Abstract: An apparatus (10) for obtaining an image of a tooth (20) includes an image sensor and a white light source (12) providing broadband polychromatic light and an ultraviolet light source providing narrow-band light. A combiner (15) directs broadband polychromatic light and narrow band light along a common illumination path to illuminate the tooth. A polarization beamsplitter (18) directs polarized light from the illumination path along an optical axis (216). An optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging apparatus (70) splits the low coherence light into a sample path and a reference path and a dichroic element (78) directs the polarized illumination and the sample path low coherence light along the optical axis. An image processor (100) identifies a region of interest according to either a white light image (124), a fluorescent light image (120), or both and the OCT imaging apparatus obtains an OCT image over the region of interest.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging a tooth having a light source with a first spectral range and a second spectral range. A polarizing beamsplitter (18) light having a first polarization state toward the tooth and directs light from the tooth having a second polarization state along a return path toward a sensor (68), wherein the first and second polarization states are orthogonal. A first lens (22) in the return path directs image-bearing light from the tooth, through the polarizing beamsplitter (18), toward the sensor (68), and obtains image data from the redirected portion of the light having the second polarization state. A long-pass filter (15) in the return path attenuates light in the second spectral range. Control logic enables the sensor to obtain either the reflectance image or the fluorescence image.

Abstract: A method for obtaining an image of a tooth obtains an area image of the tooth (20) surface and identifies a region of interest from the area image by positioning a marker (146) on the area image. The marker (146) corresponds to at least a portion of the region of interest and identifies a scanning area. An optical coherence tomography (OCT) image is then obtained over the scanning area.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining an image of a tooth having at least one light source providing incident light having a first spectral range for obtaining a reflectance image (122) from the tooth and a second spectral range for exciting a fluorescence image (120) from the tooth. A polarizing beamsplitter (18) in the path of the incident light from both sources directs light having a first polarization state toward the tooth and directs light from the tooth having a second polarization state along a return path toward a sensor (68), wherein the second polarization state is orthogonal to the first polarization state. A first lens (22) in the return path directs image-bearing light from the tooth toward the sensor (68), and obtains image data from the portion of the light having the second polarization state. A long-pass filter (15) in the return path attenuates light in the second spectral range.

Abstract: An improved autostereoscopic display apparatus (10) forms left and right virtual images for pupil imaging by forming, through a beamsplitter (16), a real intermediate image near the focal surface of a curved mirror (24). A circular polarizer (90) is disposed at a position between viewing pupils (14l, 14r) and the beamsplitter (16), minimizing glare due to stray light reflection from the curved mirror surface.

Abstract: An image display system includes: an image projector including a mirror optical element for forming an exit pupil for viewing an image at a viewing location; a viewer eye position detector for generating a signal representing the position of a viewer's eyes relative to the location; and a control system responsive to the signal for providing relative motion between the viewer and the image projector to maintain the viewer's eyes at the exit pupil.

Abstract: An image display system includes: an image projector including a mirror optical element for forming an exit pupil for viewing an image at a viewing location; a viewer eye position detector for generating a signal representing the position of a viewer's eyes relative to the location; and a control system responsive to the signal for providing relative motion between the viewer and the image projector to maintain the viewer's eyes at the exit pupil.

Abstract: An applicator for glue includes a glue dispensing assembly and a housing with a barrel section, a handle section and a base. At least a portion of the glue dispensing assembly is located within the housing. The barrel section is adjacent to one end of the handle section and the base is adjacent to another end of the handle section. The base supports the handle section and the barrel section above a surface when the base is placed on the surface. A removable container for housing the glue to be dispensed is located at least partially within an opening in the base of the housing. The glue dispensing assembly includes a one glue dispensing tip located adjacent to one end of the barrel section of the housing and within the outer periphery of the base when the base is placed on the surface. The glue has a filament form factor of greater than about 100 and a ten watt heater or less is used.

Abstract: An electronic digital imaging apparatus includes an intensity-modulated light source for emitting a light beam along an optical path, an adjustment block to which the light source is fixed and which is movable along the optical path to move the light source along the optical path, and means for scanning the light beam along a recording surface. The adjustment block has two opposed ends and a central region; one of the opposed ends being fixed relative to the optical path, the other of the opposed ends being adjustable in the general direction of the optical path, and the central region carries the light source; whereby adjustment of the other of the opposed ends in the general direction of the optical path by a given distance is effective to move the light source along the optical path by a fraction of the given distance. Projection optics are detachably integral with the light source in the optical path for focusing the light beam at the recording surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for accurately guiding a web of light-sensitive recording media into a cylindrical support shoe of a printer includes a metering roller at the inlet side of a stationary support shoe around which a received media web is wrapped. At least one media guide belt is mounted about a set of pulleys to guide media toward a nip between a pressure roller and the metering roller through which the media is driven into the stationary support shoe. The metering roller is mounted to rotate about a predetermined axis, and the pressure roller has one end held in a frame and is spring loaded into the frame and the metering roller.

