US 4,739,416 A · Digital image reproduction

Abstract

An apparatus for reproducing a digitized image from a semiconductor memory onto a light sensitive material using a plurality of movable equally spaced light sources. The sources direct light beams through apertures in a mask, movable with the sources, onto a sheet of the material disposed on a drum. The light sources emit beams of variable intensity responsive to image data recorded in memory devices. As the drum rotates, the mask and light sources move in unison longitudinally at a rate of one pixel width per drum revolution. One embodiment of a recording module comprises only light sources and mask, while another embodiment also includes a pair of lens arrays that image the beam onto the sheet. There are an integral number of pixel widths between adjacent beams. A plurality of parallel lines on the mask and a scanner fixed relative to the drum sense the relative position between the mask an the drum for providing corrective feedback information to a motor moving the mask and light sources. Color recording may be provided with a mask having three rows of apertures in which each row transmits a different one of red, green, and blue light beams. The film image contains a mosaic of pixels with each pixel mapping an element of memory.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An apparatus for reproducing a digitized image as a latent image on an unexposed light sensitive sheet comprising,

a drum continuously revolvable about a longitudinal axis and capable of supporting a light sensitive sheet about the drum,
a plurality of spaced apart light sources emitting beams of variable intensity light responsive to recorded digital image data from a memory, said beams producing pixels of a characteristic width on said sheet in a helical pattern, said beams being equally widths spaced apart on said sheet by an integral number of pixel widths, and
means for moving said light beams longitudinally parallel to the drum axis an integral number of pixel widths per drum revolution.

An apparatus for reproducing a digitized image as a latent image on an unexposed light sensitive medium comprising,

a cylindrical drum continuously revolvable about a longitudinal axis and capable of supporting a sheet of light sensitive material about said drum,
an opaque mask positioned over at least a portion of said drum and slightly spaced apart therefrom, said mask having a plurality of apertures thereon,
a plurality of modulated light sources emitting light beams of variable intensity responsive to recorded bytes of digital image data from a memory, said beams being directed through said apertures onto said sheet, there being a one-to-one correspondence between a byte of said beams,
means for moving said mask and said light beams in unison, while the drum is revolving, said light beams producing pixels on the sheet of light sensitive material in a helical pattern, said mask and beams moving longitudinally one pixel width per drum revolution, there being an integral number of pixel widths between adjacent beams, the aggregate of all pixels forming a mosaic image.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Digital image reproduction

Life of this patent

Digital image reproduction

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25