Abstract: An optical scanning system and method for laser engraving a plurality of data subrasters into a substrate to form a raster of engraved data defining an image on the substrate. Each subraster has a length dimension and a width dimension. The system includes a transport assembly having an objective lens and a mirror, the mirror capable of reflecting a substantially collimated scanning beam incident thereon in a direction transverse to an axis of the incident beam such that it is directed to the objective lens. The objective lens is capable of focusing the scanning beam on the substrate to engrave a set of data in the width dimension of the subraster and the objective lens and mirror combination is capable of moving along the axis of the incident beam to allow subsequent engraving of other sets of data in the width dimension until a complete subraster is formed along its length dimension.

Abstract: An optical scanning system and method for laser engraving a plurality of data subrasters into a substrate to form a raster of engraved data defining an image on the substrate. Each subraster has a length dimension and a width dimension. The system includes a transport assembly having an objective lens and a mirror, the mirror capable of reflecting a substantially collimated scanning beam incident thereon in a direction transverse to an axis of the incident beam such that it is directed to the objective lens. The objective lens is capable of focusing the scanning beam on the substrate to engrave a set of data in the width dimension of the subraster and the objective lens and mirror combination is capable of moving along the axis of the incident beam to allow subsequent engraving of other sets of data in the width dimension until a complete subraster is formed along its length dimension.

Abstract: An optical scanning system and method for laser engraving a plurality of data subrasters into a substrate to form a raster of engraved data defining an image on the substrate. Each subraster has a length dimension and a width dimension. The system includes a transport assembly having an objective lens and a mirror, the mirror capable of reflecting a substantially collimated scanning beam incident thereon in a direction transverse to an axis of the incident beam such that it is directed to the objective lens. The objective lens is capable of focusing the scanning beam on the substrate to engrave a set of data in the width dimension of the subraster and the objective lens and mirror combination is capable of moving along the axis of the incident beam to allow subsequent engraving of other sets of data in the width dimension until a complete subraster is formed along its length dimension.

Abstract: An optical scanning system and method for laser engraving a plurality of data subrasters into a substrate to form a raster of engraved data defining an image on the substrate. Each subraster has a length dimension and a width dimension. The system includes a transport assembly having an objective lens and a mirror, the mirror capable of reflecting a substantially collimated scanning beam incident thereon in a direction transverse to an axis of the incident beam such that it is directed to the objective lens. The objective lens is capable of focusing the scanning beam on the substrate to engrave a set of data in the width dimension of the subraster and the objective lens and mirror combination is capable of moving along the axis of the incident beam to allow subsequent engraving of other sets of data in the width dimension until a complete subraster is formed along its length dimension.

Abstract: An optical scanning system and method for laser engraving a plurality of data subrasters into a substrate to form a raster of engraved data defining an image on the substrate. Each subraster has a length dimension and a width dimension. The system includes a transport assembly having an objective lens and a mirror, the mirror capable of reflecting a substantially collimated scanning beam incident thereon in a direction transverse to an axis of the incident beam such that it is directed to the objective lens. The objective lens is capable of focusing the scanning beam on the substrate to engrave a set of data in the width dimension of the subraster and the objective lens and mirror combination is capable of moving along the axis of the incident beam to allow subsequent engraving of other sets of data in the width dimension until a complete subraster is formed along its length dimension.

Abstract: An optical scanning system and method for laser engraving a plurality of data subrasters into a substrate to form a raster of engraved data defining an image on the substrate. Each subraster has a length dimension and a width dimension. The system includes a transport assembly having an objective lens and a mirror, the mirror capable of reflecting a substantially collimated scanning beam incident thereon in a direction transverse to an axis of the incident beam such that it is directed to the objective lens. The objective lens is capable of focusing the scanning beam on the substrate to engrave a set of data in the width dimension of the subraster and the objective lens and mirror combination is capable of moving along the axis of the incident beam to allow subsequent engraving of other sets of data in the width dimension until a complete subraster is formed along its length dimension.

Abstract: Certain optical imaging systems exhibit disparate vertical and horizontal image focal surfaces; at least one of which is tipped with respect to the optical axis. The projection optics which illuminates such systems must provide that the vertical image components focus upon the nominal vertical image surface, while the horizontal image components focus on the disparate horizontal image surface. Because at least one of these image surfaces may be tilted with respect to the projection axis, correction is required to maintain focus over the entire image surfaces and to eliminate keystoning. The system may also require differing vertical and horizontal image magnifications as projected upon the above disparate focal surfaces. This invention describes, inter alia, the techniques for meeting these varied requirements; to project a rectilinear object field such that it forms a final focused rectilinear image in a system having tipped and disparate image planes.

