High resolution optical-addressing device and electronic scanner and/or printer apparatus employing such device
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorJose M. Mir
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical-address device, useful e.g. in electronic imaging, features (i) a lens array including a plurality of discrete lens means, each adapted to focus incident collimated light, from a plurality of different incidence directions, onto respectively different pixel spots of its associated multi-spot address zone (of a multi-zone, optical-address region) and (ii) light directing structure for sequentially illuminating the lens array with collimated light of different incidence directions. Printer apparatus, scanner apparatus and scanner/printer apparatus incorporating such optical-address device are disclosed.
Claims14
A device for optically addressing a plurality of discrete, high-resolution pixel spots located at respective positions across a linear, optical-address region, said device comprising:
- (a) a linear lens array including a plurality of discrete lens means each adapted to focus incident collimated light, from a plurality of different incidence directions, onto respectively different pixel spots of its associated, multi-spot address zone within said optical-address region;
- and
- (b) control means for directing collimated light onto said linear lens array sequentially from different ones of a plurality of different incidence directions,
- whereby different pixel spot sets, each including one pixel spot from each of the different zones of said optical-address region, will be optically addressed sequentially in response to such sequential light direction by said control means.
An electronic imaging apparatus having means for transporting successive linear regions of a light-sensitive image medium past a linear exposure region, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a linear lens array including a plurality of discrete lens means each adapted to focus incident collimated light, from a plurality of different incidence directions, onto respectively different pixel spots of its associated, multi-spot exposure zone within said linear exposure region;
- (b) light control means for directing collimated light onto said linear lens array sequentially from different ones of a plurality of different incidence directions;
- and
- (c) a linear light valve array having a plurality of discrete light-modulating portions which are each independently addressable electrically to control the passage of light and optically aligned with a respective one of said discrete lens means.
Apparatus for optically scanning successive lines of a record member at a scanning region, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for transporting such member past a linear scan region;
- (b) a linear lens array including a plurality of discrete lens means each adapted to focus incident collimated light, from a plurality of different incidence directions, onto respectively different pixel spots of its associated, multi-spot scan zone within said scanning region;
- (c) control means for directing collimated light onto said linear lens array sequentially from different ones of a plurality of different incidence directions;
- and
- (d) a linear array of discrete photosensor elements each located to receive light from a respective lens means of said lens array after reflection or transmission by a record member line at said scanning region.
Electronic scanner printer apparatus having means for transporting successive lines of a recording medium past a linear exposure region and means for transporting successive lines of a record member to be reproduced past a linear scan station, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) first and second linear lens arrays each comprising a plurality of discrete lens means adapted to focus incident collimated light, from a plurality of different incidence directions, onto respectively different pixel spots of its associated, multi-spot exposure or scan zone within one of said exposure or scan regions;
- (b) control means for directing collimated light into said linear lens arrays sequentially from different ones of a plurality of different incidence directions;
- (c) a linear light valve array having a plurality of discrete light-modulating portions which are each independently addressable electrically to control the passage of light and optically aligned with a respective one of said discrete lens means of said first linear lens array;
- and
- (d) a linear array of discrete photosensor elements each located to receive light from a respective lens means of said second lens array after reflection or transmission by a record member line at said scanning region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.