Abstract: A printer has (1) a support shoe with a cylindrical inner surface and (2) a write head carried by a rotor which is simultaneously rotatable about and linearly translated along the axis of the cylindrical surface. A media guide member is mounted for movement along the axis of rotation of the rotor. The media guide member is moved to a position within the cylindrical inner surface of the support shoe so as to form a gap between the inner surface of the support shoe and the outer surface of the media guide member. The recording media can advance around a gap formed between the outer surface of the media guide member and inside of the cylindrical inner surface of the support shoe. The rotor is carried by a rotor support member in fixed spacial relationship to the media guide member for simultaneous linear translation along the axis of rotation of the rotor. The rotor support member is attached to a carriage assembly which is supported for movement along a pair of guide rods.

Abstract: A printer has a support shoe with an arcuate inner surface for receiving a light-sensitive recording media and a write head assembly to record onto media received on the inner surface of the support shoe. The printer includes a web cutting means at the exit end of the support shoe and means for applying vacuum sequentially (1) to a region of the arcuate inner surface furthest from the web cutting means, (2) to the center region of the arcuate inner surface, and (3) to a region of the arcuate inner surface closest to the web cutting means to thereby force media to wrap around the arcuate inner surface. The vacuum may be applied to a center region of the arcuate inner surface to remove slack in a media segment between the center region and the web cutting means.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus has a support shoe with an at-least-partially cylindrical inner surface for receiving a recording media, a rotor which is simultaneously rotatable about and linearly translated along a fixed axis, a write head assembly carried by the rotor to write on recording media received on the inner surface of the support shoe, a member having an arcuate outer periphery and supported within the support shoe for movement along the fixed axis, and electrically conductive bristles extending radially from the periphery of the member toward the received media to dissipate electrostatic charge build up on the media. The member is supported for movement with the rotor, and preferably leads the rotor as the rotor moves along the axis during a write operation. The bristles extend radially from the periphery of the member and are spaced from the received media to create an electrical stress in free air space.

Abstract: A print guide mechanism having parallel first and second guide rods, and a carriage assembly designed to move along the guide rods. The carriage assembly in a preferred embodiment comprises a frame and at least one pair of associated roller bearing assemblies being secured to the frame and being arranged so as to engage the first guide support rod for providing linear movement of the carriage assembly along the first guide rod, at least one upper roller bearing assembly mounted to the frame for engagement with the second guide rod, and a first mounting assembly having at least one lower roller bearing assembly. The at least one upper and lower roller bearing assemblies are arranged so as to engage the second guide rod between. The first mounting assembly is pivotally mounted to the frame so as to compensate for parallel misalignment between the guide rods and is biased for applying a loading force so that positive engagement is provided between the guide rods and the roller bearing assemblies.

Abstract: A relatively inexpensive coupling for preventing the transmission of thread drunkenness to a carriage or other element being driven by a lead screw. The coupling is formed with an input plate and an output plate both connected to an intermediate member. The connections via flexure members permit movement of the intermediate member relative to the coupling and the output plate to provide uniform motion to a carriage along the lead screw axis.

Abstract: An encoder system and method wherein an encoder element driven by a motor has a series of segments arranged along a path with adjacent segments having different properties meeting at an edge or transition, two adjacent segments of different properties comprising a cycle and the encoder element having a number of cycles equally spaced along the path and defining a relatively coarse pitch relationship. A coupling medium, preferably optical, images the encoder segments onto a number of individual sensor elements of an array, such as a charge-coupled device sensor, wherein the sensor elements are spaced at a relatively fine pitch along the array.

Abstract: A module interposed between a slide tray and a projector provides a user selected random presentation of sequentially ordered slides. The module bottom simulates the tray bottom to align gates of the module and projector. The module top simulates the tray bottom to align gates of the tray and module. A microcontroller controls a lifter foot to keep unwanted slides from dropping into the module gate until the tray had been rotated by a hub assembly to the next desired slide position. The lifter foot then acts to lower a slide through the module to the lifter foot and projector, and return it after projection.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for a light bulb includes a soft start-up circuit as well as a DC-to-AC converter in order to prolong bulb life. In addition, the mounting assembly includes a removable socket to facilitate changing the bulb. When the socket is rotated from an "engaged" position for removal, an interlock causes power to be interrupted at a remote location from the mounting assembly. In addition, conducting portions of the mounting assembly are remotely located to reduce the possibility of accidental contact during socket installation and removal.

Abstract: A plurality of aperture blades are each provided with an opening having a V-shaped edge, such that when the blades are superimposed they cooperate to define a six-sided aperture. The blades are each mounted for rectilinear movement by a pair of guide pins. Cam pins supported on a driver rotated by a stepper motor engage cam slots in the blades and position them rectilinearly to change the aperture size.

Abstract: In a film video system, a repositionable imaging solid state sensor is used to generate electric signals in reponse to a photographic image for display on a video monitor. The repositionable sensor is aligned with the photographic image by locating a fixed mask between a source for illuminating the image and the sensor. Corner pixels of the sensor are identified, and the sensor is moved relative to the mask. When at least one of these corner pixels transition between a light and dark state during movement of the sensor, it is indicative of the presence of an edge of the mask. By moving the sensor and calculating the distance between edges of the mask, the sensor may be aligned with the mask. Since the mask is aligned with the photographic image, the sensor is aligned with the photographic image.