Abstract: Method and apparatus for expanding the number of grey scale values in a digital flying-spot scanning system. The scanned recording medium is divided into a plurality of unit cells, each of which is assigned a desired grey scale value, and each unit cell is further divided into a plurality of subcells formed by a plurality of adjacent portions of scan lines comprising digitally controlled segments. The grey scale value of the unit cell is dependent upon the portion of the subcells within the unit cell which are activated or deactivated by the scanning beam. Additionally, the number of grey scale values between particular numbers of activated subcells is expanded by providing varying patterns of predetermined numbers of subcells within the unit cell with the varying patterns producing the optical effect of varying grey scale levels.

Abstract: An electrically pumped distributed feedback grating coupled diode laser having an optical cavity containing two closely spaced layers, a first of the layers is electrically pumped and the second of the layers is corrugated. Optical wavelength radiation and amplification of said radiation is generated in the first layer by carrier recombination with the radiation spreading to the second layer for coherent reflection by the corrugation and for low loss transmission. Carrier confinement in the first layer and optical confinement in the optical cavity are achieved by surrounding each of these layers by materials having a higher bandgap and lower index of refraction than the materials of the first and the second layers. The corrugation of the second layer can extend over only a portion of the length of the second layer such that the uncorrugated portion of the second layer provides a low loss waveguide.

Abstract: An electrically pumped, solid-state laser device having a grating or physical periodic structure in a region, or adjacent a region, of semiconductor material that functions as a light wave guide. The spacing of the perturbations of the periodic structure are selected to be an integer number of half wavelengths of the desired laser wavelength. The electrically pumped, solid-state laser device can be a single heterojunction device or a double heterojunction device. Both devices are formed by a process which provides for formation of the periodic structure prior to formation of the light guiding layer or region. Due to this process a periodic structure having a desired spacing and substantial depth is produced, which structure produces Bragg Scattering which couples and reinforces light traveling through the light guiding layer in both directions in a coherent manner such that reflections are in phase, thus allowing laser operation in the absence of discrete end reflectors.This is a division of application Ser.

Abstract: Half-tone imaging is achieved in a flying spot scanning system wherein a highly collimated light beam is modulated with imaging information, reflected from a multifaceted rotating polygon and directed to a scanned medium through a light attenuating member. The latter member is supported proximate the imaging focal plane and orthogonal to the collimated, reflected light beam. The light attenuating member has an optical light transmission characteristic that varies in a continuous and cyclic pattern with a cycle period at least about ten times the maximum lateral extent of the collimated light beam, thereby serving to alter the system imaging from contrasting black and white patterns to half tones and gray colorations.

Abstract: A heterojunction diode laser which produces a highly collimated, polarized light beam perpendicular to the plane of the PN junction of the laser rather than through cleaved end faces in the plane of the PN junction. The diode laser includes a periodic structure which is buried at a heterojunction interface and in contact with a light waveguide layer. The periodic structure acts to produce the feedback necessary for lasing. If the spacing of the teeth of the periodic structure are an integer number of wavelengths of the light photons produced in the laser, the light beam exits at an angle perpendicular to the plane of the PN junction. If a tooth spacing is chosen that is not equal to an integer number of wavelengths of the light photons produced in the laser, the light beam may emerge from the diode at an angle other than the normal with the specific angle determined by the particular tooth spacing.

Abstract: Apparatus for optically imaging a halftone pattern on a xerographic photoreceptor to produce color copies of a color original. The apparatus includes a phase screen for providing a predetermined halftone pattern, the screen producing substantially the same pattern at the same spatial frequency over the visible light spectrum.

Abstract: A flying spot scanning system is provided which uses directed light from a scanning element, which directed light is reflected through a symmetrical arrangement of reflective surfaces for scanning across a medium with a planar object surface. In each scanning cycle, information is transmitted to the scanned medium by modulating the directed light in accordance with a video signal.

Abstract: A distributed feedback, (DFB) electrically pumped diode laser in which the spacing of the periodic structure within the diode is selected to optimize the interaction between the periodic structure and the electromagnetic waves in the diode laser. The degree to which the waves interact with the periodic structure is described mathematically by a coupling constant K, with larger values of K corresponding to lower gains required to produce laser operation. It is shown that in DFB diode lasers higher order transverse modes have a higher coupling constant K with the periodic structure than does the lowest order transverse mode and thus the higher order transverse modes will lase more easily than the lowest order transverse mode.

Abstract: An electrically pumped, distributed feedback laser having all side surfaces of the active laser medium cleaved and a periodic structure at a 45.degree. angle to all of the cleaved surfaces. Current confining channels restrict pumping current to selected regions of the active laser medium to provide sufficient feedback such that two parallel filamentary areas of the active medium lase. By having multiple lasing filaments the divergence of the output beam in the direction of the width of the filaments is reduced by a factor proportional to the number of filamentary lasing areas.