Abstract: Certain optical imaging systems exhibit disparate vertical and horizontal image focal surfaces; at least one of which is tipped with respect to the optical axis. The projection optics which illuminates such systems must provide that the vertical image components focus upon the nominal vertical image surface, while the horizontal image components focus on the disparate horizontal image surface. Because at least one of these image surfaces may be tilted with respect to the projection axis, correction is required to maintain focus over the entire image surfaces and to eliminate keystoning. The system may also require differing vertical and horizontal image magnifications as projected upon the above disparate focal surfaces. This invention describes, inter alia, the techniques for meeting these varied requirements; to project a rectilinear object field such that it forms a final focused rectilinear image in a system having tipped and disparate image planes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for stabilizing an optical scanner having a rotational axis and a substrate with facets which are generally pyramidal, the outer diameter of the facets being proximate to a base plane which is generally perpendicular to the axis. The method includes adapting the scanner to reduce the inertial deformation of the facets during high speed rotation of the scanner by shaping the substrate beyond the base plane such that during rotation it is substantially inertially symmetric about the base plane.

Abstract: A light scanning system is disclosed which reduces the effects of wobble without the need for complex, cumbersome, or expensive optical equipment. A light source is provided for generating an input light beam. A rotatable support is provided, and has an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the input light beam. A reflector subsystem is provided, and includes a plurality of reflector pairs. Each of the reflector pairs is mounted on the support at a different azimuthal location around the axis of the rotatable support. Each of the reflector pairs has first and second light-reflective plane surfaces, the planes of which intersect at an obtuse angle.

Abstract: A light scanning system is disclosed which reduces the effects of wobble without the need for complex, cumbersome, or expensive optical equipment. A light source is provided for generating an input light beam. A reflector subsystem receives the input light beam, the subsystem including first and second light-reflective plane surfaces, the planes of which intersect at an obtuse angle. The first light-reflective surface is oriented to receive the input light beam and reflect it toward the second light-reflective surface, and the second light-reflective surface is oriented to further reflect the light beam to be approximately orthogonal the direction of the input light beam. Means are provided for rotating the reflector subsystem on an axis which substantially corresponds to the direction of the input light beam. In a preferred embodiment, the planes of said first and second light-reflective surfaces intersect to include an angle of about 135.degree..

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for making a custom shoe based on non-contact measurements of a particular subject's foot. A foot is placed at an inspection position, and a laser beam is directed at the foot, and scanned in a predetermined pattern over the surface of the foot. The light beam reflected from the foot is detected at a position detector. Surface coordinates of the foot are determined as a function of the detector output. The determined surface coordinates are stored and can then be used in making a shoe having a shape which depends on the stored coordinates. In a preferred embodiment, a rotating scanner is disposed above the inspection position and an oscillating reflector is disposed to one side of the inspection position. The beam of light is reflected from the rotating scanner to the oscillating reflector to the foot, and the beam reflected from the foot is thereafter reflected back to the oscillating reflector, the rotating scanner, and then the detector.

Abstract: An anaglyph stereoscopic system is disclosed wherein left and right images are encoded as complementary color fringes in the defocus regions such that the image, when viewed through appropriately filtered glasses, is perceived as a three-dimensional colored image but, when viewed without glasses, appears essentially as a normal two-dimensional colored image. In order to enhance the three-dimensional effect and the compatibility of the two-dimensional image, a special iris is employed for controlling the amount of light passing through the taking lenses of the imaging system. Essentially, the iris restricts the amount of light in the vertical direction only, thereby retaining full left-right separation as the amount of light passing through the filter is restricted by the iris.The taking filters of the imaging system are selected so that after normal processing, the image colorimetry is not disturbed.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a system for storing and reproducing analog or digital information, such as television information. There is provided a recording disk having a mechanical guiding track formed in a spiral or circular pattern on a surface thereof.A signal recovery device is provided and includes mechanical tracking means to effect guiding along the mechanical guiding track of the disk. The signal recovery subsystem also includes an optical scanning means for scanning the optical records.In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the signal recovery device includes mechanical driving means, synchronized with the optical scanning means, for engaging the guiding track and causing motion of the disk with respect to the signal recovery device. The disk is preferably mounted on a passive turntable, and rotation of the disk and turntable is achieved by the mechanical driving means of the signal recovery device acting directly on the disk.

Abstract: An optical relay is disclosed for use in an imaging system for the purpose of providing special visual effects. In the preferred embodiment, the relay is used to transfer the aperture stop within a camera lens to a location where the light can be modified by appropriate color filtration for anaglyph stereoscopy. For example, the relay may be interposed between the taking lens and body of a camera, and may include a field lens for transferring the aperture stop plane of the taking lens to the central plane of a lens assembly adapted to form an image at an image plane within the camera. The anaglyph color filters and a special iris are positioned near the aperture stop image plane of the lens assembly. The iris is adapted to restrict the light path in essentially only one dimension (vertically) so that, regardless of the amount of light traversing the system, full stereoscopic information is retained.