US 4,050,811 AGranted

Optical data record copier having array of lenses with field gaps aligned with data gaps

AssigneeEli S. Jacobs

InventorJames T. Russell

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Abstract

An optical data record copying apparatus is described which includes an array of lenses whose viewing fields do not overlap but are separated by field gaps. The viewing field gaps are aligned with data gaps between data groups in the data tracks on the master record to prevent distortion of the copied data. The optical data is high density digital or analog data, such as digital color television signals recorded on an optical video disc. The lens array may include a plurality of lens pairs which are separated by a light opaque mask having apertures each aligned with different lens pairs for limiting the viewing field of each lens pair. One embodiment of the copying apparatus of the present invention employs a fixed lens array and moves the master record and copy so that such lens array scans the entire length of the master. Another embodiment employs a moving lens array and a fixed master record and copy, such lens array and associated light source being scanned along the length of the master during copying.

Claims14

Dependent claims

Copying apparatus for making photocopies of optical data records, comprising:

first means for supporting a master record in a copying position, said master record having optical data tracks recorded thereon which include a plurality of spaced data groups separated by data gaps on said master record;
light means for directing light at said master record to produce light images of said data groups;
second means for supporting a photocopy record adjacent to said master record in said copying position;
a plurality of lenses supported between said master record and said photocopy record in an array of lenses extending across the master record, said lenses being positioned in spaced relationship so that the light images of different data groups are each transmitted through a different lens of said array to said photocopy record;
and
field separation means for limiting the viewing fields of said lenses simultaneously and for causing the fields of view of the array lenses when viewing the master record to be separate and spaced apart by field gaps at said master record which are aligned with said data gaps.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.