Recording apparatus utilizing small optical components

Claim 2

Appartus for forming an image in the form of discrete holes on a recording medium in response to an input signal representing video information comprising: a laser medium adapted to emit pulses of coherent radiation in the form of an astigmatic elliptical beam in response to said input signal; means for focusing said radiation onto said recording medium comprising an optical fiber with a parabolic radial index of refraction; a hemicylindrical lens interposed between said laser and said optical fiber with the flat surface of said lens facing said laser, said hemicylindrical lens having a radius and being positioned at a distance from said laser so as to convert said radiation into an approximately nonastigmatic circular beam; said laser, optical fiber and hemicylindrical lens being mounted on a support which is capable of being deflected over a prescribed arc by rotation about an axis of said support; means for conforming the recording medium to an arc concentric with the arc defined by said support; and means for periodically deflecting said support in one direction from an initial position across the prescribed arc so as to scan a line of said recording medium and in the opposite direction to return the support to its initial position.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for moving said recording medium in a direction transverse to the plane of deflection of said support so that a new line of the image may be produced on said medium when the support lies in its initial position.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of the optical fiber lies within the range 10 - 40 mils.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for displaying said image on a screen as it is being produced on said recording medium.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for deflecting said support comprises a galvanometer with a rotatably mounted shaft on which the support is mounted.

Claim 7

The apparatus acccording to claim 1 wherein the support is capable of being deflected at a sweep rate of approximately 100 Hz.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the optical fiber is capable of focusing the radiation onto the recording medium so as to form holes with a diameter in the range 4-6 microns.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for moving said support in a direction transverse to the plane of deflection of said support so tha a new line of the image may be produced on said medium when the support lies in its initial position.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising means for moving said recording medium in a direction parallel to the plane of deflection of said support after a complete frame of said image is produced.

Claim 11

Apparatus for forming an image in the form of discrete holes on a recording medium with a diameter in the range 4-6 microns in response to an input signal representing video information comprising: a GaAs laser adapted to emit pulses of coherent radiation in the form of an astigmatic elliptical beam in response to said input signal; means for focusing said radiation onto said recording medium comprising an optical fiber with a parabolic radial index of refraction, a diameter within the range 10 - 40 mils, and a length within the range 1 - 20 mm; a hemicylindrical lens interposed between said laser and said optical fiber with the flat surface of said lens facing said laser, said lens having a radius within the range 1-1,000 microns and positioned at a distance within the range 0-1,000 microns from said laser so as to convert said radiation into an approximately nonastigmatic circular beam; a galvanometer with a rotatably mounted shaft; a support arm mounted on said shaft that said arm may be periodically deflected across a prescribed arc from an initial position to a final position in one direction and returned to the initial position by deflecting in the opposite direction at a sweep rate of approximately 100 Hz; said laser, optical fiber and hemicylindrical lens being mounted on said support arm such that a line of said image may be produced when the arm is deflected in said one direction; means for conforming the recording medium to an arc concentric with the arc defined by said deflecting support arm comprising a curved member with its center of curvature concentric with the shaft of the galvanometer; means for moving said recording medium in a direction transverse to the plane of deflection of the arm so that a new line of said image may be produced when the arm lies in its initial position; and means for displaying said image on a screen.

Claim 12

Apparatus for forming an image in the form of discrete holes on a recording medium with a diameter in the range 4-6 microns in response to an input signal representing video information comprising: a GaAs laser adapted to emit pulses of coherent radiation in the form of an astigmatic elliptical beam in response to said input signal; means for focusing said radiation onto said recording medium comprising an optical fiber with a parabolic radial index of refraction, a diameter within the range 10 - 40 mils, and a length within the range 1 - 20 mm; a hemicylindrical lens interposed between said laser and said optical fiber with the flat surface of said lens facing said laser, said lens having a radius within the range 1-1,000 microns and positioned at a distance within the range 0-1,000 microns from said laser so as to convert said radiation into an approximately nonastigmatic circular beam; a galvanometer with a rotatably mounted shaft; a support arm mounted on said shaft that said arm may be periodically deflected across a prescribed arc from an initial position to a final position in one direction and returned to the initial position by deflecting in the opposite direction at a sweep rate of approximately 100 Hz; said laser, optical fiber and hemicylindrical lens being mounted on said support arm such that a line of said image may be produced when the arm is deflected in said one direction; means for conforming the recording medium to an arc concentric with the arc defined by said deflecting support arm comprising a curved member with its center of curvature concentric with the shaft of the galvanometer; means for moving said recording medium in a direction transverse to the plane of deflection of the arm so that a new line of said image may be produced when the arm lies in its initial position; and means for displaying said image on a screen.