Image scanning system

A method of scanning an image comprising

• (a) providing an image;
• (b) providing a first lens means on axis with the image and one focal length thereof away from said image;
• (c) providing a deflector means on axis with said first lens means and said image, also one focal length away from said first lens means but on the opposite side thereof from said image;
• (d) directing a beam of collimated light onto said deflector means, wherein as the deflector means controls the scan path the focused beam illuminates the image;
• (e) optically processing said image with collimated light by shaping the complex amplitude distribution thereof during the scanning step;
• and
• (f) collecting the information-modulated light from the scanning step with a readout lens means which focuses the information-modulated light onto an optoelectronic detector located in a plane one focal length away from said readout lens and developing a video signal therefrom, wherein said first lens means and said readout lens means can be the same element.

A method of scanning a light transmitting image comprising:

• (a) providing a light transmitting image;
• (b) providing a first lens means on axis with and one focal length away from said image;
• (c) providing a second lens means on the opposite side of said image from said first lens means, said second lens means being on axis and one focal length away from said image;
• (d) providing a deflector means on axis with said first lens means and said image, one focal length away from said first lens means and on the opposite side thereof from said image;
• (e) directing a beam of collimated light onto said deflector means, wherein as the deflector means controls the scan path the focused beam illuminates the image;
• (f) collecting the information-modulated light from the scanning step with said second lens means which focuses the information-modulated light onto an optoelectronic detector located in a plane one focal length away from said second lens means and developing a video signal therefrom.