Back to results
US 4,729,039 AGranted
Method and device for producing full tone images from a video input
AssigneeQuanta Labs, Inc.
InventorRonald L. Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A full tone image recorder which uses LEDs or the like, a thin fiber optic strip and a scanning belt with an aperture therein drawn across the fiber optic strip to create a flying spot of light for irradiating photosensitive material and producing thereon a photographic quality image of data contained in a video input.
Claims29
A full tone image recorder comprising;
- intensity modulated light source means for providing a source of light which has an intensity that is generally linearly modulated relative to modulations in a current input;
- light focusing means for focusing the source of light generated by said intensity modulated light source means into a line segment of light;
- flying spot generating means for generating a flying spot of light, said flying spot generating means further comprising;
- a fiber optic strip arranged to be co-linearly irradiated by the line segment of light created by said light focusing means, said fiber optic strip having a transverse dimension defining a first dimensional constriction on said flying spot of light, said fiber optic strip having an optical input surface and an optical output surface;
- an inextensible opaque belt with a lateral aperture disposed therein, said lateral aperture defining a second dimensional constriction on said flying spot of light;
- a belt transportation means for passing said belt over said fiber optic strip so that said lateral aperture is in rectilinear relationship to said fiber optic strip;
- a source of photosensitive material;
- material transportation means for transportation of material from said source of photosensitive material past said optical output surface of said fiber optic strip;
- and,
- control means for controlling said intensity modulated light source means, said belt transportation means and said material transportation means to produce a latent precision image on said photosensitive material that conforms to a video input.
7 more elements
A full tone image recorder comprising:
- energy source means for receiving a video signal and emitting a source of energy which has a modulated intensity relative to said video signal;
- flying spot generating means for generating a flying spot of energy, said flying spot generating means including;
- an energy guide strip arranged to be irradiated by said energy emitted from said energy source means, said energy guide strip having a transverse dimension defining a first dimensional constriction on said flying spot of energy, said energy guide strip having an energy input surface and an energy output surface;
- a belt with a lateral aperture disposed therein, said lateral aperture defining a second dimensional constriction on said flying spot of energy, said belt being constructed of material which prevents the propagation of said energy through the belt and said lateral slot being designed to allow the transfer of said energy therethrough;
- a belt transportation means for passing said belt over the energy input surface of said energy guide strip so that said lateral aperture is in rectilinear relationship to said energy guide strip;
- a source of photographic material sensitive to variations in the intensity of said energy;
- material transportation means for transportation of material from said source of photographic material past said energy output surface of said energy guide strip;
- and,
- control means for controlling said energy source means, said belt transportation means and said material transportation means to produce a precision image on said photographic material.
6 more elements
A method for producing full tone images from a video input comprising;
- receiving an analog or digital video input signal;
- storing said video input signal in digital form in a data storage device;
- converting stored digital video information to an analog current signal;
- modulating the intensity of light from an array of light emitting diodes with said analog current signal;
- creating a flying spot of light by
- irradiating a fiber optic strip with intensity modulated light;
- and
- scanning said fiber optic strip with an opaque belt with an aperture therein;
- exposing photosensitive material to said flying spot of light by passing said photosensitive material beneath said fiber optic strip.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.