each of a plurality of subassemblies along radial axis. The beam spins at a rate fast compared to the rate at which the beam is advanced along the axis. A large number of subassemblies can be initialized simultaneously in this manner.

Abstract: A noncoherent fiber optic bundle is made coherent by relating the positions of fiber ends in the exit field to the consecutive positions of an initialization beam of light moving in the entrance field. The initialization beam is small compared to the fiber size and is moved along a path in the entrance field in a manner to intersect the entrance ends of the fibers. A sensor array to which the exit field is coupled is interrogated each time the beam is moved to determine which sensors in the array are activated for each incremental position of the beam. The computer stores the address at which the first activation of a sensor occurred, and the address at which a once-activated sensor is no longer activated (turned off). The computer also associates that sensor with the mean beam position between those two addresses. No determination is made as to the positions of the entrance ends of the fiber in the entrance field. The method and apparatus are useful for coherent bundles as well.

Abstract: An optical fiber bundle having a coherent, partially coherent, or non-coherent fiber array is made to exhibit an improved image. The output end of the bundle is abutted against or imaged upon an array of sensors. A beam of light having a diameter small compared to the fiber diameter is moved along a path in a manner to traverse the entire input face of the bundle during an initialization procedure. During the initializing procedure radiation exits from consecutive fibers in positions which correspond to one or more sensors of the array. The addresses of those sensors are determined in each instance and stored to be used during later scanner operations to interrogate the sensor array in an address sequence corresponding to the input end positions of the fibers thus associating the spatial relationship of sensors with corresponding fiber inputs.

Abstract: Coherence of an optical fiber bundle with randomly different geometries at its two ends is achieved electronically. A photosensitive random access memory is used as a sensor array to determine the addresses of fiber at which light exits when light is sequentially directed into consecutive fibers at the other end. The addresses are stored in a ROM and used to provide coherence of an otherwise unordered fiber optic bundle having one end formed in a linear array, for example, and used to scan documents. A printer also is described using electronically achieved coherence.

Abstract: A color document scanner is achieved using three optical fiber bundles. Each bundle is linear at the entrance face and merely gathered at the exit face. The linear ends are abutted against one another and aligned across a document to be scanned. The (three) exit faces are abutted against one or more associated sensor arrays with, for example, red, green, and blue filters interposed between the fiber bundles and the sensor array(s). The sensor arrays are operative not only to relate the positions of fibers in the entrance and exit faces of the respective bundles, but also to organize the associated color information with the appropriate scanned line segment.

Abstract: Coherence of an optical fiber bundle with randomly different geometries at its two ends is achieved electronically. A photosensitive array such as a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a Random Access Memory (RAM) is used as a sensor array to determine the addresses of the fiber at which light exits when light is sequentially directed into each consecutive fiber at the other end. The addresses are stored in a ROM and are used to provide coherence of an otherwise unordered fiber optic bundle having one end formed in a linear array, for example, and used to scan documents. More than one bit map is generated for the array of fibers by utilizing the fact that each fiber overlies a number of sensors of the sensor array. By "exposing" the sensors of each bit map for a different exposure time a pseudo grey scale image is produced with a RAM array and extended grey scale is achieved with a CCD or other analogue imaging array.

Abstract: A credit card is made with a number of optical fibers sandwiched in the card. Some of the fibers intersect opposite edges of the card in a random fashion and provide a unique code characteristic of the card when light is directed into one edge and detected at the other. When cards are made in quantity, the fiber are added in a random fashion providing a unique code for each card.

Abstract: Coherence of an optical fiber bundle with randomly different geometries at its two ends is achieved electronically. A photosensitive random access memory is used as a sensor array to determine the addresses of fiber at which light exits when light is sequentially directed into consecutive fibers at the other end. The addresses are stored in a ROM and used to provide coherence of an otherwise unordered fiber optic bundle having one end formed in a linear array, for example, and used to scan documents. A printer also is described using electronically acieved coherence.