Graphic indicia video signal acquisition transmission and reproduction system

Claim 2

A flying spot scanning system for reading a graphic image contained on a motionless medium, said system comprising: means for generating and sequentially scanning a spot of substantially constant intensity radiant energy over the surface of the medium to be read; radiant energy sensitive means disposed in proximity to the medium to intercept the radiant energy as modified by the image for producing an output signal functionally related to the image; and transport means coupled to said radiant energy sensitive means for moving said radiant energy sensitive means in synchronism with at least one motion component of said scanning spot, whereby said radiant energy sensitive means is caused to be positioned in close physical proximity with said scanning spot throughout a scan to assure that the output signal is uniformly related to the image.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said generating and scanning means comprises a cathode ray tube flying spot scanner means having a controllable beam intensity for sweeping a substantially constant intensity spot of light across the medium in a sequential line by line raster manner, and said radiant energy sensitive means comprises a photosensitive means disposed to intercept the illumination as modified by the image on the medium for providing an analogue video output signal functionally related to the graphic image.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein said cathode ray tube flying spot scanner means comprises: a cathode ray tube; vertical beam deflection drive means for deflecting the cathode ray tube beam along a vertical axis; and horizontal beam deflection drive means for deflecting the cathode ray tube beam along a horizontal axis, said vertical and horizontal beam deflection drive means being adapted to cause said cathode ray tube to generate a series of sequential, vertically spaced, horizontal line scans.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein said transport means comprises means for moving said photosensitive means in synchronism with the vertical position of the cathode ray tube generated spot of light.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 wherein said last named means comprises servo means responsive to and controlled by the vertical beam deflection drive means for moving said photosensitive means in synchronism with the vertical position of the cathode ray tube generated spot of light.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5 wherein said photosensitive means comprises at least one photosensor having an elongated surface, the length dimension of said surface extending in the direction of said horizontal axis.

Claim 8

The system of claim 6 wherein said transport means includes a photosensor support mechanism adapted to position said photosensor, at each portion of a scan, so As to have said photosensitive surface intercept the diffuse reflection from the medium surface.

Claim 9

The system of claim 7 wherein said photosensor support mechanism comprises: means for pivotally supporting said elongated photosensor about an axis extending in the direction of the photosensor; and means for rotating said photosensor about said pivotally supporting means as the sensor changes its vertical position to cause said photosensitive surface to assume a predetermined angular relationship with the surface of the medium functionally related to the vertical position of the sensor, whereby the photosensitive surface will, at each point in the scan, present an optimum positional relationship with the medium surface to intercept the diffuse reflection from the medium surface.

Claim 10

The system of claim 6 wherein said photosensitive means further comprises a second photosensor spaced from said at least one photosensor and having an elongated photosensitive surface spaced from and parallel to said photosensitive surface of said at least one photosensor, said scanning spot being projected through the space between said spaced photosensor.

Claim 11

The system of claim 9 wherein said spaced photosensors are angularly positioned with respect to the surface of the medium so that the photosensitive surface of at least one of said photosensors intercepts the diffuse reflection from the medium surface at each point in a scan.

Claim 12

The system of claim 1 wherein said generating and scanning means comprises: a spherical faceplate cathode ray tube having an effective light source configuration approximated by a sphere segment of determinable radius; medium support means juxtaposed to said cathode ray tube for defining a target surface, said support means including means to fixedly support the medium upon said target surface.

Claim 13

The system of claim 11 wherein said target surface defines a non-planar surface having at least one axis of curvature.

Claim 14

The system of claim 12 wherein said scanning means further comprises means for deflecting the cathode ray tube means to cause said beam to generate a series of sequential, vertically spaced, horizontal line scans defining a raster having a determined overall length and width dimension, said length dimension being greater than said width dimension.

Claim 15

The system of claim 13 wherein said target surface has an axis of curvature parallel to said width dimension and a radius of curvature functionally related to said effective light source configuration determinable radius, said target surface defining a partial cylindrical surface concave towards said cathode ray tube, said curved target surface providing an approximate compensation for the difference in optical path length of the cathode ray tube beam at different points in a scan.

Claim 16

The system of claim 14 wherein said transport means includes means for moving said radiant energy senstive means along a preselected surface congruent to said target surface whereby said radiant energy sensitive means will be positioned a preselected constant distance from said target surface at all points in a scan.

