Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.

Other

Ovonic Imaging Systems, Inc.

Mark H McCormick-Goodhart

Vincent D Cannella

Robert Minko

Louis D Swartz

Olivier F Prache

John A Heslip

Daniel H O'Donnell

Guy Wicker

Marvin C Barnes

Digitizing apparatus for reproducing information from an image-bearing member, said apparatus including a wand removably mounted on a base station. The wand is adapted for independent operation to manually scan said image-bearing member or the wand can be secured to the base station for automatically scanning said image-bearing member.

Digitizing wand adapted for manual and automatic operation

A simplified microfiche recording apparatus and method is provided that images a light image reflected through a fixed mirror train from hard copy or other source in microimage size on an intermediate dry-process film, develops the microimage and transfers the microimage by contact printing to an archival microfiche film. Stations are provided for imaging, developing and transferring which are in fixed relation to each other along a stationary intermediate film head. Single frame advancement of the intermediate film is utilized from station to station, where suitable, to avoid fogging of the intermediate film by insuring that the portion of the intermediate film which is subject to light piping from the transferring station contains developed microimage. A read station is provided to allow reading and/or annotating microimages recorded on the microfiche film utilizing a read lens, the optical axis of which is shifted to allow an image to be projected from the microimage film through the read lens and the same mirror train utilized for intermediate film exposure. The read station is in fixed relation to the intermediate film head and imaging developing and transferring stations.

Microfiche recording apparatus and method with stationary film head

The recording of surface topology is obtained by first bringing the surface into contact with the imaging material-coated side of a dry process dispersion type recording film comprising a transparent substrate on which is coated a very thin, high optical density, opaque body of imaging material, preferably coated with a thin abrasion-resistant protective layer. Radiant energy is then momentarily directed to the imaging material through the transparent substrate. When the heat generated by the absorbed radiant energy is above a given threshold value at a particular location of the imaging material, the material deforms and disperses thereat to form connected or unconnected globules with spaces therebetween. Upon termination of the radiant energy, the dispersed material becomes frozen in place. It was discovered that when a surface having projections and/or depressions, (for example, like that found on the surface of animal or plant tissue) is brought into contact with the recording film as described, at least the projecting portions thereof act as high resolution heat sinks which carry away heat from the imaging material in accordance with the intimacy of contact between the surface involved to be recorded and the side of the recording film contacted thereby, so that heavily heat-sinked points remain opaque and points unengaged by the surface become relatively transparent, to provide a high resolution picture of the surface topology of the contacting body.

Heat-sink imaging method and apparatus for recording surface topology

Apparatus for recording surface topology

An improved photographic filmstrip having localized transmission barriers for inhibiting propagation of light into still unimaged transparent portions of microfiche recording system intermediate filmstrips by light-piping action is described. The barriers serve to optically isolate the subsequently-to-be-imaged still unexposed portion of the filmstrip in a dispensing film head from the illumination used to transfer the previously developed image on the exposed portion of the strip onto a permanent recording medium, such as a microfiche film card. The barriers consist of arrays of holes spanning the width of the filmstrip. Multiple scattering and direct escape paths produced by the holes cause significant reduction in the undesired propagation. Additional propagation reduction is achieved by a fiber bearing element pressed over the hole arrays so as to insert fiber clusters into the holes. Use of the arrays for sprocket engagement to facilitate film transport is described.

Filmstrip for preventing fogging of intermediate film in microfiche

The imaging layers coated side of a heat-responsive recording medium is selectively heat-sinked by the raised portions of live skin tissue contacting the same so that only the unheat-sinked portions of the recording medium will reach an imaging temperature. The source of heat for the film may be a flash lamp directed against the opposite substrate side of the film where the electromagnetic energy thereof is converted into heat when absorbed by the substrate, or may be a source of externally applied heat transmitted through the substrate to the imaging layer of the film. In the latter case, the recording medium is preferably initially in spaced relationship with a heat contact plate which is to be contacted by a heat source, which may be the end face of a piston either pre-heated to a given temperature or having a current heatable resistance thereon to be pulsed with current. In the former case the polymer end face preferably has a low heat conductivity coating thereon. The live skin tissue, like a finger, is pressed against the imaging layer coated side of the recording medium to bring the substrate side thereof against the heat contact plate which receives heat from the piston end face. The plunger is automatically withdrawn from the heat contact plate a short time after the recording medium is pressed against the heat contact plate to prevent any discomfort or burning of the finger.

Heat-sink imaging apparatus for live skin tissue using pulsed energy

Dry-process imaging apparatus for flash imaging an imaging film having a layer of an energy dispersible image forming material on a surface thereof. The apparatus comprises a source of electromagnetic or radiant energy, radiant energy collecting and guiding means, and support means including masking means for the imaging film. The apparatus is especially suitable for flash imaging microfiche cards, and enables an imaging energy source such as, for example, a Xenon flash tube, to be operated at lower energy levels for shorter time periods while achieving uniformity of energy distribution over a comparatively large area at the film plane.

Imaging apparatus

The imaging layer coated side of a heat-responsive recording medium is selectively heat-sinked by the raised portions of live skin tissue contacting the same so that only the unheat-sinked portions of the recording medium will reach an imaging temperature. The source of heat for the film may be a flash lamp directed against the opposite substrate side of the film where the electromagnetic energy thereof is converted into heat when absorbed by the substrate, or may be a source of externally applied heat transmitted through the substrate to the imaging layer of the film. In the latter case, the recording medium is preferably initially in spaced relationship with a heat contact plate which is to be contacted by a heat source, which may be the end face of a piston either pre-heated to a given temperature or having a current heatable resistance thereon to be pulsed with current. In the former case the plunger end face preferably has a low heat conductivity coating thereon. The live skin tissue, like a finger, is pressed against the imaging layer coated side of the recording medium to bring the substrate side thereof against the heat contact plate which receives heat from the piston end face. The plunger is automatically withdrawn from the heat contact plate a short time after the recording medium is pressed against the heat contact plate to prevent any discomfort or burning of the finger.

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Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, United States of America

Mark H McCormick-Goodhart