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EP0076700A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Input/output scanner for document processing

Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1982-10-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-10-05
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Abstract

Abstract An integrated input/output scanner (12) for electronic document processing and similar applications comprises a photodetector array (14) and an array of individually addressable electrodes (15) which are supported on a suitable substrate (16), such as a silicon integrated circuit, and held closely adjacent a longitudinal surface (17) of an optically transparent electro-optic element (13). For output scanning, a sheet-like light beam is transmitted through the electro-optic element in a generally longitudinal direction and is spatially modulated in accordance with data applied to the electrodes. Readout optics (32) convert the spatial phase front or polarization modulation of the light beam into a correspondingly modulated intensity profile to expose a recording medium (34). For input scanning, an original (22) is imaged onto the photodetector array via the electro-optic element. The input imaging axis is selected to avoid any significant mixing between the input image and the output scanning beam so that there is little, if any, interference between the input scanning and output scanning functions. Moreover, if the input imaging is performed via the electro-optic element, the input imaging axis is aligned to be substantially normal to the intervening surface of the electro-optic element to avoid unwanted distortion of the image detected by the photo-detector array.

Inventors

  • 👤 William D. Turner
  • 👤 Robert A. Sprague

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 23:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/024; H04N1/032; H04N1/036; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/31; G02F1/315; H04N1/04; H04N1/207

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 188 words
An integrated input/output scanner (12) for generating a first group of data samples to represent the information content of an original (22) and for exposing a photosensitive recording medium (34) in accordance with a second group of data samples representing picture elements of an image; said scanner comprising an optically transparent electro-optic element (13); an array of photodetectors (14); an array of individually addressable electrodes (15) spaced-apart laterally of said electro-optic element adjacent major surface (17) thereof; a substrate (16) for supporting said photodetector array and said electrode array; means for transmitting a beam of radiation in a generally longitudinal direction through said electro-optic element, said light beam being collimated laterally of said electro-optic element; means (24) for imaging an original onto the photodetector array without any appreciable mixing with the beam, whereby said photodetectors generate a first group of data samples; means (51) for applying a second group of data samples to said electrodes for spatially modulating the beam in accordance with said picture elements; and means (32) for focusing the modulated beam on said recording medium to expose said recording medium in accordance with said image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 188 words
An integrated input/output scanner (12) for generating a first group of data samples to represent the information content of an original (22) and for exposing a photosensitive recording medium (34) in accordance with a second group of data samples representing picture elements of an image; said scanner comprising an optically transparent electro-optic element (13); an array of photodetectors (14); an array of individually addressable electrodes (15) spaced-apart laterally of said electro-optic element adjacent major surface (17) thereof; a substrate (16) for supporting said photodetector array and said electrode array; means for transmitting a beam of radiation in a generally longitudinal direction through said electro-optic element, said light beam being collimated laterally of said electro-optic element; means (24) for imaging an original onto the photodetector array without any appreciable mixing with the beam, whereby said photodetectors generate a first group of data samples; means (51) for applying a second group of data samples to said electrodes for spatially modulating the beam in accordance with said picture elements; and means (32) for focusing the modulated beam on said recording medium to expose said recording medium in accordance with said image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 45 words
The input/output scanner of claim 1 wherein said substrate is an integrated circuit maintained closely adjacent the major surface of said electro-optic element to couple electric fields into said electro-optic element for modulating said light beam in accordance with said second group of data samples.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
The input/output scanner of claim 1 or 2 wherein the major surface is one of a pair of parallel major surfaces of said electro-optic element, and the original is imaged onto said photodetector array via said electro-optic element on an axis which is substantially normal to the major surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
The input/output scanner of any preceding claim, further including means (52, 51) for feeding processed data samples from said photodetectors to said electrodes to copy the original contemporaneously.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
The input/output scanner of any preceding claim, further including means for transmitting said first group of data samples to a remote device, and for receiving said second group of samples from a remote device for a communicating mode of operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 47 words
The input/output scanner of any preceding claim, wherein the major surface of said electro-optic element is an optically polished, reflecting surface, and the beam is applied internally of the electro-optic element at a grazing angle of incidence relative to the major surface for total internal reflection therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 55 words
The input/output scanner of any preceding claim, wherein said imaging means sequentially images successive lines of the original onto said photodetectors to scan the original on a line-by-line basis, and data samples representing picture elements for successive lines of said image are sequentially applied to said electrodes to replicate said image on a line-by-line basis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The input/output scanner of any preceding claim, wherein each of said electrodes is individually addressable, and further including means for differentially encoding said second group of data samples for application to said electrodes.

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