US3914546A — Common path image exploring apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 323 words

In a facsimile communication system, a common path image exploring apparatus comprising: an illuminating light source, first means in the path of light from said light source for passing a part of said light, lens means in the path of light passed by said first means for focusing said light, reflecting means in the optical path of said lens means for reflecting said light to an operating area, said reflecting means comprising a rotating prism for effecting a transverse scan at said operating area, document means at said operating area for reflecting said reflected light back to said reflecting means in accordance with the information on said document in a first mode, said reflecting means receiving the information modulated light from said document and further reflecting said light back along the original light path toward said lens means, said lens means focusing said modulated light onto said first means wherein said first means focuses said modulated light to an operating point, photodetector means at said operating point for generating electrical video signals in accordance with the information modulated light in said first mode, means for modulating said illuminating light source in accordance with an external source of electrical video signals in a second mode, said first means comprising an aperture mirror wherein said aperture is placed in the path of light from said light source to said lens means and so positioned that the light from said light source is transmitted through said mirror aperture while said information modulated light in said first mode reflected back from said reflecting means is reflected by said aperture mirror toward said photodetection means, photoreceptor means at said operating area in said second mode for receiving said modulated light from said light source along the same path of light as in said first mode, and aperture plate means positioned between said first means and said photodetector means to define one scan line of said information modulated light.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 323 words

In a facsimile communication system, a common path image exploring apparatus comprising: an illuminating light source, first means in the path of light from said light source for passing a part of said light, lens means in the path of light passed by said first means for focusing said light, reflecting means in the optical path of said lens means for reflecting said light to an operating area, said reflecting means comprising a rotating prism for effecting a transverse scan at said operating area, document means at said operating area for reflecting said reflected light back to said reflecting means in accordance with the information on said document in a first mode, said reflecting means receiving the information modulated light from said document and further reflecting said light back along the original light path toward said lens means, said lens means focusing said modulated light onto said first means wherein said first means focuses said modulated light to an operating point, photodetector means at said operating point for generating electrical video signals in accordance with the information modulated light in said first mode, means for modulating said illuminating light source in accordance with an external source of electrical video signals in a second mode, said first means comprising an aperture mirror wherein said aperture is placed in the path of light from said light source to said lens means and so positioned that the light from said light source is transmitted through said mirror aperture while said information modulated light in said first mode reflected back from said reflecting means is reflected by said aperture mirror toward said photodetection means, photoreceptor means at said operating area in said second mode for receiving said modulated light from said light source along the same path of light as in said first mode, and aperture plate means positioned between said first means and said photodetector means to define one scan line of said information modulated light.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

The facsimile communication system as set forth in claim 1 further including means for moving said aperture mirror along the axis of said aperture to allow a maximum amount of light from said light source to pass therethrough in said second mode.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 288 words

In a facsimile device: an illumination source; a reflecting element; photodetector means for generating electric video signals; reflecting means optically located between said illumination source and said reflecting elemEnt and between said reflecting element and said photodetector means; said reflecting means being so constructed that when located in a scanning position, it will allow a portion of light emitted from said illumination source to pass therethrough to said reflecting element and will reflect to said photodetector means light reflected in a return direction from said reflecting element to modulate the video signals generated by said photodetector means; a document so located to receive light reflected from said reflecting element which has been transmitted to said reflecting element from said illumination source and to reflect back to said reflecting element information modulated light which is thereafter reflected to said reflecting means and therefrom to said photodetector means; said reflecting means, when in a printing position, allowing a substantial increase in the amount of light to reach said deflector element from said illuminating source; photoreceptor means located to receive from said reflecting element the increased light transmitted to said reflecting element from said illumination source; means for selectively moving said reflecting means to said printing position or said scanning position; means for modulating said illumination source with an external source of video signals when said reflecting means is in said printing position and for generating video signals from said photodetector means when said reflecting means is in said scanning position; and means for effecting relative movement between said document and said reflecting element during generation of video signals from said photodetector means and for effecting relative movement between said photoreceptor and said reflecting element during modulation of said illumination source.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 288 words

In a facsimile device: an illumination source; a reflecting element; photodetector means for generating electric video signals; reflecting means optically located between said illumination source and said reflecting elemEnt and between said reflecting element and said photodetector means; said reflecting means being so constructed that when located in a scanning position, it will allow a portion of light emitted from said illumination source to pass therethrough to said reflecting element and will reflect to said photodetector means light reflected in a return direction from said reflecting element to modulate the video signals generated by said photodetector means; a document so located to receive light reflected from said reflecting element which has been transmitted to said reflecting element from said illumination source and to reflect back to said reflecting element information modulated light which is thereafter reflected to said reflecting means and therefrom to said photodetector means; said reflecting means, when in a printing position, allowing a substantial increase in the amount of light to reach said deflector element from said illuminating source; photoreceptor means located to receive from said reflecting element the increased light transmitted to said reflecting element from said illumination source; means for selectively moving said reflecting means to said printing position or said scanning position; means for modulating said illumination source with an external source of video signals when said reflecting means is in said printing position and for generating video signals from said photodetector means when said reflecting means is in said scanning position; and means for effecting relative movement between said document and said reflecting element during generation of video signals from said photodetector means and for effecting relative movement between said photoreceptor and said reflecting element during modulation of said illumination source.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 69 words

The structure as recited in claim 3 wherein said reflecting means is an aperture mirror wherein the aperture is placed in the path of light passing from said illumination source to said reflecting element; said mirror being movable along the axis of said aperture from said scanning position to said printing position to allow a substantially increased amount of light to pass through the aperture in said printing position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

The structure as recited in claim 3 wherein said reflecting element is a rotating prism.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 61 words

The structure as recited in claim 3 wherein the light from said illumination source reaching said reflecting element when said reflecting means is in said scanning and printing positions is reflected to the same location onto either said document when said reflecting means is in said scanning position or onto said photoreceptor when said reflecting means is in said printing position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-10-20	1979-04-21	1979-10-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-10-20	1983-04-21	1983-10-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-10-20	1987-04-21	1987-10-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Common path image exploring apparatus

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