Claim 17

In a facsimile graphic indicia communication system for transmitting composite video signals representative of a graphic image contained on a medium to a location remote from said medium utilizing a narrow band communication link, the combination comprising: scanning means operative to sequentially scan incremental areas of the medium along a predetermined raster for generating an electrical video signal functionally related to the graphic image; position signal generating means for generating synchronizing signal pulses of variable preselected durations, said pulses being functionally related to the position of said scan with respect to the medium; modulator means responsive to said scanning means and said position signal generating means for generating a modulated output signal, said modulated output signal varying between first and second signal levels as said video signal varies between levels corresponding to white and black portions of the image, said modulated signal having a third signal level during the sync period defined by the duration of each synchronizing pulse, said modulator means including narrow band communication link signal conditioning means for conditioning the modulated output signal to enhance the accurate detection, at locations along the communication link remote from the modulator means, of the initiation, termination and duration of each sync period, said signal conditioning means comprising means for generating pre-sync signals immediately preceeding each sync period, said pre-sync signals being at a fourth signal level and having a predetermined phase relationship with respect to said synchronizing pulses; means for generating post-sync signals immediately following said sync period, said post-sync signals being at said fourth signal level and having a predetermined phase relationship with respect to said synchronizing pulses, said fourth signal level being different from said third signal level by a preselected signal level difference whereby delays and distortions in the transmitted modulated output signal introduced by the narrow band communication link will be minimized and controlled with respect to the initiation and termination of the sync period to allow accurate detection thereof; and coupling means for coupling the modulated output signal to the communication link for transmission by the link.

Claim 18

In a facsimile graphic indicia communication system for transmitting composite video signals representative of a graphic image contained on a medium to a location remote from said medium utilizing a narrow band communication link, the combination comprising: scanning means operative to sequentially scan incremental areas of the medium along a predetermined raster for generating an electrical video signal functionally related to the graphic image; position signal generating means for generating synchronizing signal pulses of variable preselected durations, said pulses being functionally related to the position of said scan with respect to the medium; modulator means responsive to said scanning means and said position signal generating means for generating a modulated output signal, said modulated output signal varying between first and second signal levels as said video signal varies between levels corresponding to white and black portions of the image, said modulated signal having a third signal level during the sync period defined by the duration of each synchronizing pulse, said modulator means including narrow band communication link signal conditioning means for conditioning the modulated output signal to enhance the accurate detection, at locations along the communication link remote from the modulator means, of the initiation, termination and duration of each sync period, said signal conditioning means comprising means for generating pre-sync signals immediately preceeding each sync period, said pre-sync signals being at a fourth signal level and having a predetermined phase relationship with respect to said synchronizing pulses; means for generating post-sync signals immediately following said sync period, said post-sync signals being at said fourth signal level and having a predetermined phase relationship with respect to said synchronizing pulses, said fourth signal level being different from said third signal level by a preselected signal level difference whereby delays and distortions in the transmitted modulated output signal introduced by the narrow band communication link will be minimized and controlled with respect to the initiation and termination of the sync period to allow accurate detection thereof; and coupling means for coupling the modulated output signal to the communication link for transmission by the link.

Claim 19

The system of claim 16 further comprising: synthesizing means remotely located along the communication link from said coupling means for reproducing the graphic image from said modulated output signal; and second coupling means for coupling the transmitted modulated output signal to said synthesizing means.

Claim 20

The system of claim 17 wherein said modulator means is a frequency modulator, said modulated signal varying between first and second frequencies corresponding to white and black portions of the image, said modulated signal being a third frequency during said sync period, said modulated signal being a fourth frequency during said pre-sync and post-sync periods, said fourth frequency being different from said third frequency by a preselected frequency difference.

Claim 21

The system of claim 18 wherein the transition from pre-sync to sync and sync to post-sync frequencies occurs at zero crossovers of the modulated output signal.

Claim 22

The system of claim 19 wherein the communication link is a standard commercial telephone line, said first, second, third and fourth frequencies being within the bandwidth of said commercial telephone line.

Claim 23

The system of claim 20 wherein said scanning means comprises: a cathode ray tube flying spot scanner means having a controllable beam intensity for sweeping a substantially constant intensity spot of light across the medium in a sequential line by line raster manner; and photosensitive means disposed to intercept the illumination as modified by the image on the medium for providing an analogue video output signal functionally related to the graphic image.

