Abstract: An ink-jet printer capable of providing a large number of gray levels delivers ink for each pixel through several nozzles for each color, with each nozzle corresponding to a bit of the pixel's image data word. The nozzle corresponding to the least significant bit of the image data word has a capacity to deliver an amount of ink just sufficient to produce 1/256 of the maximum desired density on the media. The second nozzle, corresponding to the next least significant bit of the image data word, has a capacity to deliver twice as much ink as the first nozzle. The third nozzle delivers twice as much ink as the second nozzle (and four times as much as the first nozzle), and so on. The last nozzle delivers 128 times as much ink as the first nozzle. Control of each nozzle is time-sequenced to print each pixel of the image as the printhead scans over the media. The ink is delivered to the image pixel according to the value of the image data word.

Abstract: A laser thermal system that uses a dye donor produces a desired relationship of exposure to density by modifying the input current waveform supplied to the exposure source. The modification is a combination of amplitude modulation and pulse width modulation in an imagewise fashion. The efficiency and the speed of image formation is increased by bringing the dye donor temperature near the threshold of dye transfer using a segment of the total current waveform for a very short duration.

Abstract: A beamsplitter/staggerer (24) for multi-beam laser printers is disclosed. The multi-beam laser printer is comprised of the beamsplitter/staggerer (24), a spatial light modulator (16) having at least two rows of staggered modulator pixel elements (19), and an illumination system comprised of a laser array (10) and an optical system (13) which provides a narrow line of laser light. The beamsplitter/staggerer is adapted to split the narrow line of laser light into at least two parallel lines of light, and to split each of the parallel lines of light into regions, such that substantially all of the light from the illumination system falls onto each of the modulator pixel elements (19) in each of the rows. In one embodiment, the beamsplitter/staggerer comprises a pattern of reflecting areas (26) and transmitting areas (27) wherein a shape of the regions defined by the beamsplitter/staggerer matches a shape of the modulator pixel elements (19).

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for a laser thermal printer (1) provides 100% fill at a media plane (60). The imaging apparatus (10) comprises a laser array (12), and focuses it on a modulator lenslet array (30). The illumination optics (13) combines light from each diode laser (14) in modulator lenslet array (30) and focuses light onto modulator sites (42) on the modulator array (40), with less than 100% fill. A printing lens (50) focuses an image of the modulator lenslet array onto a media plane (60) at essentially 100% fill.

Abstract: A multiple-source array for use in thermal printing uses source interleaving to avoid overlapping of the dye-transfer tracks upon the donor material in a single pass. This prevents the formation of artifacts in the image because of thermal interaction among either the sources or printing spots. This also permits the thermal array to be oriented predominantly perpendicular to the first-scan direction so that any arcuate shape of the array causes minimal spacing variations of the scan lines and minimizes spacing variations in focus for laser-thermal printing or document source separation for resistive-head thermal printing. Interleaving also allows multiple printheads to be used even when they have different printing characteristics. The array includes independently addressable printing element data channels and a data distributor allowing interleaving to be accomplished in the printhead.

Abstract: A laser imager autofocus apparatus, adapted to receive media with an image surface to be scanned, includes a laser and laser optics for producing a beam of light focused at an image plane. A photodiode is associated with the laser and adapted to produce a signal characteristic of the amount of light from the laser that is reflected from the image surface of received media onto the photodiode. Focus of the laser beam on the image surface is adjusted in response to the characteristic signal to maintain close association of the image surface of received media and the image plane of the laser and laser optics. The focus adjusting means may move one or more of the laser, the laser optics, or the image surface of received media. The laser source may be an array of plural laser sources in a line, and the plural laser sources may tilt relative to the image surface of received media.

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: Laser color printers include multiple laser sources formed of either diode lasers or laser diode arrays emitting light beams of different wavelengths, and an optical arrangement. The optical arrangement independently processes each of the light beams to provide a separate predetermined sized collimated light beam, and then focuses and scans the light beams over a printing media that prints separate colors for each different wavelength of light. Where different sized collimated light beams are required to match a printing media, a separate zoom lens is used is used in the optical arrangement to independently reshape each of two orthogonal cross-sectional directions of a separate one of the light beams before being properly sized at the output thereof.

Abstract: A light modulator for use with a laser or laser diode array such that the light from the laser is imaged on a light modulator having a row of light modulating elements, either of the reflectance or transmittance type. The light modulator is imaged onto a light-sensitive material and the image is scanned line by line on the light-sensitive material. Control circuitry is provided to control the relative movement between the light modulator and the light-sensitive material that may be either in planar form or wrapped out the circumference of cylindrical drum.

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 laser printing system includes plurality of N channel where each channels includes a laser diode forming a laser light beam which is shaped by a beam shaper to correct for divergence differences between the lasers of the N channels. The plurality of N output laser light beams from the plurality of N beam shapers are circular in cross-section, and are combined at a stop aperture in a stop plane with a predetermined angular separation. Various techniques are disclosed for combining the plurality of N output laser light beams. An optical system relays the combined plurality of N angularly separated output laser light beams at the stop plane to a light sensitive print medium to form a spot for each laser light beam. The spots are then scanned across the print medium to print a desired image.

