Illumination and light gate utilization methods and apparatus

Claim 2

In a method of recording varying electric signals with a plurality of electrically actuable light gates, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of: illuminating said light gates with light of a first intensity above zero light intensity; providing a light-sensitive recording medium sensitive to illumination levels at light intensities including said first light intensity and starting at a second light intensity below said first intensity and above zero light intensity: preconditioning said light gates to subsequent opening in response to said varying electric signals by electrically biasing said light gates to an initially open condition wherein said gates pass light from said illumination at an intensity above zero light intensity and below said second light intensity; exposing said recording medium to said light passed by said preconditioned gates in said initially open condition whereby said recording medium is exposed to light below said second intensity; selectively energizing and further opening said preconditioned light gates in response to said varying electric signals to pass light from said illumination at at least said second light intensity and provide a luminous representation of said varying electric signals; and exposing said recording medium to said passed illumination at at least said second light intensity and recording said luminous representation of said varying electric signals on said recording medium.

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 103, including the steps of: providing an electric bias having a first voltage for biasing said light gates to said initially open condition; biasing said light gates to said initially open condition with said electric bias having said first voltage; providing said varying electric signals with a second voltage only capable by itself of opening said light gates to pass light from said illumination at a level below said second light intensity, but capable in combination with said electric bias having said first voltage of opening said light gates to pass light from said illumination at at least said second light intensity; combining said varying electric signals having said second voltage with said electric bias having said first voltage to provide driving signals for said light gates having a third voltage capable of opening said light gates to pass light from said illumination at at least said second light intensity; and selectively energizing and further opening said light gates with said driving signals having said third voltage to pass light from said illumination at at least said second light intensity and provide a luminous representation of said varying electric signals recordable on said recording medium.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said light gates are arranged side by side in an elongate light gate array; and said illumination of light gates with light of a first intensity above zero light intensity includes the steps of: emitting divergent light from a spatially concentrated source of light into a sheet of light having an elongate cross-section of sufficient width in its direction of elongation to illuminate said elongate light gate array upon collimation; collimating said divergent light from said sheet into a collimated band of light; and illuminating said elongate light gate array with said collimated band of light.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said light gates are arranged side by side in an elongate light gate array; and said illumination of light gates with light of a first intensity above zero light intensity includes the steps of: emitting divergent light from a spatially concentrated source of light into a sheet of light having an elongate cross-section of sufficient width in its direction of elongation to illuminate said elongate light gate array upon collimation; collimating said divergent light from said sheet into a collimated band of light; and illuminating said elongate light gate array with said collimated band of light.

Claim 6

In apparatus for recording varying electric signals, the improvement comprising in combination: a plurality of electrically actuable light gates; means for illuminating said light gates with light of a first intensity above zero light intensity; a light-sensitive recording medium sensitive to illumination levels at light intensities including said first light intensity and starting at a second light intensity below said first intensity and above zero light intensity; means connected to said light gates for preconditioning said light gates to subsequent opening in response to said varying electric signals, said preconditioning means including means for electrically biasing said light gates to an initially open condition wherein said gates pass light from said illumination at an intensity above zero light intensity and below said second light intensity; means connected to said light gates for selectively energizing and further opening said preconditioned light gates in response to said varying electric signals to pass light from said illumination at at least said second light intensity and provide a luminous representation of said varying electric signals; and means for exposing said recording medium to said light passed by said preconditioned gates in said initially open condition whereby said recording medium is exposed to light below said second intensity and to said passed illumination at at least said second light intensity and recording said luminous representation of said varying electric signals on said recording medium.

Claim 7

In apparatus for recording varying electric signals, the improvement comprising in combination: a plurality of electrically actuable light gates; means for illuminating said light gates with light of a first intensity above zero light intensity; a light-sensitive recording medium sensitive to illumination levels at light intensities including said first light intensity and starting at a second light intensity below said first intensity and above zero light intensity; means connected to said light gates for preconditioning said light gates to subsequent opening in response to said varying electric signals, said preconditioning means including means for electrically biasing said light gates to an initially open condition wherein said gates pass light from said illumination at an intensity above zero light intensity and below said second light intensity; means connected to said light gates for selectively energizing and further opening said preconditioned light gates in response to said varying electric signals to pass light from said illumination at at least said second light intensity and provide a luminous representation of said varying electric signals; and means for exposing said recording medium to said light passed by said preconditioned gates in said initially open condition whereby said recording medium is exposed to light below said second intensity and to said passed illumination at at least said second light intensity and recording said luminous representation of said varying electric signals on said recording medium.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said biasing means include means for providing an electric bias having a first voltage for biasing said light gates to said initially open condition, and for biasing said light gates to said initially open condition with said electric bias having said first voltage; and said selectively energizing means include means for providing said varying electric signals with a second voltage only capable by itself of opening said light gates to pass light from said illumination at a level below said second light intensity, but capable in combination with said electric bias having said first voltage of opening said light gates to pass light from said illumination at at least said second light intensity, and means for combinging said varying electric signals having said second voltage with said electric bias having said first voltage to provide driving signals for said light gates having a third voltage capable of opening said light gates to pass light from said illumination at at least said second light intensity and for selectively energizing and further opening said light gates with said driving signals having said third voltage to pass light from said illumination at at least said second light intensity and provide a luminous representation of said varying electric signals recordable on said recording medium.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said light gates are arranged side by side in an elongate light gate array; and said means for illuminating said light gates with light of a first intensity include: means for emitting divergent light from a spatially concentrated source of light into a sheet of light having an elongate cross-section of sufficient width in its direction of elongation to illuminate said elongate light gate array upon collimation; and means for collimating said divergent light from said sheet into a collimated band of light and for illuminating said elongate light gate array with said collimated band of light.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said light gates are arranged side by side in an elongate light gate array; and said means for illuminating said light gates with light of a first intensity include: means for emitting divergent light from a spatially concentrated source of light into a sheet of light having an elongate cross-section of sufficient width in its direction of elongation to illuminate said elongate light gate array upon collimation; and means for collimating said divergent light from said sheet into a collimated band of light and for illuminating said elongate light gate array with said collimated band of light.