Claim 24

The system of claim 21 wherein said cathode ray tube flying spot scanner means includes vertical and horizontal beam deflection drive means, said vertical drive means including means to vertically increment the cathode ray tube beam at a selected rate during each sync period whereby the vertical resolution of the system is defined by the duration of the sync period.

Claim 25

The system of claim 22 wherein said synthesizing means comprises: demodulating means receiving said transmitted modulated output signal from said second coupling means for demodulating said modulated output signal to provide a demodulated video signal varying between first and second analogue signal levels functionally related to the white and black portions of the image and a third analogue signal level functionally related to said Synchronizing pulses; sync signal separator means for separating the demodulated video signal from the demodulated synchronizing pulses; and reproducing means controlled by said demodulated video signal and said demodulated synchronizing pulses for reproducing the original graphic image.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said reproducing means comprises: a light responsive recording medium; a second cathode ray tube flying spot scanner means having a controllable beam intensity for sweeping a spot of light across said light responsive recording medium in a sequential line by line raster manner.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said second cathode ray tube flying spot scanner means includes second vertical and horizontal beam deflection drive means, said second vertical drive means including means to vertically increment the cathode ray tube beam during the time of occurrence and under the control of the demodulated synchronizing pulses, said second scanner means having beam intensity control means controlled by the demodulated video signal, whereby the graphic image will be reproduced on the light responsive medium with a vertical resolution identical to that of the first mentioned scanning means as controlled and slaved by the synchronizing pulse width.

Claim 28

In the transmission and reception of graphic images utilizing spaced transceiver devices coupled by a communication link, each transceiver including a cathode ray tube flying spot scanner having vertical and horizontal deflection yokes, said cathode ray tube flying spot scanner being adapted to generate a controllable beam for sweeping a spot of light across a target surface in accordance with a predetermined raster pattern controlled by deflection signals applied to the deflection yokes, the improvement which comprises using matched non-ideal cathode ray tubes in said transceiver devices including matched non-ideal deflection yokes having similar performance characteristics for compensating for non-linearities introduced by each component.

Claim 29

In the transmission and reception of graphic images utilizing spaced transceiver devices coupled by a communication link, each transceiver including a cathode ray tube flying spot scanner having vertical and horizontal deflection yokes, said cathode ray tube flying spot scanner being adapted to generate a controllable beam for sweeping a spot of light across a target surface in accordance with a predetermined raster pattern controlled by deflection signals applied to the deflection yokes, the improvement which comprises using matched non-ideal cathode ray tubes in said transceiver devices including matched non-ideal deflection yokes having similar performance characteristics for compensating for non-linearities introduced by each component.

Claim 30

The system in accordance with claim 26 wherein, in each transceiver, the cathode ray tube light beam is focused on the target surface by a lens system, the further improvement which comprises using matched non-ideal lens systems in said transceiver devices said matched non-ideal lens system having similar performance characteristics for compensating for distortion introduced by each lens system.

Claim 31

In the acquisition, transmission, reception and synthesis of graphic information utilizing transceivers including a cathode ray tube flying spot scanner having vertical and horizontal deflection yokes for causing a spot of light focused by an associated lens assembly to sweep across a target surface in accordance with a pattern defined by one transceiver operating in a data acquisition and transmission mode which pattern it is desired to accurately reproduce in a selected transceiver operating in a data reception and synthesis mode, the improvement which comprises using matched cathode ray tube deflection yoke, and lens assembly non-ideal components in said transceivers to compensate for the non-linearities and distortion introduced by said components.

Claim 32

In the acquisition, transmission, reception and synthesis of graphic information utilizing transceivers including a cathode ray tube flying spot scanner having vertical and horizontal deflection yokes for causing a spot of light focused by an associated lens assembly to sweep across a target surface in accordance with a pattern defined by one transceiver operating in a data acquisition and transmission mode which pattern it is desired to accurately reproduce in a selected transceiver operating in a data reception and synthesis mode, the improvement which comprises using matched cathode ray tube deflection yoke, and lens assembly non-ideal components in said transceivers to compensate for the non-linearities and distortion introduced by said components.