Abstract: A holder for a thermal print medium is disclosed. The holder is adapted to be used in a thermal printer in which a donor element in a thermal print medium transfers dye to a receiver element upon receipt of a sufficient amount of thermal energy. The printer includes a plurality of diode lasers which can be individually modulated to supply energy to selected dots on the medium in accordance with an information signal. The print head of the printer includes a fiber optic array having a plurality of optical fibers coupled to the diode lasers. The holder for the thermal print medium includes a rotatable vacuum drum, and the fiber optic array is movable relative to the drum. The vacuum drum includes separate vacuum supplies for the donor sheet and for the receiver sheet so that the sheets can be independently handled.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a laser-induced thermal dye transfer image. A slide for brings a dye donor and dye receiver into dye transferring proximity, and a laser emits a beam of light toward the donor to image-wise transfer dye to the receiver. The slide, along with the donor therein, is tilted to eliminate intensity noise in the laser caused by light reflecting from the slide and donor back to the laser. By tilting the slide, specular reflections from the dye donor do not intercept optical path and do not propagate along the optical path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a laser induced thermal dye transfer. The apparatus includes a dye receiving element having a ridge formed along a periphery thereof for receiving a dye donor element thereon with the only physical contact between the elements occurring along the ridge. Separation between the donor and receiver elements is maintained by the ridge by mounting the donor and receiver against mounting plates that hold the elements flat. A vacuum is applied to the holding plates to attract the elements towards their respective holders.

Abstract: A monolithic multi-color laser comprising a semiconductor laser formed on a substrate for lightwave generation. Means is provided for exciting the laser and means is provided on the substrate adjacent the laser to double the frequency of the lightwave emitted from the laser to produce output lightwaves having wavelengths in the photo-sensitive region of conventional silver halide photographic material. Further, an individually controllable frequency matched lightwave modulator is mounted on the substrate and is arranged to individually control the output lightwave in response to a data signal.

Abstract: There are disclosed an apparatus and a method for thermal printing by dye transfer of a high definition image on a receiver element such as a full color slide transparency. This new thermal printing apparatus includes a laser, means to scan a finely focused spot of light from the laser along a line, means to position a dye donor element and a closely adjacent receiver element (side transparency) to be scanned by the laser light spot, and laser drive and control logic (LDCL) means for turning the laser full-on to an optimum power level for a time determined by high speed print data in the form of data words. The method according to the invention includes the step of applying to a dye donor element thermal energy from a laser at a power level at which the dye ablates rather than sublimes. The laser is driven at an optimum power-on level and the length of time the laser is on determines the amount of dye transferred to a receiver element as a dye pixel.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer suitable for forming a slide for projection viewing comprising a polymeric central dye image-receiving section and an integral polymeric frame section extending around the periphery of the central dye image-receiving section, the frame section being from about 1/2 to about 3 mm thick and the central dye image-receiving section preferably being thinner than the frame section. Such integral receiver-frames do not require post-imaging framing and mounting assembly operations in order to be viewable in slide projectors, and are particularly advantageously used in laser thermal dye transfer systems.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of forming a laser-induced thermal dye transfer image comprising:a) contacting at least one dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer, having an infrared-absorbing material associated therewith, with a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a polymeric dye image-receiving layer, said dye-donor and dye-receiver being separated by spacer beads;b) imagewise-heating the dye-color element by means of a laser at a given power supplied to the laser; andc) transferring a dye image to the dye-receiving element to form the laser-induced thermal dye transfer image,and wherein another portion of the dye-donor element or another dye-donor element is imagewise-heated by the laser to transfer a second dye image which is approximately the same hue as the first dye image and is in register with the first dye image to produce a given density, the power supplied to the laser for the first and second imagewise heatings being lower than the power which

Abstract: A thermal printer is disclosed which is particularly suitable for making slide transparencies. The printer includes a laser which provides the necessary thermal energy to effect a transfer of dye from a donor element to a receiver element. A beam from the laser passes through suitable optics and is scanned onto the receiver element by a galvonometer. In order to insure the transfer of dye from the donor at a suitable resolution and with sufficient speed, a relatively high-powered single transverse mode coherent laser is used.

Abstract: A thermal printer is disclosed which is particularly suitable for making slide transparencies. The printer includes a laser which provides the necessary energy to effect a transfer of dye from a donor element to a receiver element. In order to insure the transfer of dye from the donor at a suitable resolution and with sufficient speed, two relatively high-powered single transverse mode lasers are used. The beam from one of the lasers is passed through a half-wave plate, and the beam is then combined with the beam from the other laser by a polarization beam splitter. The combined beam is passed through suitable optics and is scanned onto the receiver element by a galvonometer.