Abstract: An image scanner employing a fiber optic bundle extending from a linear entrance face to an area exit face and having an analog sensor array coupled to the exit face is initialized by a procedure which selects a subset of sensors of the array in a sequence to match the sequence of pixels in the entrance face even if the bundle is noncoherent. The initialization procedure is operative to select candidate sensors during a windowing operation and to sort the successful candidates into a proper sequence simultaneoulsy by exposure of the sensors to light of different durations which are a function of a multistage spinning pattern of transparent and opaque areas. The sequence of sensors obtained corresponds to the sequence of pixels in the linear entrance face.