Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Ricoh Systems, Inc.

Ricoh Corporation and Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Sanjiv Arora

Kevin P Corcoran

Koichi Ejiri

A high quality image scanner is provided which processes multiple scanned images into a composite image with a large dynamic range. The two scanned images are processed to identify maximum local similarity.

High quality image scanner

Laser scan/electrophotographic non-impact printer is disclosed which comprises one or more laser diodes mounted on a rotating turntable, the angular scan of the laser diode being generated by rotation of the turntable. An optical system is provided for each beam emitted from the laser diode to shape and direct the beam toward the photosensitive surface. The information is carried on the beam by modulating the beam with the information output of the computer at the source of the beam. To increase the efficiency of the output of the device, the front and rear surfaces of the laser diodes may both be used. To overcome the difficulty of providing the necessary power to drive the laser diodes to the rotating turntable, a power source comprising a solar cell array illuminated by a lamp is provided. Preferably, this solar cell array is mounted on a surface above the surface of the laser diodes, so that it is easily carried by the rotating turntable. A rotating battery or power generator could also be used. To provide the information modulation to the laser diode outputs, preferably a photodiode or similar light sensitive device is mounted above the rotating turntable, with the control signal being provided by an LED through a fiber optic element or the like. Thus, the photo detector can be mounted to rotate with the laser diodes, while the LED or other source of light control signals is stationary relative to the rotating turntable.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Sanjiv Arora