The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 12, 1995
Filed:
Dec. 06, 1993
James D Rees, Pittsford, NY (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An imaging system is disclosed which incorporates a gradient index lens array to transmit focused light onto an image medium with increased Depth of Focus (DOF) and no loss of radiometric efficiency. The lens array is first constructed so that its exit pupil is generally symmetrical. This first step increases the radiometric efficiency of the lens array relative to prior art lens arrays. In a second step, the DOF is increased by reducing a quantity n.sub.o .sqroot.AR which is associated with the lens, n.sub.o being the axial refractive index of the fibers comprising the lens array, .sqroot.A being the gradient index constant of the material comprising the lens array and R being the radius of the individual optical rods, As this quantity is reduced, the DOF increases consistent with a trade off of reduced radiometric efficiency. Since the efficiency was initially increased from some optimum value, the DOF can be increased until the desired radiometric efficiency level is reached.