Claim 33

Apparatus for acquiring video signals functionally related to graphic indicia contained on a document, said apparatus comprising: means for generating and scanning a beam of selectively directable light with at least two axes of freedom to cause said beam to intercept, in scanning relationship, an area of a target surface having length and width dimensions along said axes juxtaposed to said light generating means, said light generating means being substantially defined by a spherical light emitting surface having a determinable effective radius of curvature; a lens assembly having a predetermined focal length for focusing said beam at a locus of focal points functionally related to the lens assembly parameters and said light beam generating means effective configuration; and target surface defining means juxtaposed to said light beam generating means for fixedly retaining the document in conformance with the target surface, said target surface defining means defining a non-planar surface having a radius of curvature about an axis parallel to one of said axes to define a non-planar surface approximating the surface defined by the locus of focal points of the scanning beam, said target surface radius of curvature being functionally related to the effective radius of curvature of the spherical surface, one of said length and width dimensions and the optical reduction of said apparatus.

Claim 34

Apparatus for acquiring video signals functionally related to graphic indicia contained on a document, said apparatus comprising: means for generating and scanning a beam of selectively directable light with at least two axes of freedom to cause said beam to intercept, in scanning relationship, an area of a target surface having length and width dimensions along said axes juxtaposed to said light generating means, said light generating means being substantially defined by a spherical light emitting surface having a determinable effective radius of curvature; a lens assembly having a predetermined focal length for focusing said beam at a locus of focal points functionally related to the lens assembly parameters and said light beam generating means effective configuration; and target surface defining means juxtaposed to said light beam generating means for fixedly retaining the document in conformance with the target surface, said target surface defining means defining a non-planar surface having a radius of curvature about an axis parallel to one of said axes to define a non-planar surface approximating the surface defined by the locus of focal points of the scanning beam, said target surface radius of curvature being functionally related to the effective radius of curvature of the spherical surface, one of said length and width dimensions and the optical reduction of said apparatus.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said light beam generating and scanning means comprises a cathode ray tube flying spot scanner including a spherical faceplate cathode ray tube light source having an effective light source configuration defined by a sphere segment of determinable radius e, said target surface having a radius of curvature functionally related to said determinable radius e.

Claim 36

In a device for the transmission and reception of visual images over a communication link comprising raster scanning a target area with the scanning spot of a cathode ray tube the combination of: a cathode ray tube adapted to selectively impinge a spot on a target area; support means defining a target area for supporting a target thereon; and photosensitive means movably supported adjacent said target area and adapted for movement with respect to said target and being synchronously moved with said spot.

Claim 37

In a device for the transmission and reception of visual images over a communication link comprising raster scanning a target area with the scanning spot of a cathode ray tube the combination of: a cathode ray tube adapted to selectively impinge a spot on a target area; support means defining a target area for supporting a target thereon; and photosensitive means movably supported adjacent said target area and adapted for movement with respect to said target and being synchronously moved with said spot.

Claim 38

The device of claim 31 wherein said photosensitive means comprises at least one light-sensitive element adjacent said target area.

Claim 39

The device of claim 32 wherein said at least one light-sensitive element has elongated photosensitve surface which is positioned to transversely span said target area and is mounted for vertical movement with respect to said target area.

Claim 40

The device of claim 33 wherein said at least one light-sensitive element is mounted on a carriage member whose path of travel conforms to said target area.

Claim 41

The device of claim 34 which includes a second elongated light-sensitive element juxtapositioned in parallel, spaced relationship to said at least one light-sensitive element for movement therewith and wherein said target area configuration is defined by a support member adapted to selectively receive either a medium containing graphic information or a photosensitive recording medium.

Claim 42

The device of claim 35 wherein said carriage member is mounted on lateral track members defining a path of substantial congruency to the surface formed by said support member.

Claim 43

The device of claim 36 wherein said cathode ray tube has a spherical faceplate and said target area is vertically concave in configuration having a radius of curvature functionally related to the radius of curvature of said cathode ray tube faceplate.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the area of said target surface intercepted by said scanning beam has a length dimension (L) which is greater than the width dimension (W) and wherein the radius of curvature (rt) of said non-planar target surface is about an axis parallel to said width dimension.

Claim 45

The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said apparatus has an optical reduction factor Or and the radius of curvature of said non-planar target surface is substantially in accordance with the formula: c ( Square Root re2 - (W/4)2